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Gotra (Samskrit: गोत्रम्) is of supreme importance in several fundamental matters and practices associated with Sanatana Dharma. Gotra of a family is said to be named after the rshi-ancestor who founded the family in the immemorial past. Such families grew with their tradition over many many generations of their children, grandchildren and students. Gotra came to denote the 'family' or the 'clan'. Pravara rshis are belong to the same clan. One of the most important rule laid down in the [[Grhyasutras (गृह्यसूत्राणि)|Grhyasutras]] and [[Dharmashastras (धर्मशास्त्राणि)|Dharmashastras]] regarding marriage is that no man shall marry a maiden from within his own gotra.

Gotra (Samskrit: गोत्रः) is of supreme importance in several fundamental matters and practices associated with Sanatana Dharma. Gotra of a family is said to be named after the rshi-ancestor who founded the family in the immemorial past. Such families grew with their tradition over many many generations of their children, grandchildren and students. Gotra came to denote the 'family' or the 'clan'. Pravara rshis are belong to the same clan. One of the most important rule laid down in the [[Grhyasutras (गृह्यसूत्राणि)|Grhyasutras]] and [[Dharmashastras (धर्मशास्त्राणि)|Dharmashastras]] regarding marriage is that no man shall marry a maiden from within his own gotra.

Pravara (प्रवरः) is another term closely connected with the gotra. Pravara literally means 'invocation' or 'recitation' of the names of famous rishi ancestors during important occasions. While gotra indicates the lineage or ancestry of a person, pravara denotes the important rishis in that ancestry.<ref>Pandharinath H. Valavalkar (1939) ''Hindu Social Institutions with reference to their psychological implications.'' Bombay: Longmans, Green and Co. Ltd </ref>

Pravara (प्रवरः) is another term closely connected with the gotra. Pravara literally means 'invocation' or 'recitation' of the names of famous rishi ancestors during important occasions. While gotra indicates the lineage or ancestry of a person, pravara denotes the important rishis in that ancestry.<ref>Pandharinath H. Valavalkar (1939) ''Hindu Social Institutions with reference to their psychological implications.'' Bombay: Longmans, Green and Co. Ltd </ref>

== Definitions of Gotra and Pravara ==

== Definitions of Gotra and Pravara ==

Baudhayana states that though there are innumerable Gotras, the number of their Pravaras is forty-nine only. The Baudhayana srautasutra (Pravaradhyaya) defines that Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Atri, Vasishtha, Kashyapa, are the Saptarshis. Saptarshis and Agastya along with their progeny is declared to be Gotra. As mentioned in the Introduction section, Manu also gives a list of eight rshis whose lineages gave rise to Gotras.<ref name=":4">Dr. Rajabali Pandey (2014 4th Edition) ''Hindu Dharma Kosha.'' Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan (Pages 241-242)</ref><ref name=":3">Nandi, R. (1970). GOTRA AND SOCIAL MOBILITY IN THE DECCAN. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol 32, Pages 118-124. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from <nowiki>http://www.jstor.org/stable/44141057</nowiki></ref><ref>Caland, W (1913) The  ''Baudhayana Srauta Sutra belonging to Taittriya Samhita, Vol 3'' Calcutta: Asiatic Society (Page 467)</ref><ref name=":5">Rajavaidya Ravidutta Shastri (2020 Reprint Edition) ''Dharmasindhu with Hindi Commentary.'' Delhi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan. (Pages 345 - 359)</ref><blockquote>विश्वामित्रो जमदनिर्भरद्वाजोऽथ गौतमः । अत्रिर्वसिष्ठः कश्यप इत्येते सप्त ऋषयः । तेषां सप्तर्षीणामगस्त्याष्टमानां यदपत्यं तद्गोत्रमुच्यते। (बौ. श्रौ. प्रवराध्याय)</blockquote><blockquote>गोत्राणां तु सहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च। ऊनपञ्चाशदेवैषां प्रवरा ऋषिदर्शनात् ।</blockquote>There are thousands, tens of thousands and arbudas of gotras but the pravaras are only 49 in number.  

Baudhayana states that though there are innumerable Gotras, the number of their Pravaras is forty-nine only. The Baudhayana srautasutra (Pravaradhyaya) defines that Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Atri, Vasishtha, Kashyapa, are the Saptarshis. Saptarshis and Agastya along with their progeny is declared to be Gotra. As mentioned in the Introduction section, Manu also gives a list of eight rshis whose lineages gave rise to Gotras.<ref name=":4">Dr. Rajabali Pandey (2014 4th Edition) ''Hindu Dharma Kosha.'' Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan (Pages 241-242)</ref><ref name=":3">Nandi, R. (1970). GOTRA AND SOCIAL MOBILITY IN THE DECCAN. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol 32, Pages 118-124. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from <nowiki>http://www.jstor.org/stable/44141057</nowiki></ref><ref>Caland, W (1913) The  ''Baudhayana Srauta Sutra belonging to Taittriya Samhita, Vol 3'' Calcutta: Asiatic Society (Page 467)</ref><ref name=":5">Rajavaidya Ravidutta Shastri (2020 Reprint Edition) ''Dharmasindhu with Hindi Commentary.'' Delhi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan. (Pages 345 - 359)</ref><blockquote>विश्वामित्रो जमदनिर्भरद्वाजोऽथ गौतमः । अत्रिर्वसिष्ठः कश्यप इत्येते सप्त ऋषयः । तेषां सप्तर्षीणामगस्त्याष्टमानां यदपत्यं तद्गोत्रमुच्यते। (बौ. श्रौ. प्रवराध्याय)</blockquote><blockquote>गोत्राणां तु सहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च। ऊनपञ्चाशदेवैषां प्रवरा ऋषिदर्शनात् ।</blockquote>[[File:Brahmarshis and Gotrakaras.PNG|right|frameless|537.982x537.982px]]There are thousands, tens of thousands and arbudas of gotras but the pravaras are only 49 in number.  

