Gotra

<h2 id="origins">Origins</h2>
As a <a href="/facts/Vedic_Sanskrit/V0fnIRdc">Rigvedic</a> term, gotra simply means "forward moving descendants".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a> (गौः) गमन करनेवाली (पृथिवी) means one always moving (Earth) and (त्र:) stands for Offspring. The specific meaning "family, lineage kin" (as it were "herd within an enclosure") is relatively more recent, first recorded around the mid-1st millennium BCE (e.g., <a href="/facts/Chandogya_Upanishad/ScNHnN9E">Chandogya Upanishad</a>).
These "lineages" as they developed among the <a href="/facts/Brahmin/V3qxzHAP">Brahmins</a> of that time meant patrilineal descent. The Brahmanic system was later adopted by other communities, such as the <a href="/facts/Kshatriyas/HNT4nfs4">Kshatriyas</a> and <a href="/facts/Vaishyas/6Hanr8I8">Vaishyas</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a>
According to the Vedic theories, the <a href="/facts/Brahmin/V3qxzHAP">Brahmins</a> are direct descendants of seven sages who are believed to be the sons of Brahma, born out of his mind through yogic prowess. They are (1) <a href="/facts/Atri/XzB6LqmY">Atri</a>, (2) <a href="/facts/Bharadvaja/VURrTskf">Bharadvaja</a>, (3) <a href="/facts/Gautama_Maharishi/QWteu2om">Gautama Maharishi</a>, (4) <a href="/facts/Jamadagni/ksBrW1e2">Jamadagni</a>, (5) <a href="/facts/Kashyapa/KCV60qSo">Kashyapa</a>, (6) <a href="/facts/Vasishta/IxxKffcB">Vasishta</a> and (7) <a href="/facts/Vishvamitra/GqFW5aHs">Vishvamitra</a>. To this list, <a href="/facts/Agastya/vXT8Qm03">Agastya</a> is also sometimes added. These eight sages are called gotrakarins, from whom all 108 gotras (especially of the Brahmins) have evolved. For instance, from <a href="/facts/Atri/XzB6LqmY">Atri</a> sprang the Atreya and Gavisthiras gotras.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a>
According to <a href="/facts/Robert_Vane_Russell/GsNwggVe">Robert Vane Russell</a>, many gotras of Hindu religion are of <a href="/facts/Totem/I9YJhRSr">totemic</a> origin which is named after plants, animals, and natural objects. These are universal among tribes but occur also in Hindu castes. The commonest totem names are those of animals, including several which are held sacred by Hindus, as bagh or Nahar, the tiger; bachhas, the calf; murkuria, the peacock; kachhua, the tortoise; nagas, the cobra; hathi, the elephant; bhains, the buffalo; richaria, the bear; Kuliha, the Jackal, Kukura, the dog; kursaal, the deer; Hiran, the black-buck and so on. The utmost variety of names is found, and numerous trees, as well as rice and other crops, salt, sandalwood, cucumber, pepper, and some household implements such as pestle, rolling slab, serve as the names of clans. Thus the name of the rishi Bharadvaja means a lark bird, and <a href="/facts/Kaushika/GqFW5aHs">Kaushika</a> means descended from Kusha grass, <a href="/facts/Agastya/vXT8Qm03">Agastya</a> from Agassi flower, <a href="/facts/Kashyapa/KCV60qSo">Kashyapa</a> from kachhap a tortoise, <a href="/facts/Taittiriya_Upanishad/pukrDnCq">Taittiri</a> from titer, partridge bird. Similarly, the origin of other rishis is attributed to animals, <a href="/facts/Rishyasringa/m8C81777">Rishyasringa</a> to an antelope, <a href="/facts/Mandavya/dCsufn0v">Mandavya</a> to a frog, <a href="/facts/Kanada_(philosopher)/DBk9j8R0">Kanada</a> to an owl. The usual characteristic of totemism is that the members of a clan regard themselves as related to or descended from, the animals or trees from which the clan takes its name, and abstain from killing or eating them.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a>
A gotra must be distinguished from a kula. A kula is equal to a particular family, or equal to modern-day "clans". A kula relates to a caste.

<h2 id="marriages-and-gotras">Marriages and gotras</h2>
Marriages within the gotra ('sagotra' marriages) are not permitted under the rule of <a href="/facts/Exogamy/NYKMlQYK">exogamy</a> in the traditional matrimonial system. The compound word 'sagotra' is a union of the words 'sa' and 'gotra', where 'sa' means same or similar. It is common practice in preparation for <a href="/facts/Hinduism/oxV9YvQh">Hindu</a> marriage to inquire about the kula-gotra (clan lineage) of the bride and groom before approving the marriage. People within the gotra are considered as <a href="/facts/Siblings/sEaXm8y0">siblings</a> and marrying such a person can lead to higher chances for the child to get genetically transferred diseases. In almost all Hindu families, marriage within the same gotra is not practiced (since they are believed to be descended from the same Lineage). Marriages between different gotras are encouraged; marriage within the same gotra started to happen later.
