Gotra facts for kids
A Gotra is like a special family group or clan in Hindu society. It means all the people who can trace their family history back to a single male ancestor through an unbroken line of sons. Think of it as a very old family name that shows where your family originally came from.
What is a Gotra?
A Gotra connects you to a very old family line. For example, if someone says, "I am Kashyapa-gotra," it means their family can be traced all the way back to an ancient wise person named Kashyapa. This connection is always through the father's side of the family, from father to son, for many generations.
How Gotras Started
Long ago, a famous scholar named Pāṇini wrote about Gotras. He explained that a Gotra includes all the descendants of a wise person, or "sage." He said it starts from the sage's grandson and continues through the male line. This idea helped people understand their family roots.
The Seven Sages
In ancient Hindu texts, like the Brihadaranyaka Upanisad, seven very important wise people are mentioned. These are often called the Saptarishi, which means "Seven Sages." They are:
- Gautama
- Bharadvāja
- Viśvāmitra
- Jamadagni
- Vashishtha
- Kaśhyapa
- Atri
It is believed that most Gotras today come from these eight main sages (including one more, Atri, making it eight primary Gotras). People who are descendants of other wise people, not directly from these main eight, are sometimes called gotrâvayava. This system helped organize families and keep track of their heritage for thousands of years.