The lineages of the eight rshis mentioned above constitute the Gotra. In the Matsya Purana we find an anecdote about the origin of rshis from Brahma after he performs a homa. The names of Brahmarshis are  

The lineages of the eight rshis mentioned above constitute the Gotra. In the Matsya Purana we find an anecdote about the origin of rshis from Brahma after he performs a homa. The names of Brahmarshis are  

# Bhrigu

# Bhrigu

==== When gotra is not known ====

==== When gotra is not known ====

<blockquote>अथस्वगोत्राज्ञाने-उपनयनेयआचार्यस्तद्गोत्रप्रवरैरेवकर्माणिविवाहाविवाहौचेति आचार्य गोत्राज्ञानेतु दत्वात्मानंतुकस्मैचित्तद्गोत्रप्रवरोभवेत् ॥ (Dhar. Sind. Page 357)<ref name=":5" /></blockquote>When a person does not know his gotra then during the Upanayana samskara he can take the gotra and pravara of the Acharya conducting the Upanayana and follow the associated rules. Acharya's gotra and pravara are also used to exclude the bride's gotra. If even the Acharya's gotra is unknown, then the person has to perform a dana of himself to anyone and take the gotra and pravara of that person.<ref name=":5" />

<blockquote>अथस्वगोत्राज्ञाने-उपनयनेयआचार्यस्तद्गोत्रप्रवरैरेवकर्माणिविवाहाविवाहौचेति आचार्य गोत्राज्ञानेतु दत्वात्मानंतुकस्मैचित्तद्गोत्रप्रवरोभवेत् ॥ (Dhar. Sind. Page 357)<ref name=":5" /></blockquote>When a person does not know his gotra then during the Upanayana samskara he can take the gotra and pravara of the Acharya conducting the Upanayana and follow the associated rules. Acharya's gotra and pravara are also used to exclude the bride's gotra. If even the Acharya's gotra is unknown, then the person has to perform a dana of himself to anyone and take the gotra and pravara of that person who took the dana.<ref name=":5" />

It is also said in Gotrapravara-manjari that whose ever purohita parampara is broken and hence does not know his gotra, he can be counted under the Kashyapa gotra, because Kashyapa rshi is considered to be earliest ancestor.<ref name=":4" />

It is also said in Gotrapravara-manjari that whose ever purohita parampara is broken and hence does not know his gotra, he can be counted under the Kashyapa gotra, because Kashyapa rshi is considered to be earliest ancestor.<ref name=":4" />

==== Gotra of the Mother ====

==== मातृगोत्रवर्जननिर्णयः॥ Exclusion of Maternal Family Gotra ====

<blockquote>अथमातृगोत्रवर्जननिर्णयः तत्रमातृगोत्रपदेनमातामहगोत्रमेववज्यं तच्चगांधर्वादिविवा होढापुत्राणांसर्वेषांवयं ब्राह्मविवाहोढापुत्राणांतुसषांमातामहगोत्रंनवयं किंतुमाध्यंदिना नामेव मातृगोत्रंमाध्यंदिनीयानामितिसत्याषाढवचनात् तथैवसर्वत्रशिष्टाचाराच ॥ (Dhar. Sind. Page 358)<ref name=":5" /></blockquote>

<blockquote>अथमातृगोत्रवर्जननिर्णयः तत्रमातृगोत्रपदेनमातामहगोत्रमेववर्ज्यं तच्चगांधर्वादिविवाहोढापुत्राणांसर्वेषांवर्ज्यं ब्राह्मविवाहोढापुत्राणांतुसर्वेषांमातामहगोत्रंनवर्ज्यं किन्तुमाध्यंदिनानामेव मातृगोत्रंमाध्यंदिनीयानामितिसत्याषाढवचनात् तथैवसर्वत्रशिष्टाचाराच्च ॥ (Dhar. Sind. Page 358)<ref name=":5" /></blockquote>Summary - Here the rules for excluding the mother's gotra are taken up. By mother's gotra it means gotra of the maternal side (the family which the mother belongs to) which is to be excluded. The children of the girl who is married by Gandharva vidhi cannot marry anyone in the maternal family (the gotra of maternal grandfather). But the children of the girl married by Brahma vidhi can marry anyone in the maternal family with one exception. This rule applies to all those belonging to any vedashaka except Madhyandina shaka or Yajurveda.

In the Chandogya Upanishad  

In the Chandogya Upanishad

==== Kshatriya becoming a Brahman Gotrakara ====

==== Kshatriya becoming a Brahman Gotrakara ====