Gotra

Gotra (Sanskrit, n, गोत्र, gotra ) is an Indian term relationship and best with clan or lineage translate. The Gotra system was ( 900-500 BC) described towards the end of the Vedic period of Indian Brahmins, however, occurs not only with Brahmins. It denotes a patrilineal system of exogamous clans that relate to a common ancestor from which they also get their name (comparable to the Roman gene).

Importance

A Gotra is the whole group of people who descended from a common the following ancestors: with the Brahmins there are the seven Rishis ( seers ) Jamadagni, Gautama, Bharadwaja, Atri, Vishwamitra, Kashyapa, Vasishta and Agastya, other groups include mythical ruler or warriors or merchants to their ancestors. Marriage between members of the same gotras is strictly prohibited. The woman receives during the birth of her father, which she gives at the wedding again to accept her husband's, which strictly speaking is no longer considered related to their parents gotra.

In Buddhism and Jainism we find gotra, the definition but partly differs from that of Hinduism. The spacious well-known gotra - name is that of the Buddha: Gautama.

Gotras in the Rigveda

The word gotra immersed in the Rigveda already several times, but not in the sense of "clan" or " family," but with the etymological meaning "cattle, cattle barn ." It is unclear whether it has drawn "clan" - meaning, in the Brahmana period ( around 800-500 BC ) became common on the importance detour " flock" thereof, or whether we are dealing with an independent word. The literary evidence of the marriage ban on members of a gotras, however, we find only in the sutras.

Gotras in the sutras

Main source of information about the organization of the Gotra system are lists of which is divided into classes Brahmin family in the Annexes of ritual Sutras of Yajurvedas and Rigveda. With the Dharmashastratexten (from 300 AD. ) The gotra rules set by more and more and are almost compulsory from the 11th century. Many works are written, in which the authors bring together the various sources of the various sutras and explain this. All texts from this period (which in turn are based on the older by about 1500 years sutra sources ) agree that there are 18 gotras that branch off from the original eight Hauptgotras corresponding to the eight ancestors. Gotra each divided into a plurality ganas, subgroups. Gotras and Ganas are ranked according to their importance.

Introduction of Pravaras

Over time, the meaning of the word gotra has expanded and has been transferred to smaller and smaller sub-groups, so that it was generally used for both the exogamous unit of the clan as well as families and subfamilies, and even the social status in the later Brahminical texts. Through this understanding of the term has become ambiguous secure classification of two suitors was no longer visible, which Hauptgotra someone belongs no longer possible. The Indian scholar John Brough believed to have been taken for this reason by the Brahmans the pravaras to help and re-interpreted to act as zuverlässigereres Regulations for the marriage system. Pravaras are lists of names of legendary ancestors, including the already mentioned Rishis, which are regarded as remote founder of the family. As a result of the integration of Pravaras in family matters whose recitation was part of the household ritual. Many modern Brahmins recite their genealogy three times daily in the prayers as part of the ritual of dawn.

Today's application

The system finds particularly among members of higher castes continue to apply. Especially in South India is traversed by the modified four- gotra rule. These four gotras are used at each potential partner: their own, that of the mother (in her own wedding ) and the two grandmothers ( also before their wedding ). If two of the eight gotras are identical, the marriage can not take place.

Itemization

Source

• Brough, John: The early history of the gotras in JRAS, 1946, 1947