GOTHRA

Originally the meaning of the Gothra is Cow stall!. The general conception about gotra is that it denotes all persons who trace descent in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. the original ancestors over whom the members of the Brahmana gotras prided themselves were imagined to be Risis or ancient sages (Gotra Karins).

The names of the Gotras are most significant. The following list is derived from the list given in Asvalayana Srauta Sutra.

Vatsas- Calves, Sunakas-Dogs, Riksas-Bears, Bharadvajas- a species of Birds, Mudgals-a species of Fish, Kapis-monkeys,Ajas-Goats,Renus-pollens,Venus-Bamboos,Kasyapas- Tortoises,Sandilas- a species of Birds and Gotamas-Cows.

Fundamental characteristic of the Gotra system are 1) idea of a common descent of all the members belonging to the same Gotra;2)animal names usually assigned to the Gotras;3) rule of strict exogamy for each Gotra.

but the Gotra system was not peculiar to the Brahmana caste.Budda, a scion of the Sakya family, called himself Gotama. His father and cousin Ananda were addressed as Gotama. They were Kshtriyas.Jains have Gotras.Mahavira, a kshtriya belonged to the Kasyapa Gotra.

It is presumed that Gotra system is remnant of tribal society, where in each clan was identified by the Totem symbol of the particular tribe. The concept that it is a Rishi name is a later development