Jain Inscriptions of Rajasthan

Author(s): Ramvallabh Somani
Publisher: Rajasthan Prakrit Bharti Sansthan Jaipur

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(ii) We gather from numerous inscriptions that certain families were known by the name of some illustrious ancestor, who was a man of notable honour or fame. The inscriptions of Barahudiya family of Nagaur42 dated V. E. 1293 (1236 A. D.) from the Lunig-Vasati of Abu, Biramdeva Samtaniya43 (Achalgarh temple inscription of V. E. 1134 (1077 A. D.) etc. can be cited in this connection. Evidently some gotras have been formed on patriarchal basis too. This was a practice, which continued upto later medieval times. The Muhanot, Bachchhawat and many other gotras are named after individuals.
(iii) Some gotras have been formed on the basis of the traditional occupation of a family or a group. The Soni (dealing in gold) Kothari (store keeper) Bohara (doing money lending business), Gandhi (dealing in perfumery) and many others are among such gotras. Descendants of government officials, who performed specific duties came to be known hereditarily on the basis of their posts. Bhandari, Kothari, Patwari and Kanoongo are among such gotras.
(iv) Important honorific titles received either from the State or from religious teachers also became the basis of the new gotras. Mehta and Singhavi are among such gotras.
A careful study of the inscriptions reveals some further interesting facts concerning the gotras.
(i) If new gotras could be created by a historical process indicated above, old gotras could dwindle on becoming extinct. We thus have names of gotras, which are no longer found or have a very few members left. Such are gotras like Dhor, Chand, Bikadiya, Bharatara, Gundaliya and Bhura of the Oswals. Similar examples are also known from other Jain castes.
42. Abu II No. 352/M. A. Dhaky's paper published in the "Svadhyaya”
(Gujarati) Vol. 43. ibid II No. 465-466.