Ramanisblog

Tag: Caste

  • Pravaras Gotras Pdf

    Pravaras Gotras Pdf

    I had written on Gotra system of India. Gotra is unique identity of an individual by linking his ancestors.The Gotr as differ for each varna, Brahmana, Kshatriya,Vaisya.

    Gotras have one,two, three or five Rishis as the first of the Lineage.

    I have been answering doubts on Gotras.I have posted an article on how to find Gotra.

    One of the readers has taken pains to get a reference text in Mysuru, published in the year 1900!My gratitude to him. I am providing the communication from him

    And the Book in Pdf.You may download.

    https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.553693

    You may visit the Link below.

    ‘https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=forums&srcid=MTQyNTE0MTcxODQxNzMxMDM3MDQBMTIyNDMxMjA3MjY2NTk2Mjc0NzgBeUk3d1k2OGlFQUFKATAuMQEBdjI

    Please find attached.Scroll down to index, Check the gotram, scroll down to that group and you can see the entire list of descendants of gotras and pravaras.The kevalaas are also listed. That is, those who are brahmins, moved to practise kshatriya work and then returned to the brahmin roots.Ten in all. Such as Garga, Moudgalya, Sankriti,…etc.Also, the 2-family ones are explained. [ dvyaamushyaayanaas ]
    Say, for instance, Sankriti.
    Sankriti, one born to Shakti, son of Sage Vasishta, practise the work of kshatriyas, then return to brahmin roots (original vasishta gotra) by firstmoving to the ashram of Sage Angeeras and then returning to their Root Vasishtar.
    Two more Sankriti lines are Sage Aangeerasa line. One as direct descendant (angeerasa, gauriveeta, sankrutya)and another the Kshatriya Sankriti (angeerasa, saankrutya, gauriveeta), who by way of having been born as a resultof the Yajna by Aangeerasar for a king, become Sage Aangeerasar’s disciples, move with him to his ashram and take his gotra line.
    The listing of kshatriyas and vaishyas too, is to be seen. One page listing. They have only one to three gotras/pravaras. The remaining have taken the
    gotras of their family priests/gurus.
    Thanks and RegardsNatarajan Iyer’

  • What is The Gotra If You Do Not Know

    Gotra system prevailing in India is a system of linking one to his ancestors.

    It is also one’s identity.

    Gotra is referred to for all family functions, both auspicious and inauspicious.

    It is one of the parameters for fixing marriages.

    Gotra also let’s one to know which Veda,Branch one belongs to.

    I have written on Gotra and list of Gotras of Brahmins,Vaisyas and Kshatriyas.

    Gotras have one,Two,Three ,Five or Seven Rishis in the Pravara.

    For more details please Google Gotra/Pravara ramanan50.

    Some articles.

    Brahmin Gotra List

    Kshatriya Rajput Gotras North India List

    Caste

    The Varnas,wrongly called as Castes are based on Disposition and Character.

    Not By Birth.

    Each has Gotras.

    Many Rishis occur in different Gotras.

    This is because at times,the profession/ conduct of the Rishi changes.

    Accordingly,the offspring from the Rishi,is assigned a Gotra based on the character, Conduct, Disposition of the Rishi at the time of the conception of the child.

    Thus,we find Kausika and Vishwamitra Gotras,though both denote Viswamitra.

    Viswamitra was a Kshatriya by Disposition,as he was a king;he was assigned the Brahmana Varna on his realisation of Brahman.

    So we have two Gotras under him.

    And as later development,people have started using the Geographical locations,their professons as a part of their name.

    This had resulted in confusion about one’s Gotra.

    It is difficult to trace the gotra when all the above are mixed up.

    Since people change professions,their Gotras change, though the founder is one of the Seven Eternal Rishis.

    These Rishis change for Each Manvantara.

    For the present Manvantara,Vaiwasvatha,the Seven Rishis are,

    Atri,

    Bhrigu

    Kutsa,

    Vasishta,

    Gautama,

    Kashyap and Angirasa.

    All Gotras originate from these Rishis.

    When one’s gotra is not clear or one does not know the Gotra,it is customary to assign Kasyapa Gotra as he is the progenitor of both Mankind and Devas.

