The Complete Brahmin Gotra List
A Gotra is a patrilineal clan system in Hinduism that traces every family's descent back to a specific ancient Vedic Rishi. The word comes from Sanskrit — go (cow) and tra (to protect) — and effectively means "lineage enclosure." Your Gotra identifies which sage's wisdom, lineage, and spiritual heritage you carry.
For Brahmin families, the Gotra is essential to religious identity. It is recited at every significant life event — birth rites, upanayana (sacred thread ceremony), marriage, and death rites. Below is the most complete reference list of Brahmin Gotras with their associated Rishis, Pravara chains, and Veda affiliations.
Understanding the Gotra Table
Each Gotra entry includes:
- Gotra Name (with Devanagari) — the clan name, typically taken from the founding Rishi
- Founding Rishi — the ancient sage from whom this lineage descends
- Pravara — the 3–5 most distinguished ancestors in the lineage (recited during rituals)
- Veda — the Vedic tradition most closely associated with this Gotra
- Regions — where this Gotra is most commonly found today
Gotras Rooted in the Saptarishis
The seven Saptarishis (and Rishi Agastya) are the root of nearly all Brahmin Gotras. Here are the major Gotras from each root:
From Rishi Angirasa / Bharadwaja
| Gotra | Devanagari | Pravara | Veda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bharadwaj | भारद्वाज | Angirasa, Barhaspatya, Bharadwaja | Rigveda |
| Garg | गर्ग | Angirasa, Saina, Garga | Yajurveda |
| Mudgal | मुद्गल | Angirasa, Bharmyashwa, Mudgala | Rigveda |
| Kutsa | कुत्स | Angirasa, Mandhata, Kautsa | Rigveda |
From Rishi Kashyapa
| Gotra | Devanagari | Pravara | Veda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kashyap | कश्यप | Kashyapa, Aavatsaara, Naidhruva | Yajurveda |
| Sandilya | शाण्डिल्य | Kashyapa, Aasita, Devala, Sandilya | Samaveda |
| Naidhruva | नैध्रुव | Kashyapa, Aavatsaara, Naidhruva | Yajurveda |
From Rishi Vashishtha
| Gotra | Devanagari | Pravara | Veda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vashishtha | वशिष्ठ | Vashishtha, Indrapramada, Abharadwasu | Rigveda |
| Parashara | पराशर | Vashishtha, Shaktya, Parashara | Rigveda |
| Upamanyu | उपमन्यु | Vashishtha, Upamanyu | Yajurveda |
From Rishi Vishwamitra
| Gotra | Devanagari | Pravara | Veda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vishwamitra | विश्वामित्र | Vishwamitra, Aghmarshana, Kaushika | Rigveda |
| Katyayana | कात्यायन | Vishwamitra, Devarata, Katyayana | Yajurveda |
| Kaushika | कौशिक | Vishwamitra, Aghmarshana, Kaushika | Rigveda |
From Rishi Atri
| Gotra | Devanagari | Pravara | Veda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atreya | आत्रेय | Atri, Archanas, Atreya | Rigveda |
| Mudgalya | मौद्गल्य | Atri, Archanas, Mudgalya | Rigveda |
From Rishi Jamadagni / Bhrigu
| Gotra | Devanagari | Pravara | Veda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamadagni | जमदग्नि | Bhrigu, Chyavana, Apnavana, Aurva, Jamadagni | Rigveda |
| Vatsa | वत्स | Bhrigu, Chyavana, Apnavana, Aurva, Vatsa | Yajurveda |
| Srivatsa | श्रीवत्स | Bhrigu, Chyavana, Apnavana, Aurva, Srivatsa | Rigveda |
| Shaunaka | शौनक | Bhrigu, Gritsamada, Shaunaka | Rigveda |
From Rishi Gautama
| Gotra | Devanagari | Pravara | Veda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gautam | गौतम | Angirasa, Ayasya, Gautama | Samaveda |
| Harita | हारीत | Angirasa, Ayasya, Gautama, Shalankaya, Harita | Samaveda |
From Rishi Agastya
| Gotra | Devanagari | Pravara | Veda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agastya | अगस्त्य | Agastya, Mahendra, Mayobhava | Samaveda |
| Kaundinya | कौण्डिन्य | Vasishtha, Maitravaruṇa, Kaundinya | Rigveda |
The Full Alphabetical List
Explore all 40+ Gotras in the Vanshmool directory, each with complete Rishi lineage, Pravara, and regional data:
- Agastya Gotra
- Atreya Gotra
- Bharadwaj Gotra
- Dhananjaya Gotra
- Garg Gotra
- Gautam Gotra
- Harita Gotra
- Jamadagni Gotra
- Kapi Gotra
- Kashyap Gotra
- Katyayana Gotra
- Kaundinya Gotra
- Kutsa Gotra
- Mudgal Gotra
- Mudgalya Gotra
- Naidhruva Gotra
- Parashara Gotra
- Sandilya Gotra
- Shaunaka Gotra
- Srivatsa Gotra
- Upamanyu Gotra
- Vashishtha Gotra
- Vatsa Gotra
- Vishwamitra Gotra
How to Read Your Pravara
The Pravara is recited as:
"I am a descendant of [Gotra], of the lineage of [Rishi 1], [Rishi 2], [Rishi 3]."
For example, a person of Bharadwaj Gotra recites:
Angirasa Barhaspatya Bharadwaja trayo rishayah mama gotrakaraha. "The three Rishis Angirasa, Barhaspatya, and Bharadwaja are the founders of my Gotra."
The number of Rishis in the Pravara varies:
- Tri-pravara (3 Rishis) — most common
- Pancha-pravara (5 Rishis) — some lineages like Jamadagni/Vatsa
- Sapta-pravara (7 Rishis) — rare, found in some Kerala traditions
Same-Gotra Marriage Rules
Two people sharing the same Gotra are considered to belong to the same ancestral family — essentially descendants of the same Rishi. Marriage within the same Gotra (sa-gotra vivah) is traditionally prohibited in most Brahmin communities.
The rules vary:
- North Indian Brahmins: Generally prohibit same-Gotra marriages strictly
- South Indian Brahmins (Iyer, Iyengar): Also prohibit same-Gotra, but cross-cousin marriages may be permitted within certain communities
- Bunt, Nair, and Dravidian communities: Use different clan systems (tharavad, illam)
If you're unsure whether a Gotra match is permitted, consult your family pandit, who can advise based on your specific community's traditions.
Gotras and Regional Distribution
Gotra distribution across India is not uniform. Certain Gotras dominate specific regions:
- Uttar Pradesh and Bihar: Bharadwaj, Kashyap, Vashishtha, Gautam
- Rajasthan and Gujarat: Garg, Bharadwaj, Vishwamitra, Kapi
- Tamil Nadu and Karnataka: Kaundinya, Atreya, Gautam, Bharadwaj, Kashyap
- Kerala: Kaundinya, Vashishtha, Sandilya (Namboodiri Brahmins)
- Bengal: Sandilya, Kashyap, Bharadwaj, Vashishtha
- Maharashtra: Kashyap, Vatsa, Bharadwaj
Use the Gotra Finder to search by region, Veda, or Rishi name.
Preserve Your Gotra for Future Generations
The Gotra system has survived 3,000 years — but family knowledge can be lost in a single generation. Children born outside India, raised in cities, or without close family ties to elderly relatives may not know their Gotra by the time it matters.
Vanshmool lets you record your Gotra, Pravara, founding Rishi, and full paternal lineage — so your children will always know their ancestral identity.