gotra In Hindu culture, the term gotra (Sanskrit: गोत्र) is considered to be equivalent to lineage. It broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor or patriline. Generally, the gotra fo ...

is equivalent to a

lineage Lineage may refer to: Science * Lineage (anthropology), a group that can demonstrate its common descent from an apical ancestor or a direct line of descent from an ancestor * Lineage (evolution), a temporal sequence of individuals, populati ...

, akin to a family name, but the given name of a family is often different from its gotra, and may reflect the traditional occupation, place of residence or other important family characteristic rather than the lineage. People belonging to a particular gotra may not be of the same caste (as there are many gotras which are part of different castes) in the

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

social system. However, there is a notable exception among matrilineal

Tulu Tulu may refer to: People *Derartu Tulu (born 1972), Ethiopian long-distance runner *Walid Yacoubou (born 1997), Togolese footballer nicknamed "Tulu" India *Tulu calendar, traditional solar calendar generally used in the regions of southwest Kar ...

speakers, for whom the lineages are the same across the castes. People of the same gotra are generally not allowed to marry. At weddings, the gotras of the bride and the groom are read aloud to verify that they are not breaking this rule.

Main Brahmin Gotras

A list of major Brahmin gotras according to the

Sutra ''Sutra'' ( sa, सूत्र, translit=sūtra, translit-std=IAST, translation=string, thread)Monier Williams, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Oxford University Press, Entry fo''sutra'' page 1241 in Indian literary traditions refers to an aph ...

s: * Bhr̥gu (

Jamadagni Jamadagni ( sa, जमदग्नि, lit=great fire) is a character in Hindu literature. He is regarded in Hindu tradition to be one of the Saptarishi (Seven Vedic sages) in the seventh, and the current age of Manvantara.Avalon, Arthur (Sir J ...

) ** Bhārgava ** Cyāvana ** Aurva ** Jāmadagnya ** Vātsa * Kevala Bhr̥gu ** Bhārgava ** Daivodāsa ** Vainya ** Pārtha ** Śaunaka ** Gārtsamada *

Gautama Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition, he was born in Lu ...

** Āṅgirasa **

** Kākṣīvata ** Dairghatamasa ** Auśanasa * Bharadvāja ** Āṅgirasa ** Bārhaspatya ** Bhāradvāja ** Gārgya * Kevala Aṅgiras ** Āṅgirasa ** Āmbarīṣa ** Māndhātra ** Kautsa ** Kāṇva ** Maudgalya ** Sāṁkr̥tya ** Śāktya * Atri ** Ātreya *

Viśvāmitra Vishvamitra ( sa, विश्वामित्र, ) is one of the most venerated rishis or sages of ancient India. According to Hindu tradition, he is stated to have written most of the Mandala 3 of the Rigveda, including the Gayatri Mantr ...

** Vaiśvāmitra ** Daivarāta ** Mādhucchandasa ** Kauśika ** Gāthina ** Aindra *

Kaśyapa Kashyapa ( sa, कश्यप}, ) is a revered Vedic sage of Hinduism., Quote: "Kasyapa (Rudra),(Vedic Seer)..." He is one of the Saptarishis, the seven ancient sages of the ''Rigveda''. Kashyapa is the most ancient and venerated rishi, al ...

** Kāśyapa ** Āvatsāra ** Āsita ** Śāṇḍila ** Daivala **

Vāsiṣṭha Vasishtha ( sa, वसिष्ठ, IAST: ') is one of the oldest and most revered Vedic rishis or sages, and one of the Saptarishis (seven great Rishis). Vashistha is credited as the chief author of Mandala 7 of the ''Rigveda''. Vashishtha a ...

Vasiṣṭha Vasishtha ( sa, वसिष्ठ, IAST: ') is one of the oldest and most revered Vedic rishis or sages, and one of the Saptarishis (seven great Rishis). Vashistha is credited as the chief author of Mandala 7 of the ''Rigveda''. Vashishtha an ...

** Maitrāvaruṇa **

Aupamanyava In the Vamsa Brahmana of Vedic literature, Aupamanyava is listed as a Vedic teacher and sage of the Sama Veda. The patronymic ''Aupamanyava'' or "Upmanya" establishes him as a descendant of Upamanyu, while the name ''Kamboja'' suggests an associ ...

** Pārāśarya ** Śāktya ** Sāṁkr̥tya *

Agastya Agastya ( kn, ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯ, ta, அகத்தியர், sa, अगस्त्य, te, అగస్త్యుడు, ml, അഗസ്ത്യൻ, hi, अगस्त्य) was a revered Indian sage of Hinduism. In the I ...

** Āgastya

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gotras Indian castes Gotras Kinship and descent Indian culture-related lists