Gothram - The Family Name

Gothram:

Gothram is classification for descent through the male line and identifying the families. Gothram is the Root Person in a male ancestry. Marriages are fixed in India according to the gothram system. Gothra Matching is important in the hinduisum.Marriage between similar gothram’s is prohibited strictly.

Cultural Beliefs:

Among Brahmins the gothra system was started,a system to identify the families.The gothra system was from the seven sages namely Angirasa, Atri, Gautam, Kashyapa, Bhrigu, Vasistha, and Bharadwaja.

As per the ancients, the classification came into existence in the Vedic period to avoid marriages between the blood relatives and has strict rules to know who can marry which ancestry. The custom was first established by the Aryans to identify the particular family.

During the rituals and ceremony the ancestors are honored and given homage. Wedding with the same gothram are avoided for impure matrimony. Females when married belong to the husband gothram.

Interesting Facts:

• The system is developed for changing social rules and laws and became more important for finalizing a wedding in the modern society.
• It is necessary to first inquire about the gothram of the bride and groom before wedding alliance. If the gothram is different the alliance will bring happiness, prosperity and progeny for the family.
• As per astrology the longitudes of the lagnas of the bride and groom from the different Gothram, bestow outstanding effects on their lives.
• In the Gothram, GO (cow), tram (Shed) which means cow-shed protecting the male line. Cows are sacred animals in Hinduism.

Scientific Reasons:

• Marriage between blood relatives (same gothram) can lead to genetic disorders and hybrid DNA combinations.
• Humans have 23 chromosome pairs, in each pair of Chromosomes one is from the father and the other comes from the mother. In each cell we have 46 Chromosomes of which 23+23 are from father and mother.
• Among these 23 pairs one pair (sex chromosome) will decide the gender of the child.
• If the chromosome is a XX - girl, XY- boy. X is for the female attributes and y is for the male attributes.
• Only Y chromosomes are inherited for male child and are preserved throughout the male line .Females never have the Y chromosome as they do not carry.