For example, <a href="/facts/Jats/3xJtJaRr">Jats</a>, <a href="/facts/Gurjar/JXQdRlgJ">Gurjars</a>, and <a href="/facts/Rajputs/wJbTbSPL">Rajputs</a> have 13,000 Gotras . And <a href="/facts/Mudiraju/UG8ost8u">Mudirajas</a> of <a href="/facts/Andhra_Pradesh/d51Lb0kX">Andhra Pradesh</a> and <a href="/facts/Tamil_Nadu/ouqcjUKE">Tamil Nadu</a> have 2,600 Gotras. Gotra is always passed on from father to children among most Hindu communities. However, among the <a href="/facts/Tulu_people/9EVxDfe6">Tulu people</a> it is passed on from mother to child.
The <a href="/facts/Tatsama/XFCCLHa5">tatsama</a> words 'sahodara' (brother) and 'sahodari' (sister) derive their roots from the Sanskrit word 'sahara' (सहर) meaning co-uterine or born of the same womb. In communities where gotra membership passed from father to children, marriages were allowed between a woman and her maternal uncle,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a> while such marriages were forbidden in <a href="/facts/Matrilineal/RFgpp4Bg">matrilineal</a> communities, like <a href="/facts/Tuluva/9EVxDfe6">Tuluvas</a>, where gotra membership was passed down from the mother.
A much more common characteristic of South Indian Hindu society is permission for marriage between <a href="/facts/Cross-cousin/1gAU9mgu">cross-cousins</a> (children of brother and sister) as they are of different gotras. Thus, a man is allowed to marry his maternal uncle's daughter or his paternal aunt's daughter but is not allowed to marry his paternal uncle's daughter. She would be considered a <a href="/facts/Parallel_cousin/1gAU9mgu">parallel cousin</a>, of the same gotra, and therefore to be treated as a sister.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a>
North Indian Hindu society not only follows the rules of gotra for marriages but also has many regulations which go beyond the basic definition of gotra and have a broader definition of incest.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a> Some communities in North India do not allow marriage with certain other clans, based on the belief that both clans are of the same patrilineal descent.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a> In other communities, marriage within the gotra of the mother's father, and possibly some others, is prohibited.
A possible workaround for Sagotra marriages is to perform a 'Data' (adoption) of the bride to a family of different gotra (usually data is given to the bride's maternal uncle who belongs to different gotra by the same rule) and let them perform the '<a href="/facts/Kanyadan/umjLESzT">Kanyadanam</a>' ('kanya' (girl) + 'danam' (to give)). Such workarounds are used in rare cases, and the acceptability is questionable.
<a href="/facts/Historical_Vedic_religion/CLhJ6Au6">Vedic Hinduism</a> recognizes eight types of marriages, thus predominantly following the principles as stated in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Manu-smriti">Manu Smriti</a>, referring to eight types of marriages, the roles, and responsibilities of husband and wife, and the purpose of marriage. <a href="/facts/Marriage_in_Hinduism/AydGfct4">Eight types of marriages</a> are, (1) Brahma Vivaha, (2) Arsa Vivaha, (3) Daiva Vivaha, (4) Prajapatya Vivaha, (5) <a href="/facts/Gandharva_marriage/GI3vKEqb">Gandharva Vivaha</a>, (6) Asura Vivaha, (7) Rakshasa Vivaha, and (8) Paishacha Vivaha. The first four types of marriages reflect the paradigm behind arranged marriages. The last three are prohibited as per <a href="/facts/Manu_Smriti/kpMFsXkA">Manu Smriti</a>, out of which the last two are condemned. The Gandharva marriage is analogous to the modern-day love marriage, where the individuals have the liberty to choose their partners. Though <a href="/facts/Gandharva_marriage/GI3vKEqb">Gandharva marriage</a> had its due prominence in the Shastras, with the advancement of time, Vedic Hinduism giving way to classic Hinduism, the concept of arranged marriage rose to prominence, which still today is predominant <a href="/facts/Ritual/EIJngpmf">ritual</a> for a marriage between two individuals.
