Used to denote Hindu paternal lineage
A Hindu Gotra (Sanskrit ब्राह्मण गोत्र) is an exogamous unit used to denote the paternal lineage of individuals belonging to the Brahmin in the Hindu Varna system.[1][page needed] In Hindu culture, the Brahmin considered to be one of the four major social classes of the Varna system.[2] In Sanskrit, one of the meanings of the word Gotra is “a descendant through an unbroken patriline”.[3] According to Hindu scripture, members of the Hindu community are believed to have descended from the first seven Sanatan saints of the Vedic period.[4] A Gotra represents the lineage of an individual saint and a Brahmin’s Gotra denotes which of these saints is their ancestor.[5]
![This image shows a young Hindu Priest sitting on floor with folded feet, "tilak" on his forehead, [[Rudraksh]] mala around his neck, [[Mala]] in his hand and other Pooja ritual necessities laying around him.](view_image.php?q=Brahmin_gotra&sq=Google&lang=en&file=File:Brahmin_priest.jpg)
- ^ Brough 2013.
- ^ Brough 2013, p. 21.
- ^ Madan 1962, p. 61.
- ^ Kosambi, D. D. (October 1953). "Brahmin Clans". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 73 (4): 202–208. doi:10.2307/594855. JSTOR 594855.
- ^ Kosambi 1953, p. 203.