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Gothrams/Manjula"s questions on Details.

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • August 6, 1995 


Manjula: here are some details :

There are 20 Gothras. Each has its own three Rishis, which are referrred to in
the Pravaram.I will list  the 20 Gothras/Pravaras and illustrate one of  the
famous Gothras with details .
          
.GOTHRAM
PRAVARAM
**************
*********************************************   	
1. Bharadwaja ------------------------------    Aankirasa, Bhaarhaspatya,
Bharadwaja
2. Shatamarshana  ------------------------    AAnkirasa, Powrukutsa,Traasatasya
3 .AAtreya----------------------------------------Atreya,Aarchanaasa,Syaavaasva
4 .Vatula-----------------------------------------Bhargava,Vaitahavya,Saavedasa
5 .Srivatsa---------------------------------------Bhargava,
Syaavana,AApnavaana,Owrva,
                                                                       Jaamadaghn
ya(Oppiliappan)
6. Kowsika------------------------------------Vaiswaamitra, AAgamarshana,Kowsika
7. Viswamitra--------------------------------  Vaiswaamitra,Devaraata, Owtala
8. Kowndinya-------------------------------- Vaasishta,Maitraavaruna, Kowndinya
9. Harita----------------------------------------AAnkirasa, Ambarisha,Yuvanasva
10. Mowdkalya(3 Variations)------------(1) AAnkiras,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya
                                                                    (2)
Tarkshya,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya
                                                                    (3)
AAnkirsa, Dhavya, Mowdgalya
11.Sandilya (2 Variations)-----------------(1) Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Daivala
                                                                       (2)
Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Sandilya
12.Naitruvakaasyapa--------------------Kasyapa,Aavatsara,Naitruva
13.Kutsa-----------------------------------Aankirasa, Maandhatra,Kowtsa
14.Kanva--------------------------------(1) Aankirasa, Ajameeda,Kaanva
                                                            (2) Aankirasa,
Kowra, Kaanva
15.Paraasara---------------------------(1) Vaasishta, Saaktya, Paarasarya
16.Aagastya-----------------------------Aagastya,Tardhachyuta,Sowmavaha
17. Gargi-------------------------(1)
Aankirasa,Bharhaspatya,Bharadwaja,Sainya,Gargya
(2) Aangirasa, Sainya, Gaargya
18.Bhadarayana----------------Aankirasa,Paarshadaswa, Raatitara
19.Kasyapa---------------------Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala
20.Sunkriti ----------------------(1) Aankirasa,Kowravidha,Saankritya
                                                   (2)
Sadhya,Kowravidha,Saankritya

Among the 20, based on an analysis of Pravaras, one can see the Aankirasa Rishi
appears 12 times    including multiple versions. Aankirasa is the Rishi with
whom more than half of the Atharva Veda samhitas a re associated. An analysis of
the Rishis associated with the Veda Mantras will give info on the other Rishis
associated with the twenty Gothras and their lineage.

Sage Kanva is the father of Sakutala celebrated by Kaalidasa. Bhargava referes
to the lineage of Bhrigu Maharishi, the foster father of Maha Lakshmi worshipped
as Bhargavi. . I will now say  afew words about Shatamarshana Gothram. Natha
Muni, Aalavandar(Yaamuna Muni) belong to this Gothram.Bharadwaja appears in
Raamayanam .


Brahma according to Puranas had 4 sons:Atri, Bhrigu,Vasishta and Ankiras.

Their lines are as follows:

1.Ankiras---) Shatamarshana(Penance in the middle of Five fires at Haridhwar and
got the boon that the Sata Vayu will not  affect him . Similar to the case of
Satakopan(Nammalwar later).His predecessors, Purukutsar and Traasa Dasyu were
authorities on Rig Vedam.Tras is made up of 3 Kinds of fear .Since these  htree
kinds of fear  ran away fro him out of fear for his Power derived from penance,
He is called Trasa Dhasyu. All the three Rishis (Ankiras, Purukutsar,Trsadasyu)
are thus included in the Pravaram of Shatamarshana Gothris. 
2.Bhrigu----) Valmiki  and Sri Vatsa Gothram

3. Atri--------) Dattatreya---) Atreya Gothram-----) Atreya Ramanujar and links
to
Vedanta Desikan
4.Vasishta-----) Sakti, Paraasara,Vyasa.(Paraasara is the author of Vishnu
Puranam and Vysaa , the author of Brahma Sutrams and Puraanas.

All of them are devotees of Sriman Narayana and are  StaunchVaishnavas.

About Shatamarshana Gothram lineage, Before Shatamarshana: Ankiras,Purugutsar
and Trasadasyuwere  all born in this Gothram. Shatamarshana gothris  are called
Sreshtars or Sottai Kulam  people in Tamil. Aalawandar  refers to his reputed
Lineage  referring to his grandfather Nata Muni & Shatamarshana thi s way:: "
Janitvaham Jagati Mahati Kyata Yasasam"( Stotra Ratnakaram.)
P.A. Ranganatha Tatacharya has  written about the glory  this Gothram in his
monograph" Shatamarshana Gothra Prabhavam". 

Hope this information is useful to you with respect to your queries!

Sadagopan

P.S; I wonder How many Gothras are represented in our Study Group . Mine is
Vatula Gothram.