Pravaras
Encyclopedia
Literally, Pravara means the most excellent (-Monier-Williams, cf. reference). Pravara is the number of the most excellent rishi
s who belonged to that particular gotra
to which the wearer of sacred thread belongs. Gotra is the name of the founding father (and in a few exceptional cases, founding mother). 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 either three or five 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 or five 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 'X' introduces himself as follows : I am 'X', 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 eight rishi
s, the pravaras were classified under the names of the following seven rishis:
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. Kashyapa, Nidruva and Aavatsaara
In a court case "Madhavrao vs Raghavendrarao" which involved a Deshastha Brahmin
couple, the German scholar Max Mueller's definition of gotra as descending from eight sages and then branching out to several families was thrown out by reputed judges of a Bombay High Court. The court called the idea of Brahmin families descending from an unbroken line of common ancestors as indicated by the names of their respective gotras and pravaras impossible to accept. The court consulted relevant Hindu texts and stressed the need for Hindu society and law to keep up with the times emphasizing that notions of good social behavior and the general ideology of the Hindu society had changed. The court also said that the mass of material in the Hindu texts is so vast and full of contradictions that it is almost an impossible task to reduce it to order and coherence.
chatussAgara paryantam gobrAhmaNebhyaH shubhaM bhavatu
AngIrasa bhAradvAja gArgya shainya chaturRishayoH pravarAnvita
gargya bhAradvaja gotraH
Apastamba sUtraH Yajurvedaamnaya TaiTreeya shAkhAdhAyI
shrI rAma sharmaH ahaM bhoH AbhivAdaye
चतुस्सागरः पर्यन्त गो ब्राह्मणेभ्य शुभं भवतु आङ्गिरस भारद्वाज गार्ग्य शैन्य चतुर्ऋषयः प्रवरान्वित गार्ग्य भारद्वाज गोत्र आपस्तम्ब सूत्र यजुर्वेदाम्नाय तैत्तिरीय शाखाध्यायि श्री राम शर्मा अहं अभिवादये भोः
Line 2: The names and number of the main rishi
s to whose lineage the person belongs
Line 3: Gotra
of the person
Line 4: The sutra
that the person follows
Line 5: The veda shakha
that the person belongs to
Line 6: Name of the person
Rishi
Rishi denotes the composers of Vedic hymns. However, according to post-Vedic tradition, the rishi is a "seer" to whom the Vedas were "originally revealed" through states of higher consciousness. The rishis were prominent when Vedic Hinduism took shape, as far back as some three thousand years...
s who belonged to that particular gotra
Gotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
to which the wearer of sacred thread belongs. Gotra is the name of the founding father (and in a few exceptional cases, founding mother). 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 either three or five pravaras. The sacred thread yajnopavita worn on upanayana
Upanayana
Upanayana is the initiation ritual by which initiates are invested with a sacred thread, to symbolize the transference of spiritual knowledge .- Significance of the sacred thread :...
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 or five of the most excellent rishis belonging to one's gotra.
The full affiliation of a brāhamana consists of (1)gotra
Gotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
, (2)sutra (of Kalpa
Kalpa
Kalpa is a small town in the Sutlej river valley, above Recong Peo in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, Northern India, in the Indian Himalaya. Inhabited by Kinnauri people and famous for its apple orchards. Apples are a major cash-crop for the region...
), (3)shakha
Shakha
A shakha , is a Hindu theological school that specializes in learning certain Vedic texts, or else the traditional texts followed by such a school. An individual follower of a particular school or recension is called a ...
, (4)pravaras .
(Example :) A brahmana named 'X' introduces himself as follows : I am 'X', 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 eight rishi
Rishi
Rishi denotes the composers of Vedic hymns. However, according to post-Vedic tradition, the rishi is a "seer" to whom the Vedas were "originally revealed" through states of higher consciousness. The rishis were prominent when Vedic Hinduism took shape, as far back as some three thousand years...
s, the pravaras were classified under the names of the following seven rishis:
- AgastyaAgastyaAgastya was a Tamil/Vedic Siddhar or sage. Agastya and his clan are also generally credited with uncovering many mantras of the Rig Veda, the earliest and most revered Hindu scripture, in the sense of first having the mantras revealed in his mind by the Supreme Brahman...