    ‘

    For those who do not know their Gotras, either because the family lost knowledge of the same, or if a person became an orphan in childhood – the Gotra and Pravara of the family purohita becomes their Gotra.

    आचार्यगोत्रप्रवरानभिज्ञस्तु द्विजः स्वयम् |

    दत्त्वात्मानं तु कस्मैचित्तद्गोत्रप्रवरो भवेत् ||

    Another solution given in the shastras is to accept the Kashyapa Gotra since the Shrutis declare Kashyapa as the forefather of all humanity.

    गोत्रस्यत्वपरिज्ञाने काश्यपं गोत्रमुच्यते |

    यस्मादाह श्रुतिः सर्वाः प्रजाः कश्यपसंभवाः ||

    There is also a practice of assigning Vishnu Gotra to people who belong to Kshatriya Varna and Jambu Maharishi Gotra to Vaisyas.

    And there is the practice of assigning Siva Gotra to one who worships Siva.

    Reference and citations.

    • Smruti muktavali – Shodasha Karma Prakarana – By Sri Krishnacharya, Shishya of Sri Raghavendra Swamiji
    • Matsya Purana.
    • Markandeya Purana.
    • Valmiki Ramayana.
    • “Rishigalu” – A book in Kannada by Sri Be. Na. Vijayeendracharya, published by Sri Harivayu Prakashana, First edition, 2014

    http://indiafacts.org/gotras-and-pravaras/

  • Twenty Six Brahmin Gotras Samudra Gupta Period 350 AD Alampbayana,Salankayana

    Twenty Six Brahmin Gotras Samudra Gupta Period 350 AD Alampbayana,Salankayana

    History of India,as I have been finding,is quite ancient and when one checks it,date of Indian history is constantly pushed back by centuries.

    There are many avenues to explore it’s antiquity.

    Historical references in Indian and Foreign Literature,Indian Piranhas,Ithihasas(Ramayana and Mahabharata), Cultural links with tribes of the world, Etymology Astronomical dating,Legends verified by archeological findings and through the groups in India,who are classified based on their dispositions and Character.

    One such factor is the study of Gotra system,the Indian system of tracing one’s roots.

    I have written on the Gotras of Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas, providing details about their origin and geological area where they had come from

    When the history is ancient and one is unable to trace it for want of Knowledge of Indian texts,it was easy to dismiss facts as myths and bring in a theory like Aryan Invasion theory which stands discredited now.

    In the process of unearthing the details of Gotras,I have come across instances where I could not get information on some Gotras and their Group details.

    And their geographical locations.

    I have been updating information as and and when I find information relating to the missing Gotras.

    One such is Alampayana Gotra.

    One reader wrote to me that he,with great difficulty, was able to find the Alambayana Gotta,which was misspelt.

    He also wanted a clarification whether it was a Kshatriya Gotra.

    I found some interesting information.

    The Alambayana Gotra is a Brahmin Gotra.

    Sometimes,as the group is determined by profession, disposition and character,the group name changes when one changes any of the attributes mentioned above undergoes Change.

    Such is the case with Alampayana Gotra.

    Though it is a Brahmin Gotra,it might have been modified as a Kshatriya Gotra because of change in Profession.

    Viswamitra Gotra is a Brahmin Gotra .

    But when Viswamitra became a Rajarishi and gave the Gayatri Mantra to the world his Gotra became Brahmin.

    His initial Gotra,Kaushika,was a Kshatriya Gotra as he was a king before he became a Rishi.

    The Alampayana Gotra was mentioned by Varma Dynasty of Bengal,Assam.

    And they date back to 350-600 AD!

    And one may also note from the plates that how each Gotra was assigned based on the part of Vedas one followed.

    ‘

    Kamrupi Brahmins, also known as Kamarupi Brahmana and Kamrupi Bamon; are those brahmins who claimed their descent from the Kanauji immigrant brahmins whom settled in Kamarupa(present day Assam). They brought with them different Hindu epics and became the torch-bearers of Aryan culture in the region.

