Pitu Gotra K Rajaram IRS Part 10 9524//10524
The origin of Gotra appears to have been meant lineage only later
than the rig Veda time; in this Veda, Gotra word is used in many places but
meaning assigned, though adds, the connected Rishis name tagged, yet means
totally different.
Rig Veda 1.51.3
त्वं गो॒त्रमङ्गि॑रोभ्योऽवृणो॒रपो॒तात्र॑ये श॒तदु॑रेषु गातु॒वित् । स॒सेन॑
चिद्विम॒दाया॑वहो॒ वस्वा॒जावद्रि॑ग वावसा॒नस्य॑ न॒र्तय॑न् ॥
tvaṃ gotram aṅgirobhyo 'vṛṇor apotātraye śatadureṣu gātuvit | sasena cid
vimadāyāvaho vasv ājāv adriṃ vāvasānasya nartayan ||
“You have opened the cloud for the Angirasa you have shown the way to Atri,
who vexes his adversaries by a hundred doors (by a number of yantras, means
or contrivances); you have granted wealth, with food, to Vimada; (remember
“da” “La” of siksha in santana topic) you are wielding your thunderbolt in
defence of a worshipper engaged in battle.”
Commentary by Sāyaṇa: Ṛgveda-bhāṣya Gotra = herd of cattle or a cloud;
Gotrabhid = mountain-breaker with his thunderbolt (Indra) or may allude to
the recovery of cows stolen by Paṇi;;
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Rig Veda 2.17.1 तदस्मै नव्यमङ्गिरस्वदर्चत शुष्मा यदस्य प्रत्नथोदीरते ।
विश्वा यद्गोत्रा सहसा परीवृता मदे सोमस्य दृंहितान्यैरयत् ॥
tad asmai navyam aṅgirasvad arcata śuṣmā yad asya pratnathodīrate | viśvā
yad gotrā sahasā parīvṛtā made somasya dṛṃhitāny airayat ||
“Address, worshippers, after the manner of Aṅgiras, a new (hymn) to that
Indra, whose withering (energies) were developed of old; who, in the
exhilaration of the Soma, forced open the obstructed and solid clouds.”
Commentary by Sāyaṇa: Ṛgveda-bhāṣya Yad gotrā, i.e. gotrāṇi, clouds; from
go, water; tra, to preserve or contain; Gotra = herds of cattle, the cows
of the Aṅgirasas recovered by Indra
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Rig Veda 8.50.10
“As you were willing to give, O Maghavan, to Kaṇva in the sacrificial
feast, or to Dīrghanītha the friend of the house, as you were willing to
give, O slinger, to Gośarya, so give to me a herd of kine shining like
gold.”
यथा । कण्वे । मघवन् । मेधे । अध्वरे । दीर्घनीथे । दमूनसि । यथा । गोशर्ये ।
असिसासः । अद्रिवः । मयि । गोत्रम् । हरिश्रियम् ॥
yathā | kaṇve | magha-van | medhe | adhvare | dīrgha-nīthe | damūnasi |
yathā | go--śarye | asisāsaḥ | adri-vaḥ | mayi | gotram | hari-śriyam
“Gotra; patronymic; gotra [word]; name; family; family; kin; Gotra;
mountain; herd; cow pen; cowbarn.”
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II Now we see divorcee woman who had father gotra; then changed to
husband gotra; after divorce which gotra? Suppose living in relationship.
SC says, yet they are husband and wife. But saptapadi or rites concerned
were not done. What Gotra she will have? if wife, husband’s gotra; if not?
Samskritham learned had discussed these and let’s see. And being Food for
thought given only as NOTES:
On : < Gotra of Wife After Divorce> : < a socio-legal perspective> in
context of < Sanathana Dharma >.
A Sharing my personal thoughts gleaned from discussions on such
‘Contemporary Relevant issues’ with elders :
This discussion is highly overloaded issue. Opinions might galore than
‘Truth’ and ‘Fact’ (both hurt). The last update deliberation on this ‘
intra- discipline –research’ seen by me is in the magnanimous work of MM
P.V.Kane – in the last volume – Which deliberated on ‘ Divorce- Dharma
shaastra’ issues, in the context of - The Indian Divorce Act of 1869, a
historical statute that was enacted during the British colonial era. It
primarily governs the divorce laws applicable to persons professing the
Christian faith in India.
