Gothra associates a person with his most ancient or root ancestor in an unbroken male lineage. For instance, if a person belongs to Vasishta gothra, it means that he traces back his male ancestry to the ancient rishi (sage or seer) Vasishta.
Along with the gothra, one remembers few significant sages in the lineage so that the trace is borne with pride and is shared with the descendants. This is called rushi pravara, the line of descent.
Does God have a gothra?
Before we talk about gothra of God, let us look at God’s various forms so that we can understand whether all the forms have the same gothra or not, if He does.
Ve:das declare that five visible forms that God can be realized and experienced. While all the five forms are equally complete in all aspects, two of them allow a common man to comprehend the form.
Vedas state that…
All the five forms are equally full and complete in nature, qualities, power, and compassion.
O:m pu:rnam idam pu:rnam adaha pu:rna:th pu:rna mudachyathe: |
pu:rnasya pu:rnam a:da:ya pu:rnam e:vavasishyathe: O:m ||
The first of the two forms is vibhava (a form that sumptuously exhibits divine qualities). Examples of such forms are Sri Rama, Sri Krushna etc. To know, realise or be conscious of this form, one must be at least living at the same time-period and in the same location that God chose to take the form. In this form, God chooses a family for Himself to be born in. Thus, He carries the gothra and rushi pravara of the family. For example: Rama carries the gothra of Dasaratha.
The second of the two forms is based on the first form, vibhava. The same form of the vibhava such as Sri Rama or Sri Krushna is carved from a selectively chosen stone by a sculptor and is consecrated by de:vatha:s, sages or great devotees. Such form is called the archa: mu:rthi, the deity form of God. This form, the deity is accessible to everyone. Thus, He carries the gothra and rushi pravara of His root form, A:di Na:ra:yana.
| GOD AS SRI RAMA | GOD IN THE FORM OF DEITY | |
 |
 |
|
| Gothra | Vasishta [name of the root seer] | Achyutha [prime quality of God]
Achyutha gothra means one who never gives up on those who seek Him |
| Rushi Pravara | Va:sishta, Maitra:varuna, Koundinya | Para, Vyu:ha, Vibhava, Antharya:mi |
Vishno:re:sha anapa:yani
Mother Lakshmi always accompanies Lord Vishnu in every form He takes to protect us
| THE UNIVERSAL MOTHER AS SITHA | THE UNIVERSAL MOTHER IN THE FORM OF A DEITY | |
 |
 |
|
| Gothra | Gowthamasya | Sowbhagya [prime quality of Mother]
Sowbhagya gothra denotes that Her purpose is to give sowbhagyam (all types of wealth) to everyone through Na:ra:yana |
| Rushi Pravara | Gowthama, Swarnaro:ma, Hrasvaro:ma | Kshi:ra:rnava, Ratna:kara indicating Her appearance as she meditated upon God’s divine form and qualities represented by pure and clean milk; radiating glory of all relations with God represented by precious gems |
Self-check: Every day in the morning and evening, do you spend time with archa: mu:rthi in your prayer room and/or do you visit any temple at regular intervals to seek peace, enlightenment and solutions to problems in life?
If so, remember that Lord Narayana’s gothra, achyutha indicates that He will never give up on you. Remember that Mother Lakshmi’s gothra sowbhagya indicates that she is ever ready to grace you with all the wealth . Their union, SITHA RAMA KALYANAM therefore is essential for our well-being. However, you must self-check if you believe in them. If so, there is nothing else that you need to worry about
Self-check: Every day in the morning and evening, do you spend time with archa: mu:rthi in your prayer room and /or do you visit any temple at regular intervals to seek peace, enlightenment and solutions to problems in life?
If so, remember that Lord Narayana’s gothra, achyutha indicates that He will never give up on you. Remember that Mother Lakshmi’s gothra sowbhagya indicates that she is ever ready to grace you with all the wealth . Their union, SITHA RAMA KALYANAM therefore is essential for our well-being. However, you must self-check if you believe in them. If so, there is nothing else that you need to worry about
– From the discourse of HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
– Sri Sitha Rama Kalyanam, Divya Saketham
21stApril 2021
The devotees heard HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji beautifully explain the supremacy of archa: mu:rthi. A couple said in overwhelming joy, “We have never understood how compassionate the Lord is as He makes Himself available as archa: mu:rthi (the deity form) until Swamiji elaborated these details. We are ever grateful to HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji. He gave us God, what can we give Him!?
Adiyen Dasoham
Jaisrimannarayana !
Jaisrimannarayana !!
Jaisrimannarayana !!!
We r blesssed to learn about the gotras…we just say without knowing…pranams swamyji…i have one more doubt that is weather koushika vishwamitra gotra is one r two diffferent gothra..bcaz i heard people tell viswamitra gothra n also koushika gotra is different?