    Kamrupi brahmins are those brahmins who claimed their descent from the Kanauji immigrant brahmins of a very early period. They settled in Kamrup and later on spread out

    Kamrupi Brahmins were prosperous during the Varman dynasty‘s reign of Kamarupa. The Kamrupi king Bhaskaravarman regularly gave land grants to the Kamrupi Brahmins. With these land grants they were also given copper plates grants.A portion of the copper-plate grant of Bhaskaravarman states: Rigvedic, Samavedic and Yajurvedic Brahmins lived in Kamarupa before the time of Bhaskaravarman.Of these three classes of Brahmins the followers of the Bahvrichya branch of the Rigveda were divided into the gotras of: – Kasyapa, – Kausika, – Gautama, – Parasarya, – Bharadvaja, – Varaha, – Vatsya, – Varhaspatya and – Saunaka ; Of those following the Chhandoga branch of the Samaveda belonged to the gotras of : – Paskalya The followers of the Taittiriya branch of the Yajurveda belonged to the gotra of: – Kasyapa And those of the Charaka branch to the gotra of: – Katyayana ; The followers of the Vajasaneya branch belonged to the gotras of: – Angirasa, – Alambayana, – Gargya, – Gautama, – Bharadvaja, – Yaska, – Sakatayana, and – Salankayana besides the six gotras mentioned before.In all these three groups of Brahmanas living in Kamarupa had 26 gotras at the time of their greatest power and standing. In later ages any traces of the Samavedic and Rigvedic Brahmanas disappeared .’

    Varman Dynasty.

    ‘The Varman dynasty (350-650) is the first historical dynasty of the Kamarupa kingdom. It was established by Pushyavarman, a contemporary of Samudragupta

    Reference and citation.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamrupi_Brahmins

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varman_dynasty

  • Mleccha Fifteen Definitions Details

    The term Mleccha is used in Sanskrit often.

    There are over fifteen definitions,right from Vedas,Vyakaranas to Amarakosha.

    The descriptions vary.

    Mlecchas are people who do not follow Vedic life; are uncouth;lack in culture;Speak unintelligibly: Barbarians.

    Considering the fact that Bharatavarsha covered more or less the whole world in ancient times,there were only a few countries which were out side Bharata Varsha.

    They were called as Mlecchas being outside Vedic Culture.

    Some of them were so uncouth,they were called Barbarians.They were not entitled to perform Parvana Sraddha.

    Their lands were called Bhoga Bhoomi,land of enjoyment as against Bharatavarsha, which is Karma Bhoomi,where performances rites earn them Punya and Paapa,Good results and Sin.

    Some of these lands,Kambhoja embraced Hinduism.

    The definition of Milechchcha.

    ‘Mleccha (from Vedic Sanskrit mleccha, meaning “non-Vedic”, “barbarian”), also spelled Mlechchha or Maleccha, is a name, which referred to people of foreign extraction in ancient India. Mleccha was used by the ancient Indians originally to indicate the uncouth and incomprehensible speech of foreigners and then extended to their unfamiliar behaviour, and also used as a derogatory term in the sense of “impure and/or “inferior” people.

    In ancient India, this term was also applied by the ancient Indian kingdoms to foreigners. The word Mleccha was commonly used for ‘outer barbarians of whatever race or colour’.

    The Indians referred to all alien cultures that were less civilized in ancient times as ‘Mlechcha’ or barbarians. Among the tribes termed Mlechcha were Sakas, Hunas, Yavanas, Kambojas, Pahlavas, Bahlikas and Rishikas. The Amarakosha described the Kiratas, Khasas and Pulindas as the Mleccha-jatis. Indo-Greeks, Scythians,and Kushanas were also mlecchas

    ‘

    tatra mlecChaan pulindaan ca shuurasenaan tathaiva ca |
    prasthaalaan bharataan caiva kuruum ca saha madrakaiH || || 4-43-11
    kaa.mboja yavanaan caiva shakaan pattanaani ca |
    anviikshya daradaan caiva himavantam vicinvatha || 4-43-12

    11, 12. tatra= there – in north; mlecChaan pulindaan ca= Mleccha-s, Pulinda-s – provinces of; tathaiva= like that; shuurasenaan ca= Shurashena, also; prasthaalaan bharataan caiva= Prasthala, Bharata, also, thus; madrakaiH saha = Madraka, along with; kuruum ca= Kuru, also; kaamboja yavanaan caiva= Kaambhoja, Yavana [countries,] also, thus; shakaan pattanaani ca= of Shaka, cities, also; daradaan caiva= Darada, also, thus; anviikshya= on scrutinizing; himavantam vicinvatha= at Himavanta [Himalayas,] search out.

