Devotee:
Pranam, Guru Ji.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Blessings.
Devotee:
Today, we want to ask you about an important subject.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, go ahead.
Devotee:
It's about the Sanatana Vedic age.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The Sanatana Vedic age, I see.
Devotee:
In that era, the "Gotra" (clan/lineage) was a very crucial matter. It is from there that our various modern-day Gotras originated. If you could explain this in detail, everyone would be able to learn about it.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
First, let me say one thing. If anyone in India is asked: "Which Veda do you belong to? Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, or Atharva Veda?"—they must know this first. In the past, our elders could answer this easily. But nowadays, I see that no one can answer. Whenever I ask young people which Veda they belong to, they don't know.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
See, if someone belongs to the Rig Veda and I perform rituals using the Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, or Atharva Veda, the work will be done incorrectly. If they are of the Sama Veda, I must chant Sama Vedic mantras. If they are of the Yajur Veda, I must use Yajur Vedic mantras. And if it is Rig Veda, the hymns must be from the Rig Veda.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Common people don't know this anymore. As a result, many of you say, "We go to many people for spiritual work, but nothing happens." Why doesn't it happen? I've just pointed out the first mistake: we don't even know which Veda we belong to. Even when you go to a great Tantric or scholar, and they ask for your Veda, most people can't say. If they are of the Rig Veda but I work using Yajur Veda, it won't be effective. Every mantra is different—Sama Vedic, Yajur Vedic, and Rig Vedic are all distinct. This creates a significant problem.
Devotee:
So, how do we determine this?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Determining this involves looking at our Vedic society. The scholarly community originally resided in Kashmir. When trouble started in Kashmir—when Muslims began arriving and oppression increased—the scholars split up. One group, the Vedic society, moved to one area together. Those who were "Rarhi" Brahmins moved elsewhere.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Many from the Vedic society came to the South, especially places like Joynagar and Mojilpur. These areas are famous for the Vaidik (Vedic) community. And if you go toward Burdwan or that side, the scholars there are mostly Rarhi Brahmins. These are the two main divisions, though there are a few others people might not know.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, if you ask where the "Gotra" originated—you can certainly ask me that.
Devotee:
Yes, absolutely.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Our ancestors during the Vedic period were great sages and "Dikpals" (guardians). They were Munis and Rishis. The Gotras are named after them. For example, the "Bharadwaj" Gotra comes from Sage Bharadwaj.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is also something called "Probar." Every Gotra has three Probars. For instance, in the Ghrita-Kaushik Gotra, there are Kushik, Kaushik, and Ghrita-Kaushik.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
When do we need the Gotra? In our Hindu society, we ask for your name and Gotra for almost every ritual. Without the Gotra, I cannot perform the work. Yet, many still don't know their own Gotra. It's surprising.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Muslims don't need a Gotra, and Christians don't need a Gotra. Only in our Hindu Sanatana Dharma is it essential. Why? Because the blood of those ancient sages flows through our veins. Those sages from the Satyayuga and the Vedic age—who studied and preserved the Vedas—are our ancestors. The modern deities we see now, like the popular forms of Kali or others, appeared more recently—maybe 500 to 700 years ago. But originally, our Gotras came from the names of the ancient Rishis. Their blood is in us.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Take the Bharadwaj Gotra; they are the descendants of Sage Bharadwaj, or those he initiated. Initiation is a powerful thing; once initiated, one becomes one with the Guru and often adopts the Guru's Gotra.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
During weddings, you may have seen the "Nandimukh" ritual in the morning where offerings are made to three generations. At night, when the groom arrives and the bride is brought out, the "Probar-maala" is recited. This includes the names of three generations: the father, his father, and his father; the mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother; and the maternal lineage.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We are instructed not to marry within the same Gotra. If a marriage happens within the same Gotra, children may be born with physical disabilities or the brain may not develop fully. This is why a different Gotra is required. It's related to what we call "DNA" today.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
In the Vedic society of the past, women didn't have a separate Gotra status in the same way. Although the mother carries the child for ten months and ten days, the child takes the father's Gotra, not the mother's.
Devotee:
That is still practiced today.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, it is. The mother's original Gotra isn't used for the child; the father's is. When a woman marries into another Gotra, she leaves her father's clan and joins her husband's. Her father's Gotra is no longer her primary identifier; she adopts her father-in-law's Gotra. Our Hindu scriptures are very profound and complex; if someone doesn't break it down for you, you won't understand.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Marriage within the same Gotra leads to "unmature" (immature) or disabled children. This is why the DNA must be different. Look at blood transfusions—doctors match groups like O+, O-, etc. If you take the wrong blood, a reaction occurs and it could be fatal.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Even if a wife is sick and needs blood, her husband might not be able to give it if the groups don't match. A son might not be able to give to a father. You have to buy blood from outside that matches the group.
Devotee:
So, that means the woman who is sick might be from a different Gotra than her husband.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Her husband is of a different Gotra, yes. Even though the son is the biological offspring of the father, sometimes the blood groups don't match. I'm not a doctor, but this is the truth. To give blood, you must match the group.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
In today's language, we call it DNA. In our scriptures, it's the blood of the sages. This is why we say: never marry within the same Gotra. We need Gotra for weddings, "Annaprasan" (first rice ceremony), "Paita" (sacred thread ceremony), and even after death for "Pindadaan" (ancestral offerings).
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Gotra is a massive concept that exists only in India. I once mistakenly asked a Bangladeshi Muslim about his Gotra, and he said, "We don't have Gotras, we are Muslims." I've worked with Christians too; they don't have them either.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Our Sanatana Dharma is deep. Doctors talk about DNA, but we talk about the blood of sages. If a boy and girl love each other but have the same Gotra, we suggest a "Matul" (maternal) Gotra marriage to change the lineage so the children aren't affected.
Devotee:
From what you've said, it seems that our society is disciplined and beautiful because we maintain these Gotras. Other communities don't...
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The Gita says that marriage should not happen within the same Gotra. If you are Hindu and you marry a Christian or a Muslim, the children will be "Sankar" (hybrids). Their creations won't be beautiful; there will be defects.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
If the Gotra is the same, we use the maternal Gotra to fix it. This is how our scriptures guide us. Because we still follow these rules, our society survives. But in the future, this society might fade due to "hybrid" lineages. Such people won't have the right to perform Pindadaan. The Gita says "Lupta-pinda-udaka-kriya"—those who marry outside the faith or break these rules cause their ancestors to suffer.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The Gita's first chapter mentions this. Arjuna was told not to abandon his Dharma. Nowadays, we are mixing East and West. People say, "Forget the priest, I like this person so I will marry them regardless of religion." This is causing the loss of our ideals. The result? Divorces every seven days. Parents don't guide children anymore; children choose for themselves. The consequences are becoming dire and will get worse.
Devotee:
Pranam, Guru Ji. We have heard a beautiful and detailed explanation of Gotra from your holy mouth. We liked it very much. Friends, we request you to subscribe to Guru Ji's channel, comment, and share. Pranam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Blessings.