mentioned in Pravara and Gōtra Kandams. All the religious rites are performed according to the Grihya Sūtras (ritual books) pertaining to their Sāka or Vēda. Of these, there are eight kinds now in vogue, viz.: —
- 1. Asvalayana Sūtra of the Rig Vēda.
- 2. Āpasthamba
- 3. Bhāradwaja
- 4. Bhodayana Y Sūtras of the black Yajus.
- 5. Sathyāshāda
- 6. Vaikkānasa
- 7. Kāthyayana Sūtra of the white Yajus.
- 8. Drahyayana Sūtra of Sāma Vēda.
All Brāhmans claim descent from one or more of the following seven Rishis: — Atri, Bhrigu, Kutsa, Vashista, Gautama, Kasyapa, Angiras. According to some, the Rishis are Agasthya, Angiras, Atri, Bhrigu, Kasyapa, Vashista, and Gautama. Under these Rishis are included eighteen ganams, and under each ganam there are a number of gōtras, amounting in all to about 230. Every Brāhman is expected to salute his superiors by repeating the Abhivādhanam (salutation) which contains his lineage. As an example, the following may be given:— "I, Krishna by name, of Srivathsa gōtra, with the pravara (lineage) of the five Rishis, Bhargava, Chyāvana, Āpnuvana, Aruva, and Jamadagni, following the Āpasthamba sūtra of the Yajus Sāka, am now saluting you." Daily, at the close of the Sandhya prayers, this Abhivādhanam formula should be repeated by every Brāhman.
Taking the Brāhmans as a whole, it is customary to group them in two main divisions, the Pancha Drāvidas and Pancha Gaudas. The Pancha Drāvidas are pure vegetarians, whereas the Pancha Gaudas need not abstain from meat and fish, though some, who live amidst the Pancha Drāvidas, do so. Other differences will be noted in connection with Oriya Brāhmans, who belong to the