    “There in the north, the provinces of Mleccha-s, Pulinda-s, that way Shurashena – Prasthala – Bharata – Kuru – Madraka – Kaambhoja – Yavana shall be scrutinized along with the cities of Shaka and Darada, and then search in Himalayas. [4-43-11,12]

    ‘The Mleccha is the province of the then India to the North-West and it is defined as: prati anto mleccha sy˜t – amara koþa – go m˜Õsa bhakÿako yastu viruddham bahu bh˜ÿate sarva ˜c˜ra vihŸna× ca mleccha itiu abhidŸyate – bodh˜yana ‘at the end of the country there is Mleccha province…amarakosha, ‘eaters of beef, talkers of odd languages, devoid of all ethics [with reference to Indian scriptural ethics, especially marriage as an institution, immoralities etc.,] and they are called Mleccha-s…’ Bodhaayana aphorisms….,’

    Mlecchas.

    Definition from other sources.

    Purāṇa

    1a) Mleccha (म्लेच्छ).—Born out of the left side of Vena’s body when the latter’s body was churned;1 begin with Anu, son of Yayāti; ruled by Dakṣa; ruled by Turvasu; ruled by the hundred sons of Pracetas of Druhyu family in the east; the rule of the kings;not to be seen in Kuśadvīpa; Śakas (Parādas, Viṣṇu-purāṇa), Pallavas (Paplava, Viṣṇu-purāṇa) and Kāmbojas, all Mlecchas; (Ābhiras, Viṣṇu-purāṇa) Guruṇdas and Vṛṣalas, also belonged to this group; kingdoms of, found in the lotus coming out of the naval of the Lord;their kingdoms side by side with those of the Āryas;people who live in their countries are ineligible for Pārvana śrāddha;attain salvation at Benares;do not molest the women of their enemies;to be conquered by Kalki; put down by Pramati god.

    1b) These were the elder Madhucchandasas, who were cursed by Viśvāmitra to become Mlecchas;1 defeated by Bharata; these were the Mlecchas of the north;worship progenitors; eleven kings ruled for 300 years. Then Kolikilas followed; their dharma described.

    (Source): Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

    ‘

    Dharmaśāstra (religious law)

    Mleccha (म्लेच्छ) refers to “persons whose language is not intelligible”. The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti. (also see the Manubhāṣyaverse 7.149)

    ‘

    Vyākaraṇa (Sanskrit grammar)

    Mleccha (म्लेच्छ).—(I) a word although correct, yet looked upon as incorrect owing to its faulty utterance; (2) a person like the uncultured people, who is not able to pronounce words correctly म्लेच्छा मा भूमेत्यध्येयं व्याकरणम् (mlecchā mā bhūmetyadhyeyaṃ vyākaraṇam) I. 1, Ahnika 1.

    Mleccha referred to people of foreign extraction in ancient India. The Sanskrit term Mleccha, referring to the indistinct speech of some non-Aryans. Mleccha is used for one who is impure, dirty or uncultured. It is derived from the root mlich~mlech, meaning to speak indistinctly (like a foreigner or barbarian who does not speak Sanskrit). We find the use of root also in Mahābhāṣya.

    Some explanations of the name “mleccha” suggest that the word was derived from the Indo-Aryan perception of the speech of the indigenous peoples. Namely, “mlech” was a word that meant “to speak indistinctly.” As such, some suggest that the Indo-Aryans used an onomatopoeic sound to imitate the harshness of alien tongue and to indicate incomprehension, thus coming up with “mleccha”.

    Mleccha (from Vedic Sanskrit म्लेच्छ mleccha, meaning “non-Vedic” or “non-Aryan”, “barbarian”, “foreigners”), also spelt Mlechchha or Mlechha.

