India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c6.25

c6.25

*Name.* The author of the *Ashṭādhyāyī* is universally known as Pāṇini. Kātyāyana and Patañjali use this name. According to Baudhāyana, Pāṇini is a *gotra* name included amongst the Vatsa-Bhṛigus, having five *Pravaras*, *viz.* Bhārgava, Chyāvana, Āpnavāna, Aurva and Jāmadagnya (*Pravara-kāṇḍa*, 3). Pāṇini's own *sūtra* mentioning Pāṇin (VI.4.165) suggests Pāṇini to be a *gotra* name. According to Kaiyaṭa's derivation a son of Paṇin was Pāṇina, and a *yuvan* descendant of his would be called Pāṇini (*Pradīpa* on I.1.73.6).