Origin of Brahmin Gotras

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

Page 6

D. D. KOSAMET
• To go back further into the scalm of purc tradition, wc hear of a Gautama Svetakctu yiclding to the superior philosophical knowledge of the ksatriya Pravahana Jaivali (Bțhad. Up.6.2). Remarkably cnough, the Praváhancyas are still found in the list as Bharadvájas (GPN.56.5 &162.20, on the authority of Paudhayana), which is a brinch of the Afgirasas as arc thc Gotamas. Svctaketu is also called Qrug, which has a doubtful position, perhaps a Bharadvāja (GPN. 57.16). Jaivali is a Paricála and the Pañicílas form now a Kakyapa gotra (GPN.36.21 & 174.3). The point is that thc Panicālas arc an cntirc (compositc) tribc, and it is conceivable that some of the Pañícila Brahmingo if indced the name means the same thing in both cascs-could have been Kahyapas. The name is associated with a definite locality, and there is no necd for a locality to have been occupicd altogether by people of the game gotra, though we know that clan territories did czist in all countries under certain circumstances. The Kauruksctris arc Bharadvūjas (GPN.59.18 & 162.12) while thc Kausimbeyas (of whom I am not onc in spite of the surname) arc Bhrgus (GPN. 32.1 & 43.15).
GOTRAS IN OLDER INDIAN TRADITION
4. So far, wc ecem to have reasonable confirmation of the gotra thcory as it now stands. . But Ict us go gack still further. Identifying gotras of famous name is not always casy, and proving their historicity apart from tradition cven less simplc. Panini's existence is not in doubt. But why arc thc Paninis ranked among thc Phrgus by Baudhāyana (GPN. 39.3), Vilvãmítr as hy Katyāyana (GPN. 99.10) and the Matsya (GPN. 175.2)? Thegrcat commentator Patañjali is uniformly a Bharadvaja in the gotra lists.
That the other two upper castc3 had thcir own distinct gotras is quite clcar from Patañjali's commentary on Pan. 2.4.58, wherche alco quotes the opinions of other rammarians on gotra-derivative; two vaibya gotras scem to have been Bhanlijaughi and Kärnakharaki. Buddha quotes a verse as by Brahma Sanatkumára t the clfcct that arnong those with gotras, the ksatriya is chicf (in Dizhanikaga 3, and again in 27). There occur Brahmin gotra names in Buddhist stories of the carlicst period, and even comparatively rarc oncs like Paus karasādi of thc Digha-nikaya are to be found in the lists (GPN. 111.10) But we also find watriya gotras given on occasion. It is clcar from Buddha's arcuments with the Brahmins of his day that the bigatriyas did have a cotra system of their own, and may familics took immcnsc pride in thc purity of their lincace. Buddha (descended from Oklakas Iksvaku", by tradition) claimed thcãdicca (=dditya) gotra, and if the Buddha himself is Gctama, it can only
Tkrvaku it toetationed try Danc in 2.584; hymn 2,57.8V) arc suppened to be by the Gaupaya dienord pricu of Iksku. With him and thic Cotiane rint to the end of iho Vedic trzdi. tion and the beginning of th: Purana Mahabharata compl. .