Origin of Brahmin Gotras

Author(s): Dharmanand Kosambi
Publisher: D D Kosambi

Page 2

22
D. D. KOSAMBI
cach, namely Mänava-Ajla-Paurtravasa and Bhälandana-Vätsapri-Münkila, respectively, whilc Apastamba and Katyayana arc content with deriving both from Manu, But there is a very prominent rulc for both these castcs, namcly that for marriage groups the gotra is to be taken as the samc as that of the family pricst, thic purohila. (GPN. 126-7).
All this implics that thc gotra is a purcly Brahmanic institution which has , bccn. cxtcndcd. to the other two upper castcs by Brahmin supcriority. In support, we find that instcad of thc animal or food-trcc totcms of savage tribes, thc otras are always dcrived from the names of sages. I proposc to show in this note that this system cannot have hcen present from the oldest times, and that there is considerablc rcason for bclicving the tradition to have been invcrtcd (like scycral other prominent Brahmanic traditions which we shall point out) when the original situation had rctrcated into lcgendary antiquity and becomc too derogatory to acknowlcdgc under the changed circumstances. My thesis is that, specifically as regards some important Brahmins, thc gotra system is adopted by amall groups of pre-ksatriya and prc-Aryan pcoplc from Aryan invaders ; as thcsc groups take to thc functions of pricsthood, they are most logically assigned to the patriarchal clan-group of those for whom they officiatc. They conscqucntly acquirc thc samc gotra; only afterwards docs the rulc becomc its opposite, when the vcdic kyatriyas havc dicd out by the risc of settlements and the cmcrgcncc of other warriors of obscurc origin who fight thcir way to the top. At that stage, it becomes quite possiblc to assign to thcsc newcomcrs the same gotra as that of thc pricsts, who have maintained a continuity of tradition and acquired a monopoly of scripturc by long and arduous study. I do not mcan to imply that all golras, or Cven all Bralimin gotras originate in this way.
Bcforc procccding to thc proof, such as it is, onc can notc that the cntirc position of cotra and pravara is confused if onc looks at it as a wholc, and there is no historical or political rcason given for the confusion though clcarly part of the troublc arises from thic fact that gotra lists could not be closed, and that ncwcomers were obviously being recruited into the ranks of the pricsthood. Thc Nügara Bralımins of Gujarat are supposed to be mcdicval immigrants. If the institution of marriage were so strictly boundcd by castc and golra rulcs, it would be difficult to cxplain the strong racial hotcrogcncity of Bralımins in India, as well as thc cxistence of cndogamous regional units within them (amounting to sub-castcs) which havc no basis in scripturc.
• THE CLASSIFICATION OF GOTRAS
2. The various lists of thc principal authoritics, namcly Baudhiyana and Kütyüyana-Laugükşi scem to agree on the whole with thc Matsya Purina