The word "gotra" means "lineage" in the Sanskrit language.

Among those of the Brahmin caste, gotras are reckoned patrilineally. Each gotra takes the name of a famous Rishi
or sage who was the patrilineal forebearer of that clan. And each Gotra is addressed by the suffix 'sa' or 'asa' as relevant.
The concept of Gotra was the first attempt among Brahmins to classify themselves among different groups. At the beginning, these gentes identified themselves by the names
of various rishis (Angirasa, Atri, Gautam, Kashyapa, Bhrigu, Vasistha, Kutsa,and Bharadwaja; the first seven of these are often enumerated as Saptarishis). It is to be noted
that Vishwamitra was initially a Kshatriya king, who later chose and rose to become an ascetic rishi. Hence the gotra was applied to the grouping stemming from one of these
rishis as his descendants.
Gotras
Main article: Gotra
Many lines of descent from the major rishis were later grouped separately. Accordingly, the major gotras were divided into ganas (subdivisions) and each gana was further
divided into groups of families. The term gotra was then frequently started being applied to the ganas and to the sub-ganas. chaturvedi and agnihotri both are come from
Bhargava
Every brahmin claims to be a direct patrilinial descendant of one of the founding rishis of a certain gana or sub-gana. It is the gana or sub-gana that is now commonly referred
to as gotra.
Over the years, the number of gotras increased due to:
Descendants of original rishi also started new family lineage or new gotras, 1.
By inter marriage with other sub-groups of the same caste, and 2.
Inspired by another rishi whose name they bear as their own gotra. 3.
Pravara is the number of the most excellent (-cf. reference, Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Monier-Williams) rishis who belonged to that particular gotra to which a person belongs.
Gotra is the name of the founding father. In vedic ritual, the importance of the pravara appears to be in its use by the ritualist for extolling his ancestry and proclaiming, "as a
descendant of worthy ancestors, I am a fit and proper person to do the act I am performing." The sacred thread yajnopavita worn on upanayana has close connection with the
concept of pravaras related to brahmin gotra system. While tying the knots of sacred thread, an oath is taken in the name of each one of these three or five of the most
excellent rishis belonging to one's gotra.
The full affiliation of a brhamana consists of (1)gotra, (2)pravaras (3)sutra (of Kalpa), (4)shakha.
Main bharadwaj poojari of kali mandir in delhi are living in Chirag Delhi
(Example :) A brahmana named 'X' introduces himself as follows : I am 'X', of Shrivatsa gotra, of pastamba sutra, of Taittiriya shkha of Yajurveda, of five pravaras named
Bhrgava, Chyvana, pnavan, Aurva and Jmdagnya (This example is based upon the example given by Pattbhirm Shastri in the introduction to Vedrtha-Prijata, cf. ref.).
While the gotras were classified initially according to nine (?) rishis, the pravaras were classified under the names of the following seven rishis:
Agastya
Angirasa
Atri
Bhrigu
Kashyapa
Vasistha
Vishvamitra
According to the listing of authors included in the verses in Rigved, the rishi Jamadagni was a descendant of rishi Bhrigu while the rishis Gautam and Bharadwaja were the
descendants of rishi Angirasa. There were a group of rishis(well-known as yogi), they believed that, they are originated from lord shiva, successor of that rishis are under shiva
gotra and well-known as rudraja brahmin.
The pravara identifies the association of a person with three or sometimes five of the above-mentioned rishis.
For example, Kashyapa Gothram has 3 rishis associated with it viz. Kashyapa, Daivala and Aavatsaara
Gothras and Pravaras
Suryadhwaja: Lakhi (Mehrishi), Soral, Binju 1.
Bharadwaja: Angirasa, Bruhaspatya (i.e. bruhaspati), Bharadwaja, Upreti 2.
Rathitara: Baaryhaspatya, Angirasa, Rathitara 3.
Vatula/Vadula: Bhargava,Vaitahavya,Saavedasa 4.
Srivatsa/Vatsasya: Bhargava,Chyaavana,Aapnavaana,Aurva,Jaamadaghneya 5.
Salankayana: Viswaamitra, Aghamarshana, Devarata 6.
Shatamarshana: Angirasa, Powrukutsa,Traasatasya 7.
Atreyasa: Atreyasa,Aarchanaasa,Syaavatsyasa 8.
Kowsika: Vishwamitra,Aghavarshana,Kowsika 9.
Kalabodhana/Kalabhavasa(3 variations) 10.
