Origin of Brahmin Gotras

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

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D. D. KOSALBI
Pharadvaja and Gotama are then descendanis 0. Aigiras, which might pass. With less justification, Kayapa, Vasis:na and gastV2 ercial en tob descersicd from Marici, and for no immediately appoint Teason Viivaitras made a descendant of Atri. This explanation from inc Matsya Purana could only have been made if there were some netd or it 2nd if it were no: 25ainst what W25 gencrally current at the time of writing. 1: is to be noted thai lasisha has a secondary and not indepcadent positios, while Pulaha and Pulastya hare disappeared, the explanation being that the generatri Rakşa-as and Pikac23 respectirel, brings that are some sort of demo.25, 'swhich, 27 we shall see mcans Lon-Aryans in any case nothing to donita Brahmins 25 Fuch. Vetertheless, one finds both these names in the goira lis. Pulana is ascribed by Kätyāyana to the Agasii group while a Pulasti appsats as a Bhrgu-teda or Agasti; Paulasta al:9 as a Jamadagni, perhaps thc Pala u nji.53.16.
could only have been so indicated if inc particular 20172-name: rad actually ezisted within the listing tradition. In other words, the conflict of tradition goes back very far, to ice original sources.
Fmally, there are the additional ton families which are ascribed to just two major groups : Vítaharya, Vitra, Vena, Sunaka io Birgu; Rathitara Hlucgala. Visparzdaha, Harita, Karra, Saükrü to Arziras. Thae are the betala or "occasionaiBrärgavas and ligiraas respectiveisfor they had followed professions other than those of priesthool as can ampl: 02 confirmed by tradition, independenti: Gf the futra iisus's before becoming driess. We na have to see whether there is one cridence for such change of caste, and then to look deep in the iraiiion for the actual characters named here.
HISTORICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOTRES
2. It is not my purpose to trace the entire development of tre gotrapravara sstem, even if there catre material with which this could be done. That the system did expand is certain, for it has catered to the needs of an increasing population while assimilatitg 21 addicional number of regional and racial groups which could not posib: 125e belonged t o rcdic categorics. Some of this has been reflected in the gotza-gravara confusion. For example, my own prasara is Vasiştha-Waitrā arura-Kundina. But looking into the genealogies, the position of Maitrărarur;a is anomalou-, for this hyphenated sage is the 2 of Vasicha but also is faire ; in sonc stories, Vasizha is bon of the ejected seed of Hit:2 23 Taruna (1.33.6-12), who are gois and not ascetic pis. Thus Vasistha is himself Víaítra aritza. In addition, these seem to be Kandingas among the Bharadrājas (GPX.163.1). There is po point in speculating hoxall this cameaboutoorin atiempiirg an explanation for every detail of the entire stem. Let us first see whether there is any historical evidence for gotras other than the Brahmin.