- Angirasa
- AtriAtriThis article is about the sage named Attri. See also the gotra named Atri. For the Italian city, see Atri, AbruzzoIn Hinduism, Attri or Atri is a legendary bard and scholar and was one of 9 Prajapatis, and a son of Brahma, said to be ancestor of some Brahmin, Prajapatis, kshatriya and Vaishya...
- Bhrigu
- Kashyapa
- Vashista
- Vishvamitra
According to the listing of authors included in the verses in Rigved, the rishi Jamadagni
Jamadagni
Jamadagni is one of the Saptarishis in the seventh, i.e. the present Manvantara. He was a descendant of the sage Bhrigu, one of the Prajapatis created by Brahma, the God of Creation...
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
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
by those rishis.
For example, Kashyapa Gothram has 3 rishis associated with it viz. Kashyapa, Nidruva and Aavatsaara
In a court case "Madhavrao vs Raghavendrarao" which involved a Deshastha Brahmin
Deshastha Brahmin
Deshastha Brahmins are the original and the oldest Hindu Brahmin sub-caste mainly from the Indian state of Maharashtra and some districts of northern Karnataka. The word Deshastha comes from the Sanskrit words Desha and Stha which mean inland or country and resident respectively...
couple, the German scholar Max Mueller's definition of gotra as descending from eight sages and then branching out to several families was thrown out by reputed judges of a Bombay High Court. The court called the idea of Brahmin families descending from an unbroken line of common ancestors as indicated by the names of their respective gotras and pravaras impossible to accept. The court consulted relevant Hindu texts and stressed the need for Hindu society and law to keep up with the times emphasizing that notions of good social behavior and the general ideology of the Hindu society had changed. The court also said that the mass of material in the Hindu texts is so vast and full of contradictions that it is almost an impossible task to reduce it to order and coherence.
Gotra Pravara
- Pautamarshi:Angirasa,Barhaspatya,Jamdagni,Apnuvat -it is pancha pravar
- Kundina Gowthama :Angirasa, Ayasya, Kundina Gowthama
- BharadwajaBharadwajaBharadwaja was one of the greatest Hindu Arya sages descendant of rishi Angirasa, whose accomplishments are detailed in the Puranas. He was one of the Saptarshis in the present Manvantara; with others being Atri, Vashishtha, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kashyapa.Bhardwaj Rishi was father of...
: Angirasa, Bhaarhaspatya, Bharadwaja - VadulaVadulaVādula , is a Sanskrit word that has several meanings including "enlightened, lashed by the wind to the point of losing one's sanity, god's madcap, detached from the world, and seeker of truth ."...
,Savarni,& Yaska: Bhargava,Vaitahavya,Saavedasa(do not intermarry) - Maitreya:BhargavaBhargavaBhargava is a common surname in Northern India and Maharashtra, mainly around Nashik. In Maharashtra, it is pronounced as Bhargave instead of Bhargava. It is also used as a first name in parts of southern India....
,Daivodasa,Vadhryasva - Shaunaka:Shaunaka(ekarsheya)
- Gartsamada:BhargavaBhargavaBhargava is a common surname in Northern India and Maharashtra, mainly around Nashik. In Maharashtra, it is pronounced as Bhargave instead of Bhargava. It is also used as a first name in parts of southern India....
,Sunahotra,Gartsamada - VatsaVatsaVatsa was one of the solasa Mahajanapadas of Uttarapatha of ancient India mentioned in the Anguttara Nikaya....