There is no harm in Sagotra marriage if the individuals are not related for six generations on both maternal and paternal sides. This is expressed in chapter 5 of Manu smriti in mantra 60, which states, सपिण्डता तु पुरुषे सप्तमे विनिवर्तते । समानोदकभावस्तु जन्मनाम्नोरवेदने, which means that <a href="/facts/Sapinda/MRV1CUR5">sapinda</a> ends after seven generations.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a> Section 5(v) of <a href="/facts/Hindu_marriage_Act/CHNlemkN">Hindu Marriage Act 1955</a> also prohibits Sapinda relationship but there is no restriction of Sagotra marriage.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a>

<h3>Legal situation</h3>
While the gotras are almost universally used for excluding marriages that would be traditionally <a href="/facts/Incest/SR46k5AI">incestuous</a>, they are not legally recognized as such, although those within "degrees of prohibited relationship" or who are "sapinda" are not permitted to marry.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a> <a href="/facts/Khap/St2vHPsW">Khap</a> panchayats in Haryana have campaigned to legally ban marriages within the same gotra. A convener of the Kadyan Khap, Naresh Kadyan, petitioned the courts to seek an amendment to the <a href="/facts/Hindu_Marriage_Act/CHNlemkN">Hindu Marriage Act</a> to legally prohibit such marriages. However, the petition was dismissed as withdrawn after being vacated, with the Delhi High Court warning that the Khap would face heavy penalty costs for wasting the time of the court.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a>
In the 1945 case of Madhavrao vs Raghavendrarao, which involved a <a href="/facts/Deshastha_Brahmin/hnQFRrYs">Deshastha Brahmin</a> couple, the definition of gotra as descending from eight sages and then branching out to several families was thrown out by the Bombay High Court. The court called the idea of Brahmin families descending from an unbroken line of common ancestors as indicated by the names of their respective gotras "impossible to accept." The court consulted relevant Hindu texts and stressed the need for Hindu society and law to keep up with the times, emphasizing that notions of good social behavior and the general ideology of the Hindu society had changed. The court also said that the material in the Hindu texts is so vast and full of contradictions that it is a near-impossible task to reduce it to order and coherence.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a>

<h2 id="list-of-gotras-and-each-gotras-rishis">List of Gotras and Each Gotra's Rishis</h2>
<ul><li>Bharadwaja: <a href="/facts/Angiras/BhmXwYmz">Angirasa</a>, Braahaspatya, Bharadwaja</li>
<li>Shatamarshana: <a href="/facts/Angiras/BhmXwYmz">Angirasa</a>, Powrukutsa, Trasatasya</li>
<li>Atreya: Atreya, Aarchanaasa, Syaavaasva</li>
<li>Vatula: Bhargava, Vaitahavya, Saavedasa</li>
<li>Renukacharya: Revaṇārādhya, Revaṇasiddha, Veer, Veerabhadra.</li>
<li>Vatsa: Bhargava, Chyaavana, AApnavaana, Owrva, Jaamadaghnya</li>
<li>Kowsika: Vaiswaamitra, AAgamarshana, Kowsika</li>
<li>Viswamitra: Vaiswaamitra, Devaraata, Owtala or Vaiswaamitra, Ashtaka</li>
<li>Kowndinya: Vaasishta, Maitraavaruna, Kowndinya</li>
<li>Harithasa: (two variations):
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Harita_(Hinduism)/THoMINYW">Harita</a>, Ambarisha, Yuvanasva</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Harita_(Hinduism)/THoMINYW">Harita</a>, Angirasa, Ambarisha, Yuvanasva</li></ul></li>
<li>Mowdkalya (three variations):
<ul><li>Ankiras, Bharmyasva, Mowdgalya</li>
<li>Tarkshya, Bharmyasva, Mowdgalya</li>
<li>Ankirsa, Dhavya, Mowdgalya</li></ul></li>
<li>Sandilya (two variations):
<ul><li>Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala</li>
<li>Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Sandilya</li></ul></li>
<li>Naitruvakaasyapa: Kasyapa, Aavatsara, Naitruva</li>
<li>Kutsa: Aankirasa, Maandhatra,Kowtsa</li>
<li>Kanva (two variations):
<ul><li>Aankirasa, Ajameeda, Kaanva</li>
<li>Aankirasa, Kowra, Kaanva</li></ul></li>
<li>Paraasara: Vaasishta, Saaktya, Paarasarya</li>
<li>Aagastya: Aagastya, Tardhachyuta, Sowmavaha</li>
<li>Gargi (two variations):
<ul><li>Aankirasa, Bharhaspatya, Bharadwaja, Sainya, Gargya</li>
<li>Aangirasa, Sainya, Gaargya</li></ul></li>
<li>Bhadarayana: Aankirasa, Paarshadaswa, Raatitara</li>
<li>Kasyapa: Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala</li>
<li>Sunkriti (two variations):
<ul><li>Aankirasa, Kowravidha, Saankritya</li>
<li>Sadhya, Kowravidha, Saankritya</li></ul></li>
<li>Vasistha: Alihman</li>
<li>Thamasphala</li></ul>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Aliyasantana/VBYyJRHs">Aliyasantana</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Hindu_genealogy_registers_at_Haridwar/wgWL6HrU">Hindu genealogy registers at Haridwar</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Pravaras/Qkmqpzk3">Pravaras</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Bharadvaja/VURrTskf">Bharadvaja</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/List_of_gotras/t6W9Qfsx">List of gotras</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2>
<ul><li>Ruegg, D. Seyfort (1976). 'The Meanings of the Term "Gotra" and the Textual History of the "<a href="/facts/Ratnagotravibh%C4%81ga/xAqmolGf">Ratnagotravibhāga</a>"'. <a href="/facts/Bulletin_of_the_School_of_Oriental_and_African_Studies/xQyNNhww">Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies</a>, <a href="/facts/University_of_London/spIRAx9B">University of London</a>, Vol. 39, No. 2 (1976), pp. 341–363</li></ul>
<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gotras.