Contents
Brahmin gotra system
Lifestyle Entertainment Video Games
Brahmin gotra system - Familypedia http://familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/Brahmin_gotra_system
1 of 5 6/2/2014 7:29 AM
Kalabodhana: Viswaamitra,AAgamarshana,Kalabodhana 1.
Kalaboudha:Viswaamitra,AAgamarshana,Kalaboudha 2.
Kalabhavasa:Viswaamitra,AAgamarshana,Kalabhavasa 3.
Viswamitra: Viswamitra,Devarata, Owtala 11.
Kaundinyasa (Kaundinya): Vasista,Maitraavaruna, Kaundinya 12.
Haritasa: Angirasa, Ambarisha,Yuvanasva 13.
Gautamasa: Angirasa,Aayasyasa, Gautama
gautamasa 7 sages;gautama,ayasya,ousishya,oushaja,kankshvadana,bhriguridhdha,vaamadava:krishna yajurveda tiettereeya saakha 1.
14.
Mowdgalya(3 Variations) 15.
Angirasa,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya 1.
Tarkshya,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya 2.
Angirasa, Dhavya, Mowdgalya 3.
1.
Sandilya (4 Variations)
Kasyapasa,Aavatsaara,Daivala 1.
Kasyapasa,Aavatsaara,Sandilya 2.
Kasyapasa, Daivala, Asitha 3.
Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Dev , Naidruva(Naitruva), Rebha, Raibha , Sandila, Saandilya 4.
2.
Naitruvakaasyapa: Kasyapa,Aavatsara,Naitruva 3.
Kutsa: Angirasa,Maandhatra,Kowtsa 4.
Kanva (2 Variations)
Angirasa,Ajameeda,Kaanva 1.
Angirasa,Kowra, Kaanva 2.
5.
Parashara: Vasista, Saaktya, Parashara 6.
Agastyasa: Agastya,Tardhachyuta,Sowmavaha 7.
Gargya/Garga (2 Variations)
Angirasa,Bharhaspatya,Bharadwaja,upadhyay 1.
Angirasa, Sainya, Gaargya 2.
8.
Bhadarayana: Angirasa,Paarshadaswa, Raatitara 9.
Kasyapa (3 Variations)
Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala, Marichi, 1.
Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Naidruva(Naitruva), Marichi 2.
Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Naidruva(Naitruva), Rebha, Raibha , Sandila, Saandilya 3.
10.
Sunkriti (2 Variations)
Angirasa,Kowravidha,Saankritya 1.
Sadhya,Kowravidha,Saankritya 2.
11.
Angirasa, Pourukutsya, Thraasadasya 12.
Gautamasa: Aangeerasa, ayasya, gowtama 13.
AgniVaiwaswatha: Angirasa, Brahaspthayasa, Bharadwaja, Srukva, Agnivaiwaswathasa 14.
Sankhyayana:Vishwamitra,Aghamarshana,Devaratha
Vishwamitra, Shraumita, Kaamakayana, Devatarasa, Devaraata, Panchashraya 1.
15.
Kapi: Angirasa,Amahaiya,Orukshaya, 16.
Kapila: Angirasa,Amahaiya,Orukshaya, 17.
Vartantu 18.
Kutsasa: Angirasa,Mandhatha,Kutsa, 19.
Kutchasa: Hatita, Ambarisha, Yuvanaswa, Mahandatha, Dharbapingala 20.
Rauksaayana:Angiras, Mandhana, Madhuvachasa 21.
Viswamitra:Viswamitra,AAgamarshana,lohitasya 22.
Jamadagni: Bhargava, Chyavana, Aapnavaana, Aurava, Jaamadagneya 23.
Bhargava:Bhargava ,Tvashta,Vishvarupa 24.
Lohitasa:Lohitasa,Ashtaka,Ambareesha 25.
Vatsa: Orva,Bhardwaj,Bhargava, Chyavana, Aapnavan 26.
Kapinjala:Vasista,Aindrapramada,Abharadwasavya 27.
Aupamanavya:Vasista,Aindrapramada,Abharadwasavya 28.