A1869-04.pdf (indiacode.nic.in)
https://www.indiacode.nic.in/indiacode/bitstream/123456789/2280/1/A1869-04.pdf
More to follow on this at : Hindu Marriages Act -1955.
a1955-25.pdf (indiacode.nic.in)
https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/5399/1/a1955-25.pdf
B 1. ‘Gotra’ of wife is a ‘voluntarily –acquired/ accepted / Forced
(?) new identity as a part of
‘(Vivaha) Samskara’, more specifically ‘Brahma’ Vivaha. The new
identity does not mitigate or override the ‘Native Inherited ‘Birth-Gotra’
Identity, which cannot be taken out .
If there be a ‘vivaha- viccheda (divorce/ break), what goes away is
the ‘acquired identity; the lady’s
original birth-gotra gotra identity is not disturbed. The original
birth gotra identity reverts back.
C 2. If Marriage breaks, Legally/otherwise (?!), the acquired identity
yields place to Native Birth-Gotra identity.
The ‘provision / right / Dharmic frame/ legality’ for ‘divorce’ is a
contentious issue between ‘Dharma
Shastra’- rights and and ‘Nation’s Constitution’.
Dharma-Shaastra focuses on Individual duties by Samskara Samsaara
(Male and Female) narrative of
Marriage – Vows. Vamsha- Gotra – Kula - Jati are deep linked issues.
Man-women relation without
evolving to ‘Marriage- Samskara’ does not create the new entity
called ‘FAMILY’ (Kutumba, Gruhasti).
National Constitution/s looks at ‘Marriage: as foundational relation
between citizens (humans at nation)
D needed to define ‘Family’ – the framework to provide
‘(Family-Court Justice’ (?).
The constituents of Family are limited to ‘individuals’ who opted
become ‘Family’ and want to break it.
The family court gives top priority to Fundamental Rights,
Responsibilities, duties enshrined with flavours
of Religion- Faith, safeguarding ‘Marriage- Divorce’ choices – The
Individual rights for Family Life; which
gets topped up by Global Human rights issues, Women’s rights and
international movements!
This, is where I see minimal overlap areas / rather conflict
areas which seem to be out of ‘inherited
Dharma –Shaastra/ Artha Shaastra’ texts in the boundaries of
Sanatana ‘Dharma- Artha- Kaama-
Moksha’ Shaastra for ‘Purushartha’–Varna Ashrama Dharma abhyasa’.
E This is where a contentious issue in society comes up: Can a
‘Sanyasi’ ( who took to Saffron clothe life style’ revert back to ‘ Family
life/ Life of Pleasures’? Dharma Shaastra’s would call this ‘A-dharma’.
Constitution would say : Exercise of Individual Life style Freedom.
Society, Community, Media, Religious institutions, devotees – carry their
own views. WILL THE SANYASI GETS BACK THE GOTRA?
F 3. Thus, we see :
‘Gotra’ Identity is NOT key consideration for ‘Legal Marriage
Contract’/ Marriage Certificate/ Legal right
for Property / Tax returns and the like.
The ‘Gotra’ Identity is IMPORTANT and NOT THE ONLY consideration in
‘HINDU/ VEDIC/Marriage’.
The administration of ‘Vivaha-Samskaras’ have found easy path of
‘Contracting ritual to ‘Acharya’ to
perform by ‘Acharya gotra – Sutra - Shaakhaa’ (?!- Is Acharya getting
multiple marriages ?!)
The ‘Gotra’ Identity-Shift for ‘Lady’ is at variance in different
formats of Hindu/ Vedic Marriage!
The ‘Inherited Gotra Identity reverts to Lady, in case of a ‘Vivaha-
Vicheda/ Punarvivaha consideration’.
G The < socio-perspective > issue of ‘Gotra’ needs a socio-academic
re-education / research on what
constitutes ‘self- Identity’ by each meaning tag associated with
the technical term ‘Gotra’.
The < socio-legal perspective > needs positioning < Ancient Dharma-
Shaastra > in the new context of <Nation- Constitution ( and Amendments/
Acts and Rules with Amendments, Court Rulings > on ‘What constitutes a ‘
Legal Hindu Marriage, What constitutes inter-religious Marriage, What
constitutes a legal Hindu- divorce, What conditions regulate ‘ Next
Marriage’ . The paradigm shifts in interpreting ‘ancient Vedic resources,
practices in a frame outside of ‘Vedanga – Dharma Shaastras’ using
lime-light of < Religion- Anthropology – Language Translation- Scripture
Scholarship academic research on what constitutes ‘Gotra: An inseparable
part of self- Identity’ by each meaning tag associated in lexicon for the
technical term ‘Gotra’.
