अग्रवाल गोत्र सूची (Agarwal Gotra List)
The Agarwal (also spelled Agrawal, Aggarwal) community is one of the most prominent Vaishya (Bania) communities of India, known for their contributions to trade, finance, and philanthropy. A distinctive feature of the Agarwal community is their 18-Gotra system — unlike many communities where Gotra is tied solely to Brahminical lineages, the Agarwals have a well-organized Gotra structure with clear founding Rishis for each of the 18 Gotras.
The Origin: King Agrasen and His 18 Sons
According to Agarwal tradition, the community descends from King Agrasen (Agrasen Maharaja / महाराजा अग्रसेन), a legendary Kshatriya king of the Suryavansha dynasty who ruled the kingdom of Agroha (in modern Haryana). King Agrasen is revered as a great welfare king who established the principle of social equality — the city of Agroha is said to have welcomed newcomers with one brick and one coin from every household.
King Agrasen had 18 sons, each of whom became the progenitor of one of the 18 Agarwal clans. Each son's Gotra is named after their associated Vedic Rishi, following the same Brahminical Gotra tradition.
The 18 Agarwal Gotras
| Gotra | Devanagari | Founding/Associated Rishi | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garg | गर्ग | Rishi Garga | Most common; also see Garg Gotra article |
| Bansal | बंसल | Rishi Vatsya / Vatsa | Prominent North Indian Agarwal clan |
| Singhal | सिंघल | Rishi Shringi | |
| Mittal | मित्तल | Rishi Mitra (Maitreya) | |
| Khandelwal | खंडेलवाल | Rishi Kanva / Khandal | |
| Goyal | गोयल | Rishi Garga (Garga branch) | Some overlap with Garg |
| Jindal | जिंदल | Rishi Kaundinya | |
| Mangal | मंगल | Rishi Mangala | |
| Tayal | तायल | Rishi Tittiri | |
| Bindal | बिंदल | Rishi Vishwamitra (Kaushika) | |
| Dharan | धारण | Rishi Dhananjaya | |
| Nagal | नागल | Rishi Naga | |
| Goel | गोएल | Rishi Gargya (another Garg branch) | |
| Kansal | कंसल | Rishi Kanva | |
| Bhandal | भंडल | Rishi Bharadwaja | |
| Madhukal | मधुकल | Rishi Madhuka | |
| Tingal | तिंगल | Rishi Vatsa | |
| Airan | ऐरन | Rishi Kashyapa |
Note: The exact 18 Gotra list varies slightly between different Agarwal sub-communities and regional branches. The above represents the most widely cited version.
How the Gotra System Works in Agarwal Marriages
The Agarwal community strictly follows the Gotra exogamy rule — a person cannot marry someone of the same Gotra, regardless of how distant the family relationship is. This rule applies across all 18 Gotras.
Additionally, some Agarwal families also observe Pravara exogamy — avoiding marriage where the Pravara (ancestral chain) overlaps significantly.
For more on this: Why Same Gotra Marriage is Prohibited
Gotras and Surnames in the Agarwal Community
Many Agarwal families use their Gotra name (or a variant) as their surname. Common examples:
- Garg → surname Garg, Gargya
- Bansal → surname Bansal, Banshilal
- Mittal → surname Mittal, Mital
- Singhal → surname Singhal, Singhania
- Khandelwal → also used as a community surname
This creates an interesting overlap where the surname often reveals the Gotra — unlike Brahmin communities where surnames (like Sharma, Mishra) don't directly indicate Gotra.
Modern Agarwal Community and Gotra Practice
In contemporary practice, many Agarwal families know their Gotra but may not know the full Pravara (the ancestral chain of Rishis). The Pravara becomes important during:
- Vivah (Wedding): Priest asks for Gotra and Pravara of both families
- Shraddha (Ancestral ceremonies): Gotra is invoked when offering pinda
- Thread ceremonies (Upanayana): Gotra and Pravara are formally declared
Discover Your Agarwal Gotra
Use our Gotra Finder to search for Agarwal Gotras. Each of the 18 Gotras has a detail page — explore Garg Gotra, Kashyap Gotra, and Bharadwaj Gotra for their full Pravara and Veda details.
Ready to document your Agarwal Gotra heritage? Start your family tree on Vanshmool →