The gotra system was a part of the system of classification/ identification of various Brahmin families in ancient times. The gotra classification started probably sometime during the Yajur Veda period, after the Rig Veda period. It is believed that the gotras (now about of 49) started to strengthen around 10-8 Century B.C.The present day gotra classification is created from a core of 8 Sages (The Saptha rishis + Agastya). The Saptarishis are Gautama, Bharadvaja, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Vasistha, Kashyapa and Atri. Seven Sages (Saptarshi) are recognized as the mind born sons of the creator Brahma. They desired offspring and received it. All present day Brahmin communities are said to be descendants of these 8 Rishis.
| Gotras | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atri | Bharadvaja | Gautama | Jamadagni | Kashyapa |
| Vasishta | Vishvamitra (Kamshi) | Kaundinya | Kausika | Vatsa |
The Importance Of Gotra
The gotra system was instituted for the purposes of identifying one's ancestors and pay respects during various invocations and other rituals to honour their fathers, fore-fathers and so on, up to their respective Sages. This was later extended to other aspects of the Brahmin life, such as in Marriages and temple worships. Today, the marriages are not allowed within the same gotra in order to aviod impure matrimony.But we as a part of the Aryan Society have been living as Brahmins from the very beginning of the Indian Civilization and quite interestingly without our knowledge we have become the vehicles of many facets of the Indian Culture.
Kuladevathas
Kuladevata (kula-dèvatā) or Kuladevi also known as Kuladev or Kuladaivat, stands for "family deity, that is either a god or a goddess" within Hinduism, as distinct from personal ishta-devata and village deities. The gotra is also interlinked with the Surnames and the Kuladevatas. Through the Table given below you can know the link between them.| Kuladevatha | Gotra and Surnames |
|---|---|
| MAHALASA NARAYANI | Bharadwaja Gothra - Pai |
| Athri Gothra - Pai | |
| Kaushika Gothra - Pai | |
| Gargya Gothra - Shenoy | |
| Gargya Gothra - Kamath | |
| Gargya Gothra - Bhat | |
| Athri Gothra - Bhat | |
| Kaushika Gothra - Bhaktha | |
| RAMANATH SHANTHERI KAMAKSHI | Vatsa Gothra - Shenoy |
| Vatsa Gothra - Baliga | |
| Vatsa Gothra - Bhat | |
| Koundinya Gothra - Shenoy | |
| Koundinya Gothram -Nayak | |
| Koundinya Gothra - Pai | |
| Koundinya Gothra - Bhat | |
| Koundinya Gothra - Kini | |
| DAMODAR MAHALAKSMI & DAMODAR ARYADURGA | Kaushika Gothra - Prabhu |
| Kaushika Gothra - Kamath | |
| Kashyap Gothra - Hegde | |
| Kashyap Gothra - Baliga | |
| NAGESH MAHALAKSHMI | Bharadwaja Gothra - Prabhu |
| Vatsa Gothra - Mallya | |
| Koushika Gothra - Nayak | |
| KARTHYAYANI BANESHWAR | Koushika Gothram - Shenoy |
| DEVAKI KRISHNA RAVALNATH | Athri Gothram - Prabhu |
| Kashyapa Gothram - Prabhu | |
| NARASIMHA SHANTHADURGA VIJAYA DURGA | Shankha Pingala Kounsa Gothram - Nayak |
| Shankha Pingala Kounsa Gothra - Padiyar | |
| Shankha Pingala Kounsa Gothra - Bhandarakar | |
| MAHAMAYA | Kondinaya Gothram - Kamath |