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H One learned view: 1. The subject line being contentious, I
submitted my response, with caution as < my personal thoughts gleaned from
discussions on such ‘Contemporary Relevant issues’ with elders >.
When Surjeet Dasgupta responds: < If Hindu shastras do not have a provision
for divorce, how can they tell what gotra a woman would have after
divorce? There
are a few instances of separation, of course, none amounting to divorce. >
Technically Hindu Shastras have deliberated and made provisions for women
to invoke ‘Divorce (as Marriage Contract Annulment) / Remarriage (Second
Marriage).{IT IS PERMITTED AS READ IN SMRITHIS AND GRUHYA SUTRAS KR} One
would need a broad view and study of all Purushartha Shaastras / Mainly
‘Vatsyayana Kama-Shaastra’ , Artha Shaastra for the punishments to women/
men in matters of violating Family norms, Prayaschitta Shastras and
Practices.{MANU DEALS ELABORATELY KR} All Shaastra talks comes in the
framework of ‘ Varna- Ashrama / Jati- Kula – Vamsha – Gotra – Vrutti’
framework. Society is dynamic. Values and rule books are meant to give
‘Rule of Dharma across Family – Community – State – Nation and Globally /
In this life as well as life after life. If Modern Society / Constitutions
of Nations carry a different Society – ground reality- Alignment to
Religion – Philosophy- God View ( by different Books ; and here I mean
Old Testament Life Perception of One Life- One God- One book’) then Value
needs to be delivered by appropriate mechanism.
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J Another person: Re: Gotra of Wife After Divorce: Sanathana
Dharma says: Sa-Gothra marriages are not allowed (citing that Rishi of
origin would become the same and they are as good as Siblings).The Path of
‘Dharma’ is ‘walk on razor edge ! More so on ‘Stree Dharma’ which is
invoked here and connected to ‘Stree –gotra’. If ‘Sa-gotra’ marriages were
not allowed/ were not solemnised / were not accepted in society, there wold
not be the ‘Prayaschitta –Vidhi’s related to such violation.
The statement < ‘Sa-Gotra’ Marriage Not allowed> is a highly misnomer
ridden social understanding and practice in filtering Marriage –
Alliances. Without going to details, the regulatory –rule - dynamics of ‘
Gotra’ amongst relatives, Transition through Samskaras, is NOT same across
Smruti works. There have been several amends and permitted freedoms. How
does any traditional practitioner decide which is the ‘Smruti- work’
applicable to their family members? beyond a matter of faith /
convenience/ elders words / Sampradaya / Shishtaachara’? would it be
practical now? And where sagotram is relieved after 7 generations and even
from Mother side, evaluation of sagotram in haywire situations, is being
carried out, hence prayaschitta was evoked. And mutations of Gene is the
end card, after 7 generation and acceptable, marriage done KNOWINGLY OR
UNKNOWINGLY in presenti, gets away from the dharma?
K ‘Gotra’ does not mark a ‘Blood Relation Based ‘Sibling’ ( Daayadya)
relation. Technically the ‘Sibling’ by ‘Blood relation’ is primary
consideration for ‘Saa-Pindya/ Aashaucha observations’. It is time that
scholars of tradition with authority bring together their learning to
clarify the situation. The ‘rule book of ‘Varna-Ashrama’ observing
‘Brahmana is not the common guidance for ‘ Generic Basket Citizen under
the cover of social term- ‘Hindu’.
Unfortunate though, many such technical discussions end up quoting ‘Texts’
out of context and result in heated arguments. So, Seeker of Truth does not
go for disturbing ‘Hornet’s nest of Faith’. (Shraddhaa – Jaadya/ Sampradaya
/ Asdaacharya – vachana- praamaanyaat…)
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L A woman's Gothra changes after marriage and her life changes even
from the prakruthi (biological) point of view.
Do you mean to say Shaastra speaks of ‘Gotra’ as a shifting identity, some
‘Abstract unknown force’ applicable to ‘Women’ ? An identity tag, which
somehow, mysteriously undergoes a ‘Change’ during ‘Vivaha –Samskara’ ?
and carries a ‘DNA level change ‘ ?? Lots of deeper issues to be cleared
here! Do we have any Ayurveda Expert who can link such claim of ‘ Gotra’
relation to ‘Child-bearing/ Women Productivity – Fertility’.
