Some Random thoughts
on Sagothra marriages
By
P.R.Ramachander
When we are
not able to arrange marriages
for our children, we tend to
think that the fault lies with the several systems that we
follow .For example many people
believe that they are not able to get married because
of Astrological matching of
horoscopes. There is not much evidence to support such beliefs but in spite of
that , if that be the case
, there is no harm in stopping
astrological matching of horoscopes. Matching of horoscopes is not a caste rule but depends on belief. Nobody compels any
one to match horoscopes before marriage,
There is no mention of marriage
based on horoscope matching in Puranas ,
sasthras , Rule books of caste etc. So
if we suspect that our children are not getting married due to it and we and our children do not believe in astrology , the
first thing would be to discontinue
the practice of matching horoscopes.
All the
people next point their accusing fingers on sagothra marriages. It is commonly understood that
Gothra is the paternal lineage, which is important to Hindus of all shades
except the group practicing matrilineal inheritance in Kerala. The Dharma
sashtras, I understand also ban the marriages within Pravaras. Pravaras are
important note worthy individuals among the ancestors of the Rishis who lead
the Gothra. If we agree that sagothra marriages are not to be performed, then it
is meaningful not to perform Sapravara marriages. The advocates of this principle are not doing
this because they are bothered about inbreeding depression. For
these self same people advocate marriage of a girl with maternal uncle, paternal aunt’s son , maternal uncle’s son (all of them belong to some other
Gothra). Since this practice was considered as incest in most of the northern parts of
India, the constitution makes such
marriages legal among people of south India. Let us examine the difficulties created by sagothra marriages. Studies
indicate that the
most populous Gothra
Bhardwaja occupies 20% of the general population. So even for them
, they can search for a groom/bride
among the rest 80% of the
population . Can this be considered as a difficult restriction?
Caste among Hindus in Dharma Sasthras depend on the mother
rather than the father. A Brahmin woman
marrying a Brahmin , only begets a Brahmin child. If she marries outside the
caste she gives birth to Chandala(with Shudhra), Sootha(With Kshatrya), and
Vaidehaka(With Vysya). On the other hand the caste of the child born to a
Brahmin father to the different caste mothers is same as the caste of the
mother(Example four children of different castes of king Samudra Guptha who was a Brahmin) . But Gothra
always goes from father to son , and that too if a Brahmin marries a Brahmin,
Another important
point is that Gothras does not appear to be
a population of patrilineal cousins. You would find the same Gothra in all parts of India, among all sub castes among Brahmins , Among those who follow different Vedas and Suthras etc. If they are indeed
patrilineal cousins can this happen if they are a strict patrilineal community. There is also fact that the word Gothra indicates the place where Cows were tied. Thus did Gothra consist of a pastoral community whose cows were grazed together and tied in the same place under leadership
of sages because there are several
instances of great sages maintaining huge population of cows. Possibly when
these people settled down in different places for cultivation or to study of Vedas and Sashthras , they might have started the present
system of Patrinilineal community.
I am as confused
as all of you are but I have a feeling that what we know about Gothras, their sages, their pravara rishis etc
is too little (https://sanatanisrivaishnava.wordpress.com/2014/12/27/gotras-and-pravaras-of-smarta-and-sri-vaishnava-brahmins-angirasa-bharadwaja-garga-14-groups-of-sri-vaishnava-upanayana-brahmachari-grihasta-vanaprastha-pancha-samskari-ekangi-ekaki-deshant/
) and following the present system does not cause much hardship .Even when I was a kid sagothra marriages used to take place (love marriages were not
introduced by present day youngsters
but were present from Vedic and Puranic
times.The marriages were called Swayayam vara-self chosen) by the girl being given to her uncle’s family in adoption. To my best of my knowledge all those
families are living a good life .
Not being a
religious leader or a Vedic scholar , I am forced to end
my write up in this confused
state.
1 comment:
An unbiased view would arrive at the conclusion that gotra has more to do with your Acharya parampara. It is usually from father but it only indicates your ancestors studied under which rishis. Sagotra marriage cannot be performed because of rishi tharpanam performed by both persons to the same rishi make them notionally karma wise siblings not biological. It is possible to have same gotra but different caste. A biological relationship may not exist but by gotra they are brothers
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