Pravaras

Literally, Pravara means the most excellent (-, cf. reference). Pravara is the number of the most excellent s who belonged to that that particular  to which the wearer of sacred thread belongs. Gotra is the name of the founding father (and in a few exceptional cases, founding mother). In vedic ritual, the importance of the pravara appears to be in its use by the ritualist for extolling his ancestry and proclaiming, "as a descendant of worthy ancestors, I am a fit and proper person to do the act I am performing." Generally, there are either three or five pravaras. The sacred thread worn on  has close and essential connection with the concept of pravaras related to brahmin gotra system. While tying the knots of sacred thread, an oath is taken in the name of each one of these three or five of the most excellent rishis belonging to one's gotra.

The full affiliation of a brāhamana consists of (1), (2)sutra (of ), (3), (4).

(Example :) A brahmana named 'X' introduces himself as follows : I am 'X', of Shrivatsa gotra, of Āpastamba sutra, of Taittiriya shākha of Yajurveda, of five pravaras named Bhārgava, Chyāvana, Āpnavan, Aurva and Jāmdagnya (This example is based upon the example given by Pattābhirām Shastri in the introduction to Vedārtha-Pārijata, cf. ref.).

While the gotras were classified initially according to eight s, the were classified under the names of the following seven :

According to the listing of authors included in the verses in Rigved, the rishi was a descendant of rishi  while the rishis  and  were the descendants of rishi.

The pravara identifies the association of a person with two, three (or sometimes five) of the above-mentioned. It also signifies the Sutras contributed to different  by those.

For example, Kashyapa Gothram has 3 rishis associated with it viz. Kashyapa, Nidruva and Aavatsaara

Gotra Pravara

 * 1) Suryadhwaja: Lakhi (Mehrishi), Soral, Binju
 * 2) Bharadwaja: Angirasa, Bhaarhaspatya, Bharadwaja
 * 3) Shatamarshana: Angirasa, Powrukutsa,Traasatasya
 * 4) AAtreya: Atreya,Aarchanaasa,Syaavaasva
 * 5) Vatula: Bhargava,Vaitahavya,Saavedasa
 * 6) Srivatsa: Bhargava,Syaavana,AApnavaana,Owrva,Jaamadaghnya
 * 7) Kowsika: Vaiswaamitra,AAgamarshana,Kowsika
 * 8) Kalabodhana/Kalaboudha: Viswaamitra,AAgamarshana,Kalabodhana/Kalaboudha
 * 9) Viswamitra: Vaiswaamitra,Devaraata, Owtala
 * 10) Kowndinya: Vaasishta,Maitraavaruna, Kowndinya
 * 11) Harita: Angirasa, Ambarisha,Yuvanasva
 * 12) Mowdkalya(3 Variations)
 * 13) Angirasa,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya
 * 14) Tarkshya,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya
 * 15) Angirasa, Dhavya, Mowdgalya
 * 16) Sandilya (2 Variations)
 * 17) Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Daivala
 * 18) Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Sandilya
 * 19) Kasyapa, Daivala, Asitha
 * 20) Naitruvakaasyapa: Kasyapa,Aavatsara,Naitruva
 * 21) Kutsa: Aankirasa,Maandhatra,Kowtsa
 * 22) Kanva (2 Variations)
 * 23) Angirasa,Ajameeda,Kaanva
 * 24) Angirasa,Kowra, Kaanva
 * 25) Paraasara: Vaasishta, Saaktya, Paarasarya
 * 26) Aagastya: Aagastya,Tardhachyuta,Sowmavaha
 * 27) Gargi (2 Variations)
 * 28) Angirasa,Bharhaspatya,Bharadwaja,Sainya,Gargya
 * 29) Angirasa, Sainya, Gaargya
 * 30) Bhadarayana: Angirasa,Paarshadaswa, Raatitara
 * 31) Kasyapa: Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala
 * 32) Sunkriti (2 Variations)
 * 33) Angirasa,Kowravidha,Saankritya
 * 34) Sadhya,Kowravidha,Saankritya

Example transliteration of a
Chatussagara paryantham go bramhanebhyaya shubam bhavati AbhivAdaye AngIrasa BhAradvAja GArgya Chainya trayArshEya pravarAnvita Gargya BhAradvAja gOtrah Apastamba sUtrah yajushshAkhAdhyAyI Sri rAma sharmAnAm aham asmibhoh

Explanation of the example
Line 1: Prelogue: May all the cows and Brahmanas across the four seas be blessed Line 2: The names and number of the main s to whose lineage the person belongs Line 3: of the person Line 4: The that the person follows Line 5: The  that the person belongs to   Line 6: Name of the person