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M DNA Markers - Genetic marker - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_marker
Genetic Marker (genome.gov)
https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Genetic-Marker
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspl.1896.0048
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N Recent research about the concept called "Telegony" shows that
the DNA that enters a female body remains even after she remarries (or does
not remarry). By closely connecting the above dots, I have reasons to
believe the native Gothra and the acquired Gothra stay and for healthy
offspring, the next husband has to be from Gothras different from the
two.. ‘Telegony’ seems more a pursuit of ‘Chastity of Women: to the
extreme of ‘Thoughts in the mind of Women’. There are references to such
extreme thoughts –stray ideas in Indian literature also / Jain works ….
What does this have to do with ‘Gotra’ ? Telegony is a theory of
heredity holding that offspring can inherit the characteristics of a
previous mate of the female parent; thus the child of a woman might partake
of traits of a previous sexual partner. Experiments in the late 19th
century on several species failed to provide evidence that offspring would
inherit any character from their mother's previous mates. It was superseded
by the rediscovery of Mendelian inheritance and the Boveri–Sutton
chromosome theory. Telegony is the idea that a female will be permanently
affected when she is first impregnated, since the foetus will pass back
characteristics to her that will affect all future offspring, no matter
their progeny. The term was coined by August Weismann from the Greek words
τῆλε (tèle) meaning 'far' and γονος (gonos) meaning 'offspring'.The idea of
telegony goes back to Aristotle. It states that individuals can inherit
traits not only from their fathers, but also from other males previously
known to their mothers. In other words, it was thought that paternity could
be shared Of a supposed Parnassos, founder of Delphi, Pausanias observes,
"Like the other heroes, as they are called, he had two fathers; one they
say was the god Poseidon, the human father being Cleopompus." Sometimes the
result could be twins such as Castor and Pollux, one born divine and one
mortal. The more general doctrine of "maternal impressions" was also known
in Ancient Israel. The book of Genesis describes Jacob inducing goats and
sheep in Laban's herds to bear striped and spotted young by placing dark
wooden rods with white stripes in their watering troughs. Telegony
influenced early Christianity as well. The Gnostic followers of Valentinius
(circa 100–160 CE) characteristically took the concept from the
physiological world into the realm of psychology and spirituality by
extending the supposed influence even to the thoughts of the woman. In the
Gospel of Philip, a text among those found at Nag Hammadi: Whomever the
woman loves, to him those who are born are like; if her husband, they are
like her husband; if an adulterer, they are like the adulterer. Often when
a woman sleeps with her husband, but while her heart is with the adulterer
with whom she is accustomed to unite, she bears the one whom she bears so
that he is like the adulterer
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P (1) The term telegony has been used to cover cases in which a
female A, after mating with a male B, bears to a male C offspring having
some resemblance to or some peculiar characteristic of A’s first mate B.
The instances of telegony usually cited are (i) cases of thoroughbred
bitches when covered by a thoroughbred dog, reverting in their litter to
half-breds, when they have been previously crossed by dogs of other races.
Whether absolutely unimpeachable instances of this can be produced is,
perhaps, open to question, but the strong opinion on the subject among
dog-fanciers is at least remarkable; (ii) the case of the quagga noted by
Darwin (see 'Origin of Species,’ 4th edition, p. 193), and still more
recently (iii) a noteworthy case of telegony in man cited in the ‘British
Medical Journal’ (see No. 1834, February 22, 1896, p. 462).
If this is acceptable as a ‘Science – Reference of authenticity’, similar
narratives are also there in Ayurveda – on how pregnant women’s thoughts
affect the mind –body of the ‘child in womb’. For more exotic issues, the
‘Garbhadaana / Pumsavana’ Samskaras also may be explored in this context.
Summary: Gotra identity links to DNA / Genetics / is a subject for
interdisciplinary study; which in its current state has several mismatches
of basic tenets and models – mapping.Till such research on ‘Gotra’ Marker
is complete, there is no need to connect Social practice with Constitution
(Legality) or Religiosity (Faith) using ‘Modern Science’ which flagrantly
violates the basic framework of ‘ Dharma Shaastra Tradition’. KR IRS
9//10/5/24
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