List of Brahmin Gotras
The following is a partial list of gotras found in the Brahmin community of Hindus:
Agastya
Atreyasa / Atri
Alambani
Angad
Angirasa
Lifestyle Entertainment Video Games
Brahmin gotra system - Familypedia http://familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/Brahmin_gotra_system
2 of 5 6/2/2014 7:29 AM
Ahabhunasa
Aupamanyava
Babhravya
Bharadwaj
Bhargava
Bhakdi
Bhaskara
Chandilya
Charora
Chikitasa
Chyavana
Dalabhya
Darbhas
Dev
Dhananjaya
Dhanvantari
Galvasaya
Garga
Gautamasa
Gaubhilya
Ghrit kaushika
Harita/ Haritasa
Hukman Bhal
Jamadagni
Jatukarna
Kalabodhana/ Kalaboudha /Kalabhavasa
Kamakayana Vishwamitra
Kanva
Kaushikasa
Kapi
Kapil
Kapinjala
Karmani
Kashyapasa
Kaundinyasa
Kaunsh
Kaushal/ Kaushalas / Kushal
Kaushik/Koshik/Koushik,Kushika/Ghrit kaushika
Kaustubha
Kausyagasa
Kavist
Katyayana
Krishnatriya or Krishnatreeya
Kundina Gowtama
Kusha
Kutsa
Kutsasa
Lakhi
Lohit
Lohita-Kowsika
Lomasha
Mandavya
Marichi
Markandeya
Mauna Bhargava
Matanga
Maudgalya Moudgalya
Mudgala (Maudgalya, Moudgil, Modgil, Mudgal)
Mudgal
Mihirayan
Naidhruva
Nithunthana/Naithunthasa
Nydravakashyapa
Nrisimhadevara
Lifestyle Entertainment Video Games
Brahmin gotra system - Familypedia http://familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/Brahmin_gotra_system
3 of 5 6/2/2014 7:29 AM
Parashara
Parthivasa
Pouragutsya
Punagashella
Ratheetarasa
Purang
Pradnya
Rathitara
Rohinya
Rauksaayana
Saminathen
Sanatana
Salankayana
Sangar
Sanaka
Sanaga
Sanjaya
Sankhyayana
Sankrithi(Sankrityayan)
Sankyanasa
Sathamarshana
Shandilya , sanas
Sandilyasa
Shandelosya
Saawarna
Saharia Joshi
Sauparna
Savaran
Savita
Somnasser
Pratanansya
Saankritya(Sakarawar)
Soral
Srivatsa
Sumarkanth
Suryadhwaja
Shaktri
Shaunaka
Sravanvaitas
Surya
Swatantra Kabisa
Tugnait
Roushayadana
Upadhyay
Upmanyu (Upamanyu)
Upreti
Vadula
Valmiki
Vardhviyasa
Vardhulasa
Vardhyswasa
Vashishta
Vatsa
Vatsyayan
Veetahavya
Vishnu
Vishnuvardhana
Vishnuvruddha
[[*[[Valmiki
Vishvagni
Yaska
Vaidya/Baidya
Vartantu
Vishwagni
Lifestyle Entertainment Video Games
Brahmin gotra system - Familypedia http://familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/Brahmin_gotra_system
4 of 5 6/2/2014 7:29 AM
Categories: Brahmins Gotras
Utsasya
Suparna
Shiva
kuvera
Implications
Although people belonging to the same gotra are, in theory, related to each other patrilineally, and belong to the same Brahmin caste, there may be very little else in common
between them. In fact, as per the Vedic system, a man and a woman belonging to the same gotra are considered to be a brother and sister, and hence, a marriage between a
man and a woman belonging to the same gotra (known as sa-gotra) is forbidden as it will cause anomalies in the progeny that come out of such a marriage. A married woman
takes up the gotra of her husband. The fact that people belong to a certain gotra says nothing about their domicile, original place of residence, mother tongue or family
occupation, which can be known from than lower lever classification below gotra: pravaras, sutra (of Kalpa), shakhaand Haritash,Indoria, Kavist
See also
Brahmin communitiesSome of the brahmins having Gautam Gotra and Tripravara- as Gautam Angiras and Barhaspatya, are reisiding in Kumaon hills.
Pravaras
Gotra
Maithil Brhamana
References
A History of Brahmin Clans (Brhmaa Vash k Itihsa) in Hindi, by Dorill arm,published by Rtriya Brhamana Mahsabh, Vimal Building, Jamirbd,
Mitranagar, Masdbd,Aligarh-1, 2nd ed-1998. (This Hindi book contains the most exhaustive list of Brahmana gotras and pravaras together their real and mythological
histories).
Vedrtha-Prijata by Swmi Karptri,Published by Sri Rdh Krishna Dhanuka Prakshan Sansthan,Calcutta,1979;(Sachlakas : Vedasstra Research Centre,
Kedrghat, Vrnasi)
This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Brahmin gotra system. The list of authors can be seen in the page history . As with this
Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
Lifestyle Entertainment Video Games
Brahmin gotra system - Familypedia http://familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/Brahmin_gotra_system
5 of 5 6/2/2014 7:29 AM