<ul><li><a href="http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#Brahmin_Sages_and_Branches">Brahmin Sages and Branches (Gotras and Subcastes)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sanathanadharma.com/samskaras/index.htm#VIVAHA">Marriage Ceremonies</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Singer, Milton; Cohn, Bernard S., eds. (2007). Structure and change in Indian society (1. paperback printing ed.). New Brunswick, N.J.: AldineTransaction. p. 408. ISBN 978-0202361383. <a href="978-0202361383" target="_blank">978-0202361383</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">"Mana Sanskriti (Our Culture)". vedah.net (69). October 2003. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2009. <a href="http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html" target="_blank">http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">www.wisdomlib.org (14 November 2021). "Rules of Marriage (vivāha) [Chapter 154]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 29 October 2022. <a href="https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-agni-purana/d/doc1083384.html" target="_blank">https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-agni-purana/d/doc1083384.html</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Saraswati, Swami Dayanand (2010). Rigvedadi-Bhashya-Bhumika. Vijaykumar Govindram Hasanand. p. 199. ISBN 978-8170771296. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2022. <a href="978-8170771296" target="_blank">978-8170771296</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">"Gotra – Indian caste system". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/239834/gotra" target="_blank">https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/239834/gotra</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">"Gotra". gurjari.net. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2015. <a href="http://www.gurjari.net/ico/Mystica/html/gotra.htm" target="_blank">http://www.gurjari.net/ico/Mystica/html/gotra.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">Russell, Robert Vane (1916). The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India. London: Macmillan and Co. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. <a href="https://archive.org/details/tribescastesofce02russ_0" target="_blank">https://archive.org/details/tribescastesofce02russ_0</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Sadagopan, V. (7 August 1995). "The 20 Gothrams". ramanuja.org. <a href="https://ramanuja.org/sri/BhaktiListArchives/Article?p=aug95%2F0027.html" target="_blank">https://ramanuja.org/sri/BhaktiListArchives/Article?p=aug95%2F0027.html</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">Mehndiratta, MM; Paul, B; Mehndiratta, P (2007). "Arranged marriage, consanguinity and epilepsy" (PDF). Neurology Asia. 12 (Supplement 1): 15–17. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 August 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2009. <a href="http://neurologyasia.org/articles/20073_015.pdf" target="_blank">http://neurologyasia.org/articles/20073_015.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">Sex and Marriage: Marriage Rules (Part 1) Archived 26 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine. palomar.edu. <a href="http://anthro.palomar.edu/marriage/marriage_3.htm" target="_blank">http://anthro.palomar.edu/marriage/marriage_3.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">Vashisht, Dinker (20 July 2009). "Haryana panchayat takes on govt over same-gotra marriage". indianexpress.com. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2009. <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/haryana-panchayat-takes-on-govt-over-samegotra-marriage/491548/" target="_blank">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/haryana-panchayat-takes-on-govt-over-samegotra-marriage/491548/</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">"Manu Smriti". Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2020. <a href="http://aryamantavya.in/manusmriti/5-60/" target="_blank">http://aryamantavya.in/manusmriti/5-60/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">"The Hindu Marriage Act 1955" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2020. <a href="http://bokakhat.gov.in/pdf/The_hindu_marriage_act.pdf" target="_blank">http://bokakhat.gov.in/pdf/The_hindu_marriage_act.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 Archived 22 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine. <a href="http://unstats.un.org/unsd/vitalstatkb/Attachment546.aspx" target="_blank">http://unstats.un.org/unsd/vitalstatkb/Attachment546.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">HC throws out a plea to forbid same gotra marriages Archived 5 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine, The Hindu, June 2010. <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article472462.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article472462.ece</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">Anand, Pinky (28 July 2011). "The paradox of the 21st century". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014. <a href="/wiki/Pinky_Anand" target="_blank">/wiki/Pinky_Anand</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Gotra open-in-new

Gotra