Editing Gotra (section)

==Foundational structure==
According to the [[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]] 2.2.4,'' Kashyapa, Atri, Vasistha, Vishvamitra, Gautama Maharishi, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja'' are seven sages (also known as [[saptarishi]]) and ''Jambu Maharishi'' is another sage (also known as [[Renuka]], who belongs to Kashyapa). The progeny of these eight sages are declared to be gotras. This enumeration of seven primary and one secondary gotra seems to have been known to Pāṇini. The offspring (''apatya'') of these seven are gotras and others than these are called ''gotrāvayava.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html|title=Mana Sanskriti (Our Culture)|issue=69|website=vedah.net|date=October 2003|access-date=16 January 2009|archive-date=14 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014050327/http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

One who follows the system defined by three sages defines himself as ''Tri-a-Vishay''. Similarly, for five sages, it is ''Pancha-Vishay'', and for seven sages, it is ''Santa-Vishay''.

There exists another theory about gotra: sons and disciples of a sage would have the same gotra; it is believed that they possess similar thoughts and philosophies. People of the same gotra can be found across different castes. Each gotra comprises ''[[pravaras]]''.

While Hindu texts prescribe marrying within one's own community, they prohibit individuals from marrying those who belong to their own [[gotra]], or lineage from the same Vedic sage:<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2021-11-14 |title=Rules of Marriage (vivāha) [Chapter 154] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-agni-purana/d/doc1083384.html |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=One should not choose (the bride) from the same gotra or born in the line of same sage. (One may choose) from (descendants of) more than seven (generations) on the paternal side and more than five (generations) on the maternal side.|title=[[Agni Purana]]|source=Chapter 154}}