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In [[Hindu culture]], a '''''Pravara''''' (Sanskrit for "most excellent") is a system of identity, particularly a family line.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Narain|first=Dhirendra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y0yED5k62TsC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&dq&hl=en|title=Research in Sociology: Abstracts of M.A. and Ph. D. Dissertations Completed in the Department of Sociology, University of Bombay|last2=Sociology|first2=University of Bombay Department of|last3=Research|first3=Indian Council of Social Science|date=1989|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|year=|isbn=978-81-7022-235-4|location=|pages=226|language=en}}</ref> Pravaras is a particular Brahmin's descent from a ''[[rishi]]'' (sage) who belonged to their ''[[gotra]]'' (clan).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ghurye|first=Govind Sadashiv|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VQYaAAAAMAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&q&hl=en|title=Two Brahmanical Institutions: Gotra and Charana|date=1972|publisher=Popular Prakashan|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=13|language=en}}</ref>

== Importance in Hindu Dharma ==
The Pravara has been extensively used in identifying ones ancestry and thus giving salutations to the listener. 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 three, five or seven 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, five or seven of the most excellent rishis belonging to one's gotra.

The full affiliation consists of (1) [[Gotra]], (2) Sutra (of [[Kalpa (Vedanga)|Kalpa]]), (3) [[Shakha]], (4) '''Pravaras''' .

(Example :) A brahmana named 'Rama' introduces himself as follows : I am 'Rama', of Sarvarna gotra, of Gobhil sutra, of Taittiriya shākha of Saamved, 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 seven rishis, the '''pravaras''' were classified under the names of the following seven rishis: [[Agastya]],
[[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]], [[Atri]], [[Bhrigu]] (Bhargava), [[Kashyap]], [[Vashista]], and [[Vishvamitra]].

According to the listing of authors included in the verses in Rigved, the rishi [[Jamadagni]] was a descendant of rishi [[Bhrigu]] while the rishis [[Gautama Maharishi|Gautam]] and [[Bharadvaja]] were the descendants of rishi [[Angiras (sage)|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, Gothram has 2 rishis associated with it viz., Nidruva and [[Avatsara]]. Another Gothram in Andhra Pradesh has 7 Rishis associated with it viz. Aavatsara, Naidruva, Rebha, Raibha, Sandila, Sandilya.

Pravaras also help in identifying different gotras bearing the same name. For eg: Harita Gotra with Pravaras Angirasa, Ambarisha, Yuvanaswa is different from Harita Gotra which has a single Pravara Vashishta.

