🙏 Hindu Vanshavali Finder
Discover Your Sacred Lineage, Gotra & Pravara Heritage
🌟 Advanced Vanshavali Features
Authentic Gotra Database
Comprehensive database of 108+ gotras with detailed pravara information based on ancient Vedic scriptures and Dharmasutras.
Rishi Lineage Tracking
Trace your ancestry back to the great Saptarishis and discover your connection to ancient Vedic sages.
Veda & Shakha Information
Learn about your traditional Vedic affiliation, Shakha (branch), and Sutra traditions associated with your lineage.
Historical Context
Understand the historical significance of your gotra and its role in preserving Sanatan Dharma traditions.
Fully Responsive
Access your vanshavali information on any device – desktop, tablet, or mobile – with a seamless experience.
Privacy Protected
Your information is never stored or shared. All searches are performed locally in your browser for complete privacy.
🙏 Understanding Hindu Vanshavali – Your Sacred Lineage
Hindu Vanshavali, also known as genealogy or family lineage, holds immense significance in Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism). It connects every Hindu individual to their ancestral roots, tracing back to the great Rishis (sages) who received divine knowledge from the Vedas. Understanding your Vanshavali is essential for performing religious ceremonies, marriages, and maintaining the sacred traditions passed down through generations.
What is Gotra?
Gotra is a fundamental concept in Hindu tradition that identifies the patrilineal lineage of a person. The word “Gotra” originates from Sanskrit, meaning “cow shelter” or “lineage.” Every Hindu family belongs to a specific Gotra, which traces back to one of the Saptarishis (Seven Great Sages) – Bharadwaj, Atri, Gautam, Kashyap, Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, and Jamadagni. Knowing your Gotra is crucial for:
- Performing religious rituals and ceremonies (Sandhyavandana, Puja)
- Conducting marriage compatibility checks (same Gotra marriages are traditionally avoided)
- Offering Shraddha (ancestral rites) and Tarpan
- Establishing spiritual and cultural identity
What is Pravara?
Pravara refers to the list of most distinguished ancestors (usually 3, 5, or 7 Rishis) in a person’s lineage. During Vedic rituals, the Pravara is recited to invoke blessings from these ancestral sages. The Pravara establishes a direct spiritual connection between the individual and the divine wisdom received by their ancestors. It is an essential component of Sankalpa (sacred resolve) made before performing any religious ceremony.
Importance of Knowing Your Vanshavali
In today’s fast-paced world, many families have lost touch with their traditional lineage information. Our Hindu Vanshavali Finder tool helps you rediscover this sacred knowledge. By entering your surname and known details, you can access comprehensive information about your Gotra, Pravara, associated Vedas, and the great Rishis from whom you descend. This knowledge empowers you to:
- Perform authentic Vedic rituals with complete Sankalpa
- Understand your spiritual heritage and dharmic responsibilities
- Connect with your ancestral wisdom and blessings
- Pass down accurate lineage information to future generations
- Strengthen your cultural and spiritual identity
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Hindu Vanshavali is your family’s genealogical lineage tracing back to ancient Vedic sages. It includes your Gotra (clan identity), Pravara (distinguished ancestors), and connection to the Saptarishis. Knowing your Vanshavali is essential for performing religious ceremonies correctly, making Sankalpa during rituals, conducting marriage compatibility checks, and maintaining your spiritual and cultural identity as per Sanatan Dharma traditions.
Our Vanshavali Finder is based on traditional Gotra-Pravara lists documented in ancient texts like Baudhayana Shrautasutra, Ashvalayana Shrautasutra, and various Dharmasutras. The database includes 108+ gotras with their associated pravaras. However, for complete accuracy, we recommend verifying with family elders or traditional Pandits, as regional variations and family-specific traditions may exist.
According to Hindu tradition and ancient scriptures, people belonging to the same Gotra are considered to be descendants of the same ancestor (Rishi). Marrying within the same Gotra is considered equivalent to marrying a sibling, as both parties share the same patrilineal lineage. This tradition, known as Gotra Exogamy, helps maintain genetic diversity and is based on both spiritual and scientific principles observed by our ancestors.
Saptarishis are the seven great sages who are believed to have received divine Vedic knowledge directly from Brahma. They are Bharadwaj, Atri, Gautam, Kashyap, Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, and Jamadagni (some texts mention Agastya). Every Hindu Gotra ultimately traces back to one of these Saptarishis or their descendants. Your Gotra name usually comes from the founding Rishi of your lineage, connecting you to an unbroken chain of spiritual wisdom spanning thousands of years.
During any Hindu religious ceremony, you make a Sankalpa (sacred resolution) where you state your Gotra and Pravara. For example: “…Bharadwaj Gotra, Tri-Pravara (Bharadwaj, Brihaspati, Angiras)…” This invokes blessings from your ancestral Rishis. Your Vanshavali is also used during Shraddha ceremonies (ancestral rites), Vivah (marriage), Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony), and other Samskaras. Having accurate Vanshavali information ensures your rituals are performed correctly according to Vedic traditions.