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Gotra and Pravara (गोत्रप्रवरश्च) (view source)
Revision as of 23:37, 22 August 2021
, 23:37, 22 August 2021→परिचयः॥ Introduction: added content
== परिचयः॥ Introduction ==
== 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 (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmana]] literature there are several indications that priestly families
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 (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmana]] literature there are several indications that priestly families formed into several groups named after their founding rishis and such families differed in details of worship according to the group they belonged to.<ref name=":0">Kane, Pandurang Vaman. (1941) ''History of Dharmasastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law) Vol. 2, Part 1.'' Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. (Page 478-)</ref>
According to Manu, the following eight (mula-rshis) were the Gotrakara rshis or family founders.<ref>Dr. Rajabali Pandey (2014 4th Edition) ''Hindu Dharma Kosha.'' Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan (Pages 241-242)</ref><blockquote>जमदग्निर्मरद्राजो विश्वामित्रात्रिगौतमाः । वसिष्ठ काश्यपागस्त्या मुनयो गोत्रकारिणः । एतेषां यान्यपत्यानि तानि गोत्राणि मन्यते ॥ </blockquote>Summary: Jamadagni (जमदग्निः), Bharadvaja (भरद्राजः), Vishvamitra (विश्वामित्रः), [[Atri (अत्रिः)]], [[Gautama (गौतमः)|Gautama (गोतमः)]], [[Vasishta (वसिष्ठः)]], [[Kashyapa|Kashyapa (काश्यपः)]], and [[Agasthya (अगस्त्यः)]] are the Gotrakara (rshis). Their children are also considered as gotras.
In Dharmashastra and Grhyasutra texts we find that some rishis forbade marriage with a sagotra (meaning samana or same gotra rshis) girls while some others prohibit it with a sapravara (meaning same pravara rshis) girls. Many seers, and works like Vishnu Dharmasutra (24.9), Yajnavalkya (1.53), Narada Smrti (Stripunsa, 7) have ordained that marriage to a sagotra and sapravara girl is "amanya" or not accepted.<ref name=":0" />
Gotra was primarily discussed in the context of marriage rules. Every varna was further divided into a number of exogamous groups. Such groups may be formed by members of the same clan having common gotra and pravara. Marriage between the members belonging to the same exogamous group was prohibited. Gobhila, Apastarnba, Hiranyakesin, and Jaimini lay down that a man should not marry a girl belonging to his own Gotra. Gautama, Vasishtha, and Manava. G. S. state that a man should marry a girl who does not have the same Pravara.<ref name=":02">Gopal, Ram. (1959) ''India of Vedic Kalpasutras.'' Delhi : National Publishing House (Pages 209 -)</ref>
Gotra is also important in the context of [[Asoucha (आशौचम्)|Asoucha]] especially in [[Mrta-Asoucha (मृताशौचम्)|Mrta-Asoucha]] to determine which member of the family has to follow the restrictions of Asoucha for how many days. For example, <blockquote>एकपिण्डास्तु दायादाः पृथग्दारनिकेतनाः । जन्मन्यपि विपत्तौ च तेषां तत्सूतकं भवेत् ॥ ३.7 ॥ (Para. Smrt. 3.7)<ref name=":2">The Smriti Sandarbha (1988) ''Collection of the Four Dharmashastric Texts by Maharshies. Vol. 2.'' Delhi: Nag Publishers. (Page 633-)</ref></blockquote>Even if the Dayadis (one who are sagotras and sapindas) have separate homes and their families are not living in joint families, they have the same rules of ten days of sutakam (both at birth and death).
We will discuss more such aspects about Gotra in this article.
== Etymology ==
Though the word Gotra is used in the Rigveda to express many meanings according to the context, such as a cow-stall, a cloud, a fort, and a mountain range, yet ‘enclosure’ appears to be tlie main idea associated with Goira}^ Later on the word Gotra came to signify a group of persons living together within the same walls. In tlie Atharvaveda the compound Yisvagotryah is used, and the word Gotra hero means 'a group of persons connected togtdlier by blood In the Srauta, Grihya and Dharmasutras, the term Gotra denotes a group of persons who are distinguished by the same family name (i.e. surname) and who are believed to have descended from the same ancestor.<ref name=":02" />
In the Rigveda (1.5.113, 1.17.1, 3.39.4, 3.4337, 9.86.23, 10.48.2, 10.12018), gotra means "cowstable" or "cowshed"or "herd of cows". By a natural metaphor, the 'Gotra' represents a cloud ( with blocked water or Vritra (the cloud demon) or water.
== References ==
== References ==
<references />