    For more definitions please click the Link below.

    ( Source. https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mleccha

  • Brahmin Ravana Gotra List

    Brahmin Ravana Gotra List

    Gotra is a system used in India to identify lineage.

    This is of two kinds.

    One identifying through parents/ancestors.

    Another one is the system of classifying after the Preceptor,Guru.

    Gotra has Pravaras,the identification of and naming of some ancestors.

    They can be one,three,five Rishis,Seers .

    Each of the three Varnas, loosely defined as Caste,has Gotra.

    As I mentioned in my earlier articles,Caste is determined by Disposition, Character and not by Birth alone.

    It is customary to name the first of the Gotra to name,there are also instances when important learned ancestors,Guru are mentioned in Pravaras,the order of these ancestors.

    This system also takes into account instances when one has more than one wife.

    To differentiate the ancestry of the different offsprings,name of the first male male child of the spouse is mentioned along with father,Guru.

    The same principle is adopted when a Gotra is assigned after the Guru.

    Guru’s name is mentioned in the Pravaras of the disciples.

    Over a period of time name of the benefactor is also included as Gotra,as a mark of Respect.

    This is very rare.

    We find,under this category Rama And Ravana Gotra.

    Brahmins after Rama Gotta.

    ‘

    There is a group of Brahmins who accepted Dakshina from Lord Rama.

    They were the priests who welcomed Lord Rama when he returned to Ayodhya after killing Ravana.’



    Saryuparin Brahmins Rama

    However Ravana belongs to Kasyspa Gotra.

    ‘there are also Brahmins that are associated in origin from Ravana, and these include the Daves (of Mudgal gotra) of Rajasthan, as well as Gujarat’s Sachoras, the Kanyakubjas of Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, and the Brahmins of the Kaumara sub-gotra of the Vasistha gotra. Ravana himself is described in some Ramayanas to have been as Brahmin because he was the son of Rishi Vishrava and grandson of Pulastya. The Indonesian Ramabatara also described Ravana as having been a Brahmin. Ravana described himself to Sita as being of brahmin lineage.

    The Dave Brahmins of Mudgal gotra and the Shrimali Brahmins, in Jodhpur/Mandor of Rajasthan state who were originally from Gujarat, India claim to be the descendants of Ravana. The say that since time immemorial they are performing the shraddha (death anniversary) of Ravana on Dashehra Day every year. They offer pind daan and take a bath after that ritual. They recently erected a Ravan temple in Jodhpur, India where daily puja is performed.

    The Kanyakubja Brahmins of Vidisha district worship Ravana as he is personified as a symbol of prosperity and regarded as a saviour by them, and they claim that Ravana was also a Kanyakubja Brahmin. Thousands of Kanyakubja Brahmins of the village Ravangram of Netaran, in the Vidisha District of Madhya Pradesh, perform daily puja(worship) in the Ravan temple and offer naivedyam / bhog (a ritual of sacrifice to the Gods). Centuries ago King Shiv Shankar built a Ravana temple at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The Ravana temple is opened once in a year, on Dashehra Day, to perform puja for the welfare of Ravana.

    The Sachora Brahmins of Gujarat also claim to descend from Ravana, and have “Ravan” as their surnames sometimes.

    A Brahmin gotra descending from Rishi Kaumarayana, which is a sub-section of the Vasistha gotra is identified in lineage from Ravana (“kaumarah ravanah koksah krsnah.“)

    Saraswat Brahmins from Mathura also claim to descend from Ravana. One lawyer from Mathura, Omveer Saraswat, had written to politicians to ban Ravan Dahan.

    There is also reference to “Ravani“, lineage of Upadhyaya Yasastrata II, who was of the Gautama gotra and was a son of Acharya Vasudatta, and described as “born of Ravani

    In the Valmiki Ramayana, Ravana mentions himself to be of the Kashyapa gotra, and the Lankavatara Sutra says Ravana is a worshiper of Kashyapa Buddha(a Brahmin.)

    The Gondi people of central India claim to be descendants of Ravana, and they also have temples set up for him, his wife Mandodari, and their son Meghnad.’

    Reference and citation.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravana