Gotra and Pravara (गोत्रप्रवरश्च)

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 rishi-ancestor who founded the family in the immemorial past. Gotra came to denote the 'family' or the 'clan'. One of the most important rule laid down in the Grhyasutras and Dharmashastras regarding marriage is that no man shall marry a maiden from within his own gotra.

Pravara 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.

As a part of nitya sandhyavandana, person has to repeat the names of his ancestral rshis (three times a day) to show his lineage and this is known as Pravara. Whenever a person visits Peetha Adhipatis, when he has to perform a yajna and homas, prayers to invoke deities, homas and such sacred activities, he has to recite the pravara.

परिचयः॥ Introduction

Gotra, another unique aspect of Sanatana Dharma, is a fundamental matter to the Indian Society. It has an important role in determining relationships socially. In the Brahmana literature there are several indications that priestly families