History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v2.c28.s1.90

v2.c28.s1.90

Whatever this may be, it is clear that this sūtra only offers an alternative Pravara for the Kshatriyas based probably on the Purāṇas, which they might use if they liked. The following sūtras make the matter clear with regard to the ordinary Pravaras. अथ येषां मंत्रकृतो न स्युः स-पुरोहितप्रवरास्ते प्रवृणीरन्. The Kshatriyas even in pre-Christ times had begun to forget their gotra and Pravara owing to Buddhistic influences or under the stress of foreign invasions and perhaps through the natural indifference which a profession of arms creates towards troublesome religious ritual. And for these this sūtra provides that those who have no Mantrakrit Rishis, should use the Pravara of their Purohitas. But the next Sūtra adds अथ येषां स्वपुरोहितप्रवरास्ते — Those who have Mantrakṛit ancestors cannot use Purohita's Pravara; but must use their own Pravara as the commentator adds आत्मीयानेव प्रवरान् प्रवृणीतार्थः । However a fourth sūtra adds that even they from convenience (न्यायेन) can use Purohita's Pravara, not gotra it must be remembered. These sūtras convincingly show that the Kshatriyas had their own gotras and Pravaras from the most ancient times and epigraphic records dating from before the Christian era show that Kshatriyas actually mentioned their own gotras in inscriptions. Not only the Śrauta Sūtras but the Smṛitis also contemplate that Kshatriyas have gotra and Pravara of their own. How could otherwise the Smṛiti rule असमानार्षगोत्रजाम् be applied to Kshatriyas? The rule "one must not marry a girl of one's own gotra and Rishi (Pravara)" applies to Kshatriyas and Brahmins and hence Kshatriyas must have had their own gotra and Pravara. The method suggested by Vijñāneśvara in the Mitāksharā is useless, for if marriage is to be settled on the Pravara of the Purohita, this Pravara may change from time to time or may be even changed specially when a difficulty arises and thus two families which can not intermarry may effect such marriages by change of Purohitas. The modern Kshatriyas and even Vaiśyas observe this law in effect by adopting the system of clans or nukhs.