Pravara garcia biography of william

Hindu concept of lineage

In Hindu culture, a Pravara (Sanskrit for "most excellent") refers to a system of identity, particularly a family line.^[1] The Pravar system is based on the descendants of a rishi (sage) after whom a "gotra" (clan) is named, and these descendants are considered eponyms by the members of the "gotra."^[2] It represents a secondary level of segmentation within the gotra system.

The Pravara is a significant aspect of the exogamous system in ancient Brahmanical families.^[3]

Significance

The significance of Pravara lies in its role in establishing the worth or fitness of the sacrificer as a descendant of the rishis named in the Pravara.

It serves as a means of identifying the lineage and ancestry of the individual, particularly during sacred rituals and prayers. The recitation of the Pravara during these rituals is a way of declaring that the individual is as worthy as their ancestors to offer sacrifices and perfor