Examine individual changes

'{{Hinduism_small}} A '''gotra''' is the [[Lineage (anthropology)|lineage]] or [[clan]] assigned to a [[Hindu]] at birth. In most cases, the system is patrilineal and the ''gotra'' assigned is that of the person's father, however in some communities such as the [[Nair]]s of [[Kerala]], the gotra is passed through the mother. Other terms for it are '''vansh''', '''vanshaj''', '''bedagu''', '''purvik''', '''purvajan''', '''pitru'''. An individual may decide to identify his lineage by a different gotra, or combination of gotras. According to strict Hindu tradition, the term ''gotra'' is used only for the lineages of [[Brahmin]], [[Kshatriya]] and [[Vaishya]] [[Varna (Hinduism)|varna]]s {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}. Brahminical gotra relates directly to the original seven or eight [[rishi]]s of the Vedas {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}. Later, the term ''gotra'' was expanded beyond Brahmin {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}. A gotra must be distinguished from a ''kula''. A kula is a set of people following similar cultural rituals, often worshiping the same divinity (the ''Kula-Devata'', god of the clan). Kula does not relate to lineage or ''caste''. In fact, it is possible to change one's kula, based on one's faith or ''[[Iṣṭa-devatā]]''. It is common practice in preparation for [[Hinduism|Hindu]] marriage to inquire about the kula-gotra (meaning clan lineage) of the bride and groom before approving the marriage. In almost all Hindu families,''' [[marriage]] within the same gotra is prohibited''', since people with same gotra are considered to be siblings. But marriage within the kula is allowed and even preferred. ''Shudras'' also have gotras, and follow them in marriages {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}. For example a weaver falls under Markandeya gotra. Markandeya was known be a Maharishi and had 60 sons. Marriages are held within Markandeya but never in same family name. So, every weaver falls under one of these gotra. The family name is given by the Brahmin or Guru's name {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}. In a court case "Madhavrao vs Raghavendrarao" which involved a [[Deshastha Brahmin]] couple, the German scholar Max Mueller's definition of gotra as descending from eight sages and then branching out to several families was thrown out by reputed judges of a Bombay High Court.<ref name=sen1>{{cite web|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/TOI/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOIBG%2F2010%2F05%2F15&ViewMode=HTML&PageLabel=3&EntityId=Ar00301&AppName=1|title=Same-gotra marriages okayed in ’45|last=Sen|first=Ronojoy |publisher=TNN|accessdate=Junly 30, 2010|date=May 15, 2010}}</ref> 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''.<ref name=anand>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article432445.ece|accessdate=July 30, 2010|title=The paradox of the 21st century|first=Pinky |laste=Anand|date=May 18, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref name=sen2>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Same-gotra-marriage-legal-court-had-ruled-65-years-ago/articleshow/5932546.cms|first=Ronojoy |last=Sen|publisher=TNN|title=Same-gotra marriage legal, court had ruled 65 years ago|accessdate=July 30, 2010|date=May 15, 2010}}</ref> The court also said that the mass of material in the Hindu texts is so vast and full of contradictions that it is almost an impossible task to reduce it to order and coherence.<ref name=sen1/> ==Origin of gotra== In [[Vedic Sanskrit]], the word "gotra" originally meant "cow-pen." <ref>Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon: http://webapps.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/tamil/recherche?dictionary=mwd&prst=exact&st=gotra</ref> Cows were at the time  the most valuable possession of a family group, so with time, the term "gotra" began to refer to the family group who owned a particular pen of cows {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}. The term was associated eventually with just the family group and its lineage. Gotra is the Sanskrit term for a much older system of tribal clans {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}. The Sanskrit term "Gotra" was initially used by the [[Vedic period|Vedic]] people '''{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}''' for the identification of the lineages. Generally, these lineages mean patrilineal descent from the sages or ''rishi''s in Brahmins, warriors and administrators in [[Kshatriyas]] and ancestral trademen in [[Vaisyas]]{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}. The lineage system, either patrilineal or matrilineal, was followed by the South Asian people. In present-day [[Hinduism]], Gotra is applied to all the lineage systems. Many Hindu [[castes]] have lineages that do not follow Vedic classification. A brahmin, though solely eligible to be regarded as such by virtue of being born of, at the least, A male brahmin and a female Brahmin, or a female who is seven parts out of eight Brahmin and in no part a Shudra or non-dwija lineage (Manu-Smriti) {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}, must nevertheless be reborn by the rite of the thread ceremony at an age earlier than that permissible to the Kshatriya and Vaisya classes and is traditionally expected to display learning and intellect befitting a Brahmin {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}. Those born low could become a Brahmin in their next life {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} by elevating his learning and conduct and similarly one who had achieved Brahmanical status could be pushed to a lower strata if his conduct came to demand such relegation {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}. A Brahmin must be "Re-born" and that is why he is called "Dwija- twice born". The case of sage Vishwamitra is the example. Thus the gotra must have been of the lineage of the learning one chose rather than the lineage of one's birth. Rama is stated to be the descendant of Ikshwaku, but the lineage was broken when Kalmashpada got his son through Niyoga of Vasishta with Kalmashapad's wife Madayanthi, and not through a biological liaison. Yet Rama is said to be Ikshwaku's descendant and not of Vasishta. Some claim of a continuous biological linkage with the ''moola purusha'' [or most significant personality] of the Gothra, where as it need not be the case. Some times, a Gotra is based on the Guru for the family or one of the ancestors. Many of the Niyogi Brahmins have descended from a Niyoga liaison, but not a marital liaison {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}. ==Marriages and gotras== In a patrilineal Hindu society (most common), the bride belongs to her father's gotra before the marriage, and to her husband's gotra after the marriage. The groom on the other hand only belongs to his father's gotra throughout his life. Marriages within the gotra ('sagotra' marriages) are not permitted under the rule of [[exogamy]] in the traditional matrimonial system. The word 'sagotra' is union the words 'sa' + gotra, where 'sa' means same or similar. People within the gotra are regarded as [[kin]] and marrying such a person would be thought of as [[incest]]. The [[Tamil language|Tamil]] words 'sagotharan' (brother) and 'sagothari' (sister) derive their roots from the Sanskrit word 'sahodara' (सहोदर) meaning co-uterine or born of the same womb. In communities where gotra membership passed from father to children, marriages were allowed between maternal uncle and niece<ref>http://countrystudies.us/india/86.htm</ref>, while such marriages were forbidden in [[matrilineal]] communities, like [[Malayali]]s and [[Tuluva]]s, where gotra membership was passed down from the mother. A much more common characteristic of south Indian Hindu society is permission for marriage between [[cross-cousin]]s (children of brother and sister). 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 father's brother's daughter. She would be considered a [[parallel cousin]] who is treated as a sister.<ref>http://neurologyasia.org/articles/20073_015.pdf</ref> [[North Indian]] [[Hindu]] society not only follows the rules of gotra for marriages, but also had many regulations which went beyond the basic definition of gotra and had a broader definition of incestuousness.<ref>http://anthro.palomar.edu/marriage/marriage_3.htm</ref> Some communities in North India do not allow marriage with some other communities on the lines that both the Communities are having brotherhood.<ref>http://www.indianexpress.com/news/haryana-panchayat-takes-on-govt-over-samegotra-marriage/491548/</ref> An acceptable social workaround for sagotra marriages is to perform a 'Dathu' (adoption) of the bride to a family of different gotra (usually dathu is given to the bride's maternal uncle who obviously belongs to different gotra by the same rule) and let them perform the 'kanniyadhanam' ('kanni' (virgin) + 'dhanam' (gift)). However, this is easier said as it would be quite difficult for the bride's father to watch another man give his daughter's hand away in marriage in his own presence. Khap panchayats in Haryana have been making a huge fuss over banning "same gotra marriages." Kadyan Khap International convener Naresh Kadyan had moved a petition seeking amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA) so as to legally prohibit marriages in the same gotra. However, the petition was dismissed as withdrawn after a vacation Bench of Justices S N Dhingra and A K Pathak of the Delhi High Court warned that a heavy cost would be imposed on the petitioner for wasting the time of the court. In course of the proceedings, the bench observed, “You don’t know what is a gotra. Which Hindu text prescribes banning of sagotra (same clan) marriage? Why are you wasting the time of the court? If you are not able to substantiate your words, then you should not have come before the court.” <ref>[http://beta.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article472462.ece HC throws out plea to forbid same gotra marriages, June 2010]</ref> ==List of gotras== {{main|List of gotras}} ==See also== * [[Brahmin gotra system]] * [[List of Gurjar clans]] * [[Prajapati Clans]] * [[Thogata Veera Kshatriya Gotra System]] * [[Tuluva Malayali lineage system]] * [[Hindu genealogy registers at Haridwar]] * [[List of Brahmin gotras]] * [[Pravaras]] * [[List of Kongu Vellala kootams]] * [[Bhatias gotra system]] * [[Jat clans]] * [[Heer (clan)]] ==Notes== <references /> ==References== *Ruegg, D. Seyfort (1976). 'The Meanings of the Term "Gotra" and the Textual History of the "Ratnagotravibhāga"'. ''Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies'', University of London, Vol. 39, No. 2 (1976), pp.&nbsp;341–363 ==External links== *[http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#Brahmin_Sages_and_Branches Brahmin Sages and Branches (Gotras and Subcastes)] *[http://www.gurjari.net/ico/Mystica/html/gotra.htm gotra] *[http://goelji.com Goelji.com] is a community portal of baniyas *[http://www.sanathanadharma.com/samskaras/index.htm#VIVAHA Marriage Ceremonies] *[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/239834/gotra Encyclopedia Britannica] [[Category:Indian caste system]] [[Category:Families]] [[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]] [[Category:Kinship and descent]] [[Category:Gotras| ]] [[bn:গোথারা]] [[de:Gotra]] [[fr:Gotra]] [[bpy:গোথারা]] [[new:गोथ्रा]] [[ja:ゴートラ]] [[pt:Gotra]] [[ru:Готра]] [[sv:Gotra]] [[ta:கோத்திரம்]] [[vi:Gothra]]'