Edited by Chatgpt
Many Brahmins are also only Brahmins on paper and not in spirit
For them a vedantic or Hindu expression itself is alien—BR
This is my response to you
Following your family tradition and its customs is the mark of Hindu identity. At the same time, you can always notice a change in continuity. Who was a Brahmin a few centuries ago has changed over different periods. The same is true for every other caste identity. This reality is not limited to Hinduism. Can you identify the twelve tribes among the present Jews? They themselves don’t know. But a Brahmin can trace his tradition way back to the Vedic period. I am not sure whether you know about saying ‘Abhivadan’ by a Brahmin to his seniors. Before bowing at the elders’ feet, particularly male members (I don’t know if this is done while bowing before a woman), he has to say:
“Abhivadaye, Bhargava, Vaidakavyaha, Saavesudha pravaranvitaha; Vaadula gotraha, Aapastamba sutraha; Yajushyaaha adhyaayi aham Shri [name] Sharma, aham avimibhoho.”
In this, I mentioned only the pravaran of my ancestors: Bhargava, Vaidakavyaha, Saavesudha.
My gotra: Vaadula.
Sutra: I belong to the Aapastamba Sutra or my family follows Aapastamba Sutra instructions while doing domestic rituals.
I belong to the branch of Yajurveda: Yajushyaaha.
Of course, in my childhood, a Brahmin boy should at least memorize this and say it while doing pranam to the elders. Now, even this is disappearing among modern young men, but those who follow their tradition strictly will do this.
This is Indian, particularly a Brahmin’s, identity.
After writing this I checked internet and found the following correct information. You can get more information from this website
Gurukulam
26-5-2024
ABHIVAADANAM, GOTRAS AND CHARAN-SPARS
ABHIVAADANAM, GOTRAS AND CHARAN-SPARS (TOUCHING THE FEET)
(DISCOURSE BY N. R. SRINIVASAN, DECEMBER 2010)
It is customary to bow to the elders in a Sashtaaga posture (eight parts posture) by males according to Vedic tradition. In this posture one lies down, face down on the floor, both hands stretched out and held parallel above the head. Both legs are also stretched parallel to each other and held closer. In short, all parts of the front portion of the body touch the earth. It is also customary, to receive the blessings of the elder after announcing one’s Pravara, Gothra, Sutra, Vedic branch, name, in a manner to be heard clearly by the elder to whom one is bowing. It is also a common practice to close one’s ears while reciting the Pravara (decent) etc. At the end of this, right hand back palm placed over the left hand palm, one touches the feet of the elders, bowing down.
An example of Abhivaadana recitation run as follows:
“Abhivaadaye
Aangeerasa Bruhaspatya Bharadwaja
(three rishis from whom one’s decent has taken place)
Trayarsheya
Pravaraanvitaha
Bhaaradraja gotraha (one’s gothram)
Aapasthamba
Sutraha (one’s sutra-following)
Yajussaakha-adhyaee (vedic following)
Sri Srinivaasa sarman naamaham asmi bhoh (I am called Sri Srnivasan)
This is an ingenious way of keeping record of one’s Vedic background from time immemorial, passed on from generation to generation which could never be lost, as it happened with the ancient written Vedic historic records. It is a Vedic historic record of one’s family tree since the creation of the universe which is 155.5 trillion years and the creation of 14 divine sages: Sanaka, Sanandana, Santana, Sanakadika, Atri, Mareechi, Aangeerasa, Pulastya, Pulah, Kritu, Bhrigu, Vasishta, Daksha and Narada.
1) Abhivaadanam is not done when you bow down to prostrate to God.
2) It is also not done when bowing down to Saints.
3) It is not done to other ladies, except one’s mother.
4) It is not done when bowing down to Vedic groups.
For people who do not know their ‘Pravaraas’ against their gothras, they may find out the same from the following chart.
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