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This family tree has been derived from the Bharadhwaaja gothra vamza compiled by Dr. Ganesh Vaidyanathan. It traces back to xxx generations of the descendants of xxx of xxx. As this vamsavali grows, we will be adding the members of other gothrams and families so that it will encompass all families that have descended from or married into this tree.
If you are a part of this tree, please send me details of any spelling corrections, family information, biographical sketches or other information that you may consider pertinent to this venture. I will be happy to add it to the tree as soon as possible.
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Family charts maintained by our forefathers facilitated the recording of their descendants. As soon as every newborn was ushered into the world, his name was recorded faithfully.
The Gothra name demonstrates the family's traditional style of knowledge acquisition and expertise in ancient theories. Gothra is an identity carried by male lineage in India from time immemorial. Most people have Gothra chain names traceable to Rig Vedic Rishis like Gowthama, Vasishta, Viswamithra, and Bharadhwaaja. How did the people of 3000-4000 years ago realize that genetically there was transference of some unique characteristics only from father to son (in the form of Y-chromosomes)? No idea, but they knew something that we may never know about them!
Anyway, the common Gothrams are Rishis Athreya, Bharadhwaaja, Gouthama, Jaamadagnya, Kaasyapa, Koundinya, Kousika, Vaatsa, Vaasishta, and Viswaamithra.
Note: Since Rishi Jamadagni was a descendant of Rishi Bhrigu, and Rishi Gautama and Rishi Bharadhwaaja were the descendants of Rishi Angirasa, Rishi Brighu and Rishi Angirasa are omiited from the above list.
The desire of the ancient Aryans to avoid consanguineous marriages [marriages between blood relatives] resulted in the establishment of strict rules determining which lineages could or could not intermarry. This thinking is in tune with the modern day genetic paradigms of hybrid vigor. The concept of gothra-pravara made such systems of exogamy [marriage outside of a specific group especially as required by custom or law] eminently feasible. The gothra is therefore frequently used as an exogamous unit to determine marital compatibility. Marriage is not recommended between two individuals of the same major gothra [ i.e. the two individuals should not be able to trace their patrilineal ancestry to one and the same of the 10 primal rishis listed above. Furthermore, marriage is prohibited between two persons who share even one pravara rishi.
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