Difference Between Viswamitra Kaushika Gotras Why No Bharata

I have noticed that there are two Gotras, Lineage associated with Sage Viswamitra.

Gotras in general, refer to the lineage of a specific Rishi.

Gayathri . Gayatri Mantra was By Viswamitra.

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It is customary for Ancient Indian writers to refer either to parents or their preceptor/s, as they were placed in a Higher Status than parents,.

Thus we have the parent,Grand parent referred to in Slokas and Stuthis.

Vyaasam Vasishta Napthaaram, Sakthe Pauthra Kalmasham,

Parasaraathmajam Vande Sukha Naadham Thapo Nidhim-Vishnu Sahasra Naama.

Here the author Vyasa introduces himself as,,

Great Grand son of Vasishta,

Grand son of Sakthi,

Son of Parasara, and

Father of Sukha.

How logically the terms are arranged.

Great Grand Father, Grand Father, Father, Self and son!

In case where the Sages had more than one wife, then the Gotra of the son of each wife is added.

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It may be noted in the Pravara,three or Five Rishis are mentioned.

For example, Kasyapa, Apasthara, Naithruva’

This is different from Kasyapa Gotra.

There is another Pravara for Kasyapa Gotra as well.

Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala.

The same with the other Rishis.

Sometimes three Rishis are mentioned and at times Five.

Why?

One view is that these references are to the excellent ancestors from the Gotra.

My view is that , if that be case the first Rishi should always be the founder.

But , as in Nythruva Kasyapa, Kasyapa does not appear as the First Rishi but it is Naithruva.

Reason is that many Rishis have more than one wife and many children through each of them.

Kasyapa had more than one wife.

The Prajapati Daksha gave his thirteen daughters (Aditi, Diti, Kadru, Danu, Arishta, Surasa, Surabhi, Vinata, Tamra, Krodhavasha,Idā, Vishva and Muni in marriage to Kashyapa.

Though the Father is one, mother is different.

To identify and emphasize the differentiate, the three or Five Rishis are mentioned.

Traditionally the first wife’s son carries the Father’s name as Gotra and the others the son of the Second or third wife and but to make the reference correct the founder is mentioned later in the Pravara’

Why No Bharata in Viswamitra Gotra?

In the case of Viswamitra, we have two Pravaras,

Koushika: Vaiswaamitra,Aghamarshana,Koushika.
Viswamitra: Vaiswaamitra,Devaraata, Owtala.

There seems to be no sons mentioned other than the fifty sons being banished by Viswamitra to Dravida Desa.

(Reference History of Tamils by PT Srinivasa Iyengar)

Their descendant Apasthamba established the Apasthamba Sutra , which is being followed by Brahmins of South India(South of Vindhyas).

Since the Dravidians and Bengalis were considered by the people viswamitra do not find a mention in the Gotra,

Though King Bharata after whom India is named as Bharatavarsha,is the grand son of Viswamitra(through his daughter Shakuntala), Bharata’s name does not appear in the Gotra because Gotras are through the Male Child.

Why Two Pravaras for Viswamitra?

Viswamitra was called Kaushika in his early days , before he became a Raja Rishi and was christened as Viswamitra(Friend of the Universe)

Because he became a Brahma Rishi he was considered as a Brahmin by behaviour and Penanance.

( This is yet another example of disposition and character determing The Varna, loosely translated as Caste)

So the Kaushika Gotra probably indicates the lineage of Viswamitra in his early days and Viswamitra Gotra , after he became a Raja Rishi.

I am yet to find the name of Viswamitra’s son.

Readers may contribute.

Post follows on Viswamitra.

chennaibharathkumarkrishnamurthy

9 Mar 2019 at 18:26

Sri Ramanan, Thanks for this interesting post. Here’s an article i had written few yeara ago on Gayatri Mantra – https://www.indiadivine.org/power-gayatri-mantra/.
I too am also from the Kaushika Gotra though i learnt to appreciate our vedic heritage and family tree history a bit late.
By the way, Chathrapathi Shivaji, the Maraatha king – i read somewhere, belongs to Viswamitra kaushika Gotra. It is rumored that Gayatri Mantra rights was sold to an european company. If true, very sad truly Kaliyuga has come of age. Regardless of that, Devi will protect if invoked sincerely. Thanks.