Pravaras

In Brahmin Hindu culture, a Pravara (Sanskrit for "most excellent") is a particular Brahmin's descent from a rishi (sage) who belonged to their gotra (clan). 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." Generally, there are three,five or seven pravaras. The sacred thread yajnopavita worn on upanayana has close and essential 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,five or seven of the most excellent rishis belonging to one's gotra.

The full affiliation of a brāhamana consists of (1)gotra, (2)sutra (of Kalpa), (3)shakha, (4)pravaras .

(Example :) A brahmana named 'Rama' introduces himself as follows : I am 'Rama', of Shrivatsa gotra, of Āpastamba sutra, of Taittiriya shākha of Yajurveda, of five pravaras named Bhārgava, Chyāvana, Āpnavan, Aurva and Jāmdagnya (This example is based upon the example given by Pattābhirām Shastri in the introduction to Vedārtha-Pārijata, cf. ref.).

While the gotras were classified initially according to seven rishis, the pravaras were classified under the names of the following seven rishis:

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 Bharadvaja were the descendants of rishi Angirasa.

The pravara identifies the association of a person with two, three (or sometimes five) of the above-mentioned rishis. It also signifies the Sutras contributed to different Vedas by those rishis.

For example, Kashyapa Gothram has 3 rishis associated with it viz. Kashyap, Nidruva and Avatsara. Another variant of Kasyapasa Gothram in Andhra Pradesh do have 7 Rishis associated with it viz. Kashyapa, Aavatsara, Naidruva, Rebha, Raibha, Sandila, Sandilya.

Gotra Pravara

  1. Kapisa: Angirasa,Bharadwaja,Matavacha,Bharhaspatya,Vaandana - it is pancha pravar
  2. Pautamarshi:Angirasa,Barhaspatya,Jamdagni,Apnuvat -it is pancha pravar
  3. Kundina Gowthama :Angirasa, Ayasya, Kundina Gowthama
  4. Bharadwaja: Angirasa, Barhaspatya, Bharadwaja
  5. Vadula,Savarni,& Yaska: Bhargava,Vaitahavya,Saavedasa
  6. Maitreya:Bhargava,Daivodasa,Vadhryasva
  7. Shaunaka:Shaunaka(ekarsheya)
  8. Gartsamada:Bhargava,Sunahotra,Gartsamada
  9. Vatsa/Srivatsa: Bhargava, Chyavana, Apnavana/Apntuvat, Aurava, Jamadagnya
  10. Aarshtisena: Bhargava, Chyavana, Apnavana,Aarshtisena,Anupa
  11. Bidasa:Bhargava, Chyavana, Apnavana/Apnuvat/Abnavana, Aurava,Baida
  12. Saavarni:Bhargava,Vaitahavya,Savedasa
  13. Shatamarshana: Angirasa, Powrukutsa,Traasatasya
  14. AAtreya/Krishnatreya: Atreya,Aarchanaasa,Syaavaasva
  15. Vadhbhutaka: Atreya,Aarchanaasa,Vadhbhutaka
  16. Gavisthiras:Atreya,Gavisthira,Purvatitha
  17. Koushika: Vaiswaamitra,Aghamarshana,Koushika
  18. Kalabodhana/Kalaboudha: Viswaamitra,AAgamarshana,Kalabodhana/Kalaboudha
  19. Bhargava:Bhargava,Abnavana/Tvashta/Ahabhuna,Vishvaroopa
  20. Viswamitra: Vaiswaamitra,Devaraata, Owtala
  21. Kowndinya: Vashista,Maitraavarana,Kowndinya
  22. Kapinjala:Vashista,Aindrapramada,Abharadvasavya
  23. Vashista:Vashista(ekarsheya)
  24. Harita/Haritasa:(2 Variations)
    1. Harita, Ambarisha,Yuvanasva
    2. Angirasa, Ambarisha,Yuvanasva
  25. Gautamasa: Angirasa,Aayasyasa,Gautama
  26. Dhanvantari: Angirasa,Barhaspatya,Avatsara,Naidhruba
  27. Mowdgalya(3 Variations)
    1. Angirasa,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya
    2. Tarkshya,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya
    3. Angirasa, Dhavya, Mowdgalya
  28. Sandilya (5 Variations)
    1. Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Naidhruva
    2. Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Sandilya
    3. Kasyapa, Daivala, Asitha
    4. Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Nidhruva,Rebha,Ribhya,Shandila,Sandilya
    5. Kasyapa,Thivala,Asitha,Aavatsara,Thiswatha,Reparesha,Sandilya
  29. Naitruvakaasyapa: Kasyapa,Aavatsara,Naitruva
  30. Kutsa/Kauchhsa: Aangirasa,Maandhatra,Koutsa
  31. Kapi: Angirasa, Aamahaiya,Orukshaya
  32. Kapila: Angirasa, Aamahaiya,Orukshaya
  33. Kanva (2 Variations)
    1. Angirasa,Ajameeda,Kaanva
    2. Angirasa,Kowra, Kaanva
  34. Paraasara: Vashista, Saktya, Parasara
  35. Upamanyu: Vashista,Aindrapramada,Bhadravasavya
  36. Aagastya: Aagastya,Tardhachyuta,Sowmavaha
  37. Gargyasa (2 Variations)
    1. Angirasa,Bharhaspatya,Bharadwaja,Sainya,Gargya
    2. Angirasa, Sainya, Gaargya
  38. Bhadarayana: Angirasa,Paarshadaswa, Rathitara
  39. Rathitara: Angirasa, Vairupya, Paarshadaswa
  40. Kashyapa (2 Variations)
    1. Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala
    2. Kashyapa, Aavatsara, Naidruva, Rebha, Raibha, Sandila, Sandilya
  41. Sankriti (2 Variations)
    1. Angirasa,Kowravidha,Saankritya
    2. Sadhya,Kowravidha,Saankritya
  42. Suryadwija: Kaushik, Kashik, Kesh, Kashya, Kashyapeya
  43. Daivaratasa: Viswamitra, Daivaratasa, Avudhala
    1. chikitasa—viswamitra,Devarata,Aghamarshana
  44. Shaktri : Vashistha, Shaktri,Parashar
  45. Jaabaali/Jabali : Bhargava, Vaithahavya, Raivasa - Thrayarisheya
  46. Vishnuvridha/Vishnuvardhanu : Angirasa, Pourukutsa, Thraasadasya
  47. Salankayana: Viswamitra, Aghamarshana, Salankayana