/SrivatsaSrivatsaThe Śrīvatsa, Shrivatsa, or Sri Vatsa is a figure of South Asian symbology. Shrivatsa was married to Rudrani. Chandra et al.. state that it denotes "...the auspicious mark represented by a curled noose emblematical of love...".Shrivatsa is an ancient auspicious symbol in India...
: BhargavaBhargavaBhargava is a common surname in Northern India and Maharashtra, mainly around Nashik. In Maharashtra, it is pronounced as Bhargave instead of Bhargava. It is also used as a first name in parts of southern India....
, ChyavanaChyavanaChyavana was a maharshi in Hindu mythology. He was son of sage Bhrigu and known for his rejuvenation after penances for several years. According to the Mahabharata, he was powerful enough to oppose the Vajra of Indra and was responsible for the Ashvins getting their share of the sacrificial...
, Apnavana/Apnuvat, AuravaAuravaAurava is a fierce sage descending in order from Vishnu, Brahma, Bhrigu, Chyavana, Apnuvana. He was born during a bloody feud between the Kshatriyas and the descendents of Bhrigu. He was the grandson of Vatsa, after whom the Srivatsa gotra is named. His son was Ruchika and Ruchika’s son was...
, Jamadagnya - Aarshtisena: BhargavaBhargavaBhargava is a common surname in Northern India and Maharashtra, mainly around Nashik. In Maharashtra, it is pronounced as Bhargave instead of Bhargava. It is also used as a first name in parts of southern India....
, ChyavanaChyavanaChyavana was a maharshi in Hindu mythology. He was son of sage Bhrigu and known for his rejuvenation after penances for several years. According to the Mahabharata, he was powerful enough to oppose the Vajra of Indra and was responsible for the Ashvins getting their share of the sacrificial...
, Apnavana,Aarshtisena,Anupa - Bidasa:BhargavaBhargavaBhargava is a common surname in Northern India and Maharashtra, mainly around Nashik. In Maharashtra, it is pronounced as Bhargave instead of Bhargava. It is also used as a first name in parts of southern India....
, ChyavanaChyavanaChyavana was a maharshi in Hindu mythology. He was son of sage Bhrigu and known for his rejuvenation after penances for several years. According to the Mahabharata, he was powerful enough to oppose the Vajra of Indra and was responsible for the Ashvins getting their share of the sacrificial...
, Apnavana/Apnuvat, AuravaAuravaAurava is a fierce sage descending in order from Vishnu, Brahma, Bhrigu, Chyavana, Apnuvana. He was born during a bloody feud between the Kshatriyas and the descendents of Bhrigu. He was the grandson of Vatsa, after whom the Srivatsa gotra is named. His son was Ruchika and Ruchika’s son was...
,Baida - Saavarni:BhargavaBhargavaBhargava is a common surname in Northern India and Maharashtra, mainly around Nashik. In Maharashtra, it is pronounced as Bhargave instead of Bhargava. It is also used as a first name in parts of southern India....
,Vaitahavya,Savedasa - Shatamarshana: Angirasa, Powrukutsa,Traasatasya
- AAtreya/Krishnatreya: Atreya,Aarchanaasa,Syaavaasva
- Vadhbhutaka: Atreya,Aarchanaasa,Vadhbhutaka
- Gavisthiras:Atreya,Gavisthira,Purvatitha
- Koushika: Vaiswaamitra,Aghamarshana,Koushika
- Kalabodhana/Kalaboudha: Viswaamitra,AAgamarshana,Kalabodhana/Kalaboudha
- Bhargava:Bhargava ,Tvashta,Vishvaroopa
- Viswamitra: Vaiswaamitra,Devaraata, Owtala
- Kowndinya: Vashista,Maitraavaruna, Kowndinya
- Kapinjala:Vashista,Aindrapramada,Abharadvasavya
- Vashista:Vashista(ekarsheya)
- HaritaHaritaHarit/Harita was an ancient and great prince of the Suryavansha dynasty, best known because he is the ancestor of the Brahmin lineage, Harita gotra....
