Thursday, February 20, 2020

Gotras and Marriages

Even today, in Sanatana Dharma, the Gotras and Pravaras are an important factor in deciding whether two families will proceed with a marriage proposal. Sa-gotra (within the same Gotra) and especially sa-Pravara (same gotra and also same Pravara) marriages are strictly avoided by traditional families.
Another measure typically used in determining suitability, or otherwise, of marriages is the concept of Sapinda relationship. If in the paternal side of the bride and the paternal side of the groom, there exists any person who performs “pinda daan” to a common ancestor within 7 generations, then that relationship becomes a sapinda relationship, and is avoided for marriage.
Markandeya Purana defines this sapinda relationship very succinctly.
पिता पितामहश्चैव तथैव प्रपितामहः |
पिण्डसंबन्धिनो ह्येते विज्ञेयाः पुरुषास्त्रयः ||
लेपसंबन्धिनश्चान्ये पितामहपितामहात् |
प्रभृत्युक्तास्त्रयस्तेषां यजमानस्तु सप्तमः ||
इत्येषः मुनिभिः प्रोक्तः संबन्धस्साप्तपूरुषः ||
“Father, grandfather and great-grandfather are the three purushas known as “pinda sambandhi”. The great-great-grandfather, his father and his grandfather – these three are known as “pinda-lepa sambandhi”. Including the person who has the right to give pinda, 7 generations thus get accounted for. So have the great munis decided”
Thus amongst the 7 generations thus described, if there is any common pinda-pradaatru (pinda-giver) on either side, then the relationship will end up becoming a sapinda relation.

 Prepared by
Dr. Abhijith S Bharathi

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