==Gotra Pravara==

*'''[[Vasishtha|Vasistha]]:'''
*#[[Vasishtha|Vasistha]], [[Sakti Maharsi|Saktya]], [[Parashara|Parāsara]]
*#[[Kaundinya|Kauṇḍinya]], [[Mitra–Varuna|Maitravaruṇa]], Vasiṣṭha
*'''Kapisa:''' [[Angiras (sage)|Angiras]], [[Bharadwaja]], [[Bṛhaspati|Bārhaspatya]], Vandana, Matavacha
*'''Kundina Gautama:''' Angiras, Āyāsya, Kuṇḍina Gautama
*'''[[Bharadwāja]]:''' [[Angiras (sage)|Aṅgiras]], [[Bṛhaspati|Bārhaspatya]], Bharadwāja
*'''Vadula:''' [[Bhrigu|Bhārgava]], Vaitahavya, Sāvedasa
*'''[[Srivatsa]]''' '''and [[Vatsa]]:''' [[Bhrigu|Bhārgava]], [[Chyavana]], Apnavān/Apnuvat, [[Aurva|Aurava]], [[Parashurama|Jāmadagnya]] (Paraśurāma)
*[[Savarna (gotra)|'''Sāvarṇa''']]''':''' [[Aurva|Aurava]], [[Chyavana]], [[Bhrigu|Bhārgava]], [[Jamadagni]], Apnuvat
*'''[[Atri|ĀAtreya]]:''' [[Atri|Atreya]], Archanās, Syavasva
*'''[[Kaushika|Kauśika]]:''' [[Vishvamitra|Vaiśvāmitra]], Agamarṣaṇa, Kausika
*'''Kalabodhana/Kalabaudha:''' [[Vishvamitra|Visvamitra]], Āgamarṣaṇa, Kālabodhana/Kālabaudha
*'''[[Bhargava|Bhārgava]]:''' [[Bhrigu|Bhārgava]], [[Tvastar|Tvaṣṭā]], Viśvarūpa
*'''[[Vishvamitra|Visvāmitra]]:''' [[Vishvamitra|Vaisvāmitra]], [[Shunahshepa|Devarāta]], Autala
*'''[[Kaundinya|Kauṇḍinya]]:''' [[Vasishtha|Vāsiṣṭha]], [[Mitra–Varuna|Maitravāruṇa]], Kauṇḍinya
*'''Kapinjala:''' [[Vasishtha|Vasiṣṭha]], Aindrapramada, Abharadvāsavya
*'''[[Harita]]/Haritasa:'''
*#[[Harita]], [[Ambarisha|Ambarīisa]], Yuvanasva
*#[[Angiras (sage)|Angiras]], Ambariṣa, Yuvanasva
*'''[[Gautama Maharishi|Gautamas]]:''' [[Angiras (sage)|Angiras]], Ayasya, Gautama
*[[Mudgala|'''Maudgalya''']]''':''' (3 Variations)
*#[[Angiras (sage)|Angiras]], Bharmyasva, Maudgalya
*#Tarkṣya, Bharmyasva, Maudgalya
*#Angiras, Dhavya, Maudgalya
*[[Shandilya (Rishi)|'''Sandilya''']]''':''' (2 Variations)
*#[[Kashyapa|Kasyapa]], [[Avatsara]], [[Devala|Daivala]]
*#
*#Kasyapa, Daivala, [[Asita]]
*'''Naidhruvakasyapa:''' [[Kashyapa|Kasyapa]], [[Avatsara]], Naidhruva
*'''[[Kutsa]]:''' [[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]], [[Mandhatri|Mandhātā]], [[Kutsa|Kautsa]]
*'''[[Kapila]]:''' [[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]], Amahaiya, Orukṣaya
*'''Kanva:''' (2 Variations)
*#[[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]], [[Ajamila]], [[Kanva]]
*#Angirasa, Kaura, Kanva
*'''Parasara:''' [[Vasishtha|Vasiṣtha]], [[Sakti Maharṣi|Saktya]], [[Parashara|Parasarya]]
*'''[[Upamanyu]]:''' Aindrapramada, Bhadravasavya
*'''[[Agastya|Āgastya]]:''' [[Agastya]], Tardhachyuta, Saumavaha
*[[Gargi Vachaknavi|'''Gārgi:''']] (2 Variations)
*#[[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]], [[Bṛhaspati|Bharhaspatya]], [[Bharadwaja]], Sainya, [[Gargi Vachaknavi|Gargya]]
*#Angirasa, Sainya, Gargya
*'''[[Badarayana|Bādarāyaṇa]]:''' [[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]], Parsadaśva, Ratitara
*[[Kashyapa|'''Kasyapa''']]''':''' (2 Variations)
*#[[Kashyapa|Kasyapa]], [[Avatsara]], [[Devala|Daivala]]
*#Kasyapa, Avatsara, [[Asita]]
*'''[[Sankriti|Sankṛti]]:''' (2 Variations)
*#[[Angiras (sage)|Āngirasa]], Kauravidha, [[Sankriti|Sankṛtya]]
*#Sadhya, Kauravidha, Sankṛtya
*'''[[Sakaldwipiya|Suryadhwaja]]:''' Lakhi Maharṣi, Sorala, Binju
*'''[[Shunahshepa|Daivaratasa]]:''' Visvamitra, Daivaratasa, Avudhala
*'''Pauragutsa:''' Vidahavya, Travedasa, Tradadasyuhu
*'''Ratitaras:''' [[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]], [[Virupa|Vairupya]], Parshadas'va
*'''Mauna Bhargavasa:''' [[Bhrigu|Bhargava]], Vitahavya, Savedasa

==Example==
===Example transliteration of a pravara===

Abhivaadaye Chathu:
Example 1 (Vadula Gotram):
Bhaargava, Vaithahavya, Saavedasa
Thrayarshayo (three rishis) Pravaraanvitha
vadhula gothrah
Aapastambha Suuthrah Yagush(Yajurveda) Saakghaadhiaa
(Your Name) Sharma naama Aham asmi bho:

Example 2 (Bharadvajasya Gotram):

Aangirasa, Bharaspatya, Bharadwajasya Triyarusheya pravaranvita Bharadvajasya grotraha apastamba sutrah yajush(Yajurveda) Saakhadhayi (Your Name) Sharma naama aham asmi bho:

चतुस्सगारा पर्यन्तं गो ब्रह्मणेभ्यः शुभम भवतु
अन्गिरस भारद्वाज गार्ग्य शैन्य त्रयारिशयोः प्रवरांविता
गार्ग्य भारद्वाज गोत्रः आपस्तम्ब सूत्रः यजुह शाखाधायी
श्रीराम शर्मः अहम् भो अभिवादये ।।

===Explanation of the example===
Line 1: Prologue: May the world be blessed from all the cows and Brahmanas across the four seas

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 followed by 'SHARMA'

==See also==
*[[List of Brahmin gotras]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==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==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927150058/http://www.keralaiyers.com/sandhyavandhanam2 Sandhyavandane description]
{{Hindudharma}}
{{Religion topics}}
{{History of religions|state=collapsed}}
{{Portalbar|Hinduism|India}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:History Of Hinduism}}
[[Category:Caste system in India]]
[[Category:Gotras]]
[[Category:Kinship and descent]]
[[de:Gotra]]

Pravaras - Revision history

2409:40D1:8C:48C0:8000:0:0:0: enhance citations to improve readability and fixed typos

CleanupBot II: Removed empty portal template using script

imported>Solarson919 at 20:14, 27 August 2021