/Haritasa:(2 Variations)- HaritaHaritaHarit/Harita was an ancient and great prince of the Suryavansha dynasty, best known because he is the ancestor of the Brahmin lineage, Harita gotra....
, Ambarisha,Yuvanasva - Angirasa, Ambarisha,Yuvanasva
- Harita
- Gautamasa: Angirasa,Aayasyasa,Gautama
- Dhanvantari: Angirasa,Barhaspatya,Avatsara,Naidhruba
- Mowdgalya(3 Variations)
- Angirasa,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya
- Tarkshya,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya
- Angirasa, Dhavya, Mowdgalya
- Sandilya (2 Variations)
- Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Daivala
- Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Sandilya
- Kasyapa, Daivala, Asitha
- Naitruvakaasyapa: Kasyapa,Aavatsara,Naitruva
- Kutsa/Kauchhsa: Aangirasa,Maandhatra,Koutsa
- Kapi: Angirasa, Aamahaiya,Orukshaya
- Kapila: Angirasa, Aamahaiya,Orukshaya
- Kanva (2 Variations)
- Angirasa,Ajameeda,Kaanva
- Angirasa,Kowra, Kaanva
- Paraasara: Vashista, Shaktri, Paarasarya
- Upamanyu: Vashista,Aindrapramada,Bhadravasavya
- Aagastya: Aagastya,Tardhachyuta,Sowmavaha
- Gargyasa (2 Variations)
- Angirasa,Bharhaspatya,Bharadwaja,Sainya,Gargya
- Angirasa, Sainya, Gaargya
- Bhadarayana: Angirasa,Paarshadaswa, Raatitara
- Kashyapa: Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala
- Sankriti (2 Variations)
- Angirasa,Kowravidha,Saankritya
- Sadhya,Kowravidha,Saankritya
- Suryadhwaja: Lakhi (Mehrishi), Soral, Binju
- Daivaratasa: Viswamitra, Daivaratasa, Avudhala
- chikitasa—viswamitra,Devarata,Aghamarshana
- Shaktri : Vashistha, Shaktri,Parashar
Example transliteration of a pravara
chatussAgara paryantam gobrAhmaNebhyaH shubhaM bhavatu
AngIrasa bhAradvAja gArgya shainya chaturRishayoH pravarAnvita
gargya bhAradvaja gotraH
Apastamba sUtraH Yajurvedaamnaya TaiTreeya shAkhAdhAyI
shrI rAma sharmaH ahaM bhoH AbhivAdaye
चतुस्सागरः पर्यन्त गो ब्राह्मणेभ्य शुभं भवतु आङ्गिरस भारद्वाज गार्ग्य शैन्य चतुर्ऋषयः प्रवरान्वित गार्ग्य भारद्वाज गोत्र आपस्तम्ब सूत्र यजुर्वेदाम्नाय तैत्तिरीय शाखाध्यायि श्री राम शर्मा अहं अभिवादये भोः
Explanation of the example
Line 1: Prelogue: May all the cows and Brahmanas across the four seas be blessedLine 2: The names and number of the main rishi
Rishi
Rishi denotes the composers of Vedic hymns. However, according to post-Vedic tradition, the rishi is a "seer" to whom the Vedas were "originally revealed" through states of higher consciousness. The rishis were prominent when Vedic Hinduism took shape, as far back as some three thousand years...
s to whose lineage the person belongs
Line 3: Gotra
Gotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
of the person
Line 4: The sutra
Sutra
Sūtra is an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew , as does the medical term...
that the person follows
Line 5: The veda shakha
Shakha
A shakha , is a Hindu theological school that specializes in learning certain Vedic texts, or else the traditional texts followed by such a school. An individual follower of a particular school or recension is called a ...
that the person belongs to
Line 6: Name of the person
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).
External links
- Sandhyavandane description – Search for "pravara" in that page.