Pravaras

Literally, Pravara means the most excellent (-Monier-Williams, cf. reference). Pravara is the number of the most excellent rishis who belonged to that particular "gotra" to which the wearer of sacred thread belongs. "Gotra" is the name of the founding father (and in a few exceptional cases, founding mother). In vedic ritual, the importance of the pravara appears to be in its use by the ritualist for extolling his ancestry and proclaiming, "as a descendant of worthy ancestors, I am a fit and proper person to do the act I am performing." Generally, there are either three or five pravaras. The sacred thread yajnopavita worn on upanayana has close and essential connection with the concept of pravaras related to brahmin gotra system. While tying the knots of sacred thread, an oath is taken in the name of each one of these three or five of the most excellent rishis belonging to one's gotra.

The full affiliation of a brāhamana consists of (1)gotra, (2)sutra (of Kalpa), (3)shakha, (4)pravaras .

(Example :) A brahmana named 'X' introduces himself as follows : I am 'X', of Shrivatsa gotra, of Āpastamba sutra, of Taittiriya shākha of Yajurveda, of five pravaras named Bhārgava, Chyāvana, Āpnavan, Aurva and Jāmdagnya (This example is based upon the example given by Pattābhirām Shastri in the introduction to Vedārtha-Pārijata, cf. ref.).

While the "gotras" were classified initially according to eight rishis, the pravaras were classified under the names of the following seven rishis:
*Agastya
*Angirasa
*Atri
*Bhrigu
*Kashyapa
*Vasishtha
*Vishvamitra

According to the listing of authors included in the verses in Rigved, the rishi Jamadagni was a descendant of rishi Bhrigu while the rishis Gautam and Bharadvaja were the descendants of rishi Angirasa.

The pravara identifies the association of a person with two, three (or sometimes five) of the above-mentioned rishis. It also signifies the "Sutras" contributed to different Vedas by those rishis.

For example, Kashyapa Gothram has 3 rishis associated with it viz. Kashyapa, Nidruva and Aavatsaara

Gotra Pravara

#Suryadhwaja: Lakhi (Mehrishi), Soral, Binju
#Bharadwaja: Angirasa, Bhaarhaspatya, Bharadwaja
#Vadula: Bhargava,Vaitahavya,Saavedasa
#Srivatsa: Bhargava,Syaavana,AApnavaana,Owrva,Jaamadaghnya
#Shatamarshana: Angirasa, Powrukutsa,Traasatasya
#AAtreya: Atreya,Aarchanaasa,Syaavaasva
#Kowsika: Vaiswaamitra,AAgamarshana,Kowsika
#Kalabodhana/Kalaboudha: Viswaamitra,AAgamarshana,Kalabodhana/Kalaboudha
#Viswamitra: Vaiswaamitra,Devaraata, Owtala
#Kowndinya: Vaasishta,Maitraavaruna, Kowndinya
#Haritasa: Angirasa, Ambarisha,Yuvanasva
#Gautamasa: Angirasa,Aayasyasa,Gautama
#Mowdkalya(3 Variations)
##Angirasa,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya
##Tarkshya,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya
##Angirasa, Dhavya, Mowdgalya
#Sandilya (2 Variations)
##Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Daivala
##Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Sandilya
##Kasyapa, Daivala, Asitha
#Naitruvakaasyapa: Kasyapa,Aavatsara,Naitruva
#Kutsa: Aankirasa,Maandhatra,Kowtsa
#Kanva (2 Variations)
##Angirasa,Ajameeda,Kaanva
##Angirasa,Kowra, Kaanva
#Paraasara: Vaasishta, Saaktya, Paarasarya
#Aagastya: Aagastya,Tardhachyuta,Sowmavaha
#Gargi (2 Variations)
##Angirasa,Bharhaspatya,Bharadwaja,Sainya,Gargya
##Angirasa, Sainya, Gaargya
#Bhadarayana: Angirasa,Paarshadaswa, Raatitara
#Kasyapa: Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala
#Sunkriti (2 Variations)
##Angirasa,Kowravidha,Saankritya
##Sadhya,Kowravidha,Saankritya

Example

Example transliteration of a pravara

Chatussagara paryantham gobramhanebhyaya shubam bhavati AngIrasa BhAradvAja GArgya Chainya trayArshEya pravarAnvita Gargya BhAradvaja gotrah Apastambu sUtrah yajush shAkhAdhAyI Sri rAma sharmAnan aham bhoh AbhivAdaye

Explanation of the example

Line 1: Prelogue: May all the cows and Brahmanas across the four seas be blessed Line 2: The names and number of the main rishis to whose lineage the person belongs Line 3: Gotra of the person Line 4: The sutra that the person follows Line 5: The veda shakha that the person belongs to Line 6: Name of the person

References

*Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monier-Williams, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt Ltd, 55-Rani Jhansi Road, New Delhi-110055,Third Print 1988; (original publication Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1899).
*Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monier-Williams, ISBN 0-19-864308-X.
*Vedārtha-Pārijāta by Swāmi Karpātri, introduction by Pattābhirām Śāstri, Śri Rādhā krishna Dhanuka Prakāśan Sansthān, Calcutta ; Sañchālaka : Vedaśāstra Research Centre, Kedārghat, Vārānasi,1979 (Sanskrit and Hindi, the introduction has an English translation as well).

ee also

*List of Brahmin gotras
*Brahmin gotra system
*upanayanam

External links

* [http://www.keralaiyers.com/sandhyavandhanam2 Sandhyavandane description] - Search for "pravara" in that page.