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:

• Agastya
• Angirasa
• Atri
• Bhrigu
• Kashyapa
• Vashista
• 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 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

• List of Brahmin gotras
• Brahmin gotra system
• upanayanam

References

Further reading

• Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monier-Williams, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt Ltd, 55-Rani Jhansi Road, New Delhi-110055,Third Print 1988; (original publication Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1899).
• Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monier-Williams, ISBN 0-19-864308-X.
• Vedārtha-Pārijāta by Swāmi Karpātri, introduction by Pattābhirām Śāstri, Śri Rādhā krishna Dhanuka Prakāśan Sansthān, Calcutta ; Sañchālaka : Vedaśāstra Research Centre, Kedārghat, Vārānasi,1979 (Sanskrit and Hindi, the introduction has an English translation as well).

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.

External links

• Sandhyavandane description – Search for "pravara" in that page.