Example

Sanskrit Transliteration Meaning
चतुस्सागरः पर्यन्त गो ब्राह्मणेभ्य शुभं भवतु chatussAgara paryantam gobrAhmaNebhyaH shubhaM bhavatu Prelogue: May all the cows and Brahmanas across the four seas be blessed
आङ्गिरस Barhspathya भारद्वाज TriaRishayoH प्रवरान्वित Bhargava,Vaitahavya(Prononce as : Why-tahvya),Saavedasa TriaRishayoH pravarAnvita The names and number of the main rishis to whose lineage the person belongs
भारद्वाज गोत्र Vadulasa gotrah Gotra of the person
आपस्तम्ब सूत्र Apastamba sUtrah The sutra that the person follows
श्री कृष्णयजु शाखाध्यायी kRshNa YajushAkhAdhAyI The veda shakha that the person belongs to
श्री वेंकट रामकृष्ण प्रसाद शर्मा अहं भोः अभिवादये Lakshmi Nararyana Sharmaa ahaM bhoH AbhivAdaye Name of the person

See also

References

    Further reading

    Main point to be remembered is these gotras have direct relation to Saptarishis. But Saptarishis change according to yuga. This is contributing factor for different versions in different texts commentaries and Bhashyams. This if considered would obviate differences in interpretation. Another instance is the references to Gotras is different in north India and South India and different parts. For example, the same Bhargava Gotra referred in north is referred as Srivathsa quoted by Pattabhirama Sastry in the text. Likewise vasishta Gotra is referred to as Kaundinyasa in South India. This is because of interpretation of Sutras contributed by the Rishis and later explanatory comments.


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