A gotra is the lineage or clan assigned to a Hindu  at birth. In most cases, the system is patrilineal and the gotra  assigned is that of the person’s father. Other terms for it are vansh, vanshaj, bedagu, purvik, purvajan, pitru. An individual may decide to identify his lineage by a different gotra, or combination of gotras.
According to strict Hindu tradition, the term gotra is used only for the lineages of Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya varnas. Brahminical gotra relates directly to the original seven or eight rishis of the Vedas. Later, the term gotra was expanded beyond Brahmin.
A gotra must be distinguished from a kul. A kul is a set of people following similar cultural rituals, often worshiping the same divinity (the Kuldev, god of the clan). Kul does not relate to lineage or caste. In fact, it is possible to change one’s kul, based on one’s faith or Ista-devatā.
It is common practice in preparation for Maher marriage to inquire about the kul-gotra (meaning clan lineage) of the bride and groom before approving the marriage. In almost all Hindu families, marriage within the same gotra is prohibited, since people with same gotra are considered to be siblings. But marriage within the kul is allowed and even preferred.

Origin of gotra

In Vedic Sanskrit, the word “gotra” originally meant “cow-pen.” Cows were at the time (before invention of currency) the most valuable possession of a family group, so with time, the term “gotra” began to refer to the family group who owned a particular pen of cows. The term was associated eventually with just the family group and its lineage.
Gotra is the Sanskrit term for a much older system of tribal clans. The Sanskrit term “Gotra” was initially used by the Vedic people  for the identification of the lineages. Generally, these lineages mean patrilineal descent from the sages or rishis in Brahmins, warriors and administrators in Kshatriyas and ancestral trademen in Vaisyas.
The lineage system, either patrilineal or matrilineal, was followed by the South Asian people. In present-day Hinduism, Gotra is applied to all the lineage systems.
The case of sage Vishwamitra is the example. Thus the gotra must have been of the lineage of the learning one chose rather than the lineage of one’s birth. Rama is stated to be the descendant of Ikshwaku, but the lineage was broken when Kalmashpada got his son through Niyoga of Vasishta with Kalmashapad’s wife Madayanthi, and not through a biological liaison. Yet Rama is said to be Ikshwaku’s descendant and not of Vasishta. Some claim of a continuous biological linkage with the moola purusha [or most significant personality] of the Gothra, where as it need not be the case. Some times, a Gotra is based on the Guru for the family or one of the ancestors.
Marriages within the gotra (“swagotra” marriages) are banned under the rule of exogamy in the traditional matrimonial system. People within the gotra are regarded as kin and marrying such a person would be thought of as incest.
A much more common characteristic of Maher Community is permission for marriage between cross-cousins (children of brother and sister). Thus, a man is allowed to marry his maternal uncle’s daughter or his paternal aunt’s daughter, but is not allowed to marry his father’s brother’s daughter. She would be considered a parallel cousin who is treated as a sister.

Who is the Supreme Person (God)?

Only the Bhagavad Gita answers this basic and most important question. The Bhagavad-Gita is the  word of God in person. The one of oldest scripture on the Planet.
One can read the non-vedic scriptures for millions of years but will never know who the person God is. Simply by looking at the Bhagavad-Gita for 1 second, one can immediately see God. This is the difference between the Vedic (eternal) and non-vedic (recently created) scriptures.
“There is no truth superior to me.” (Lord Krishna, Bg. 7.7)
“The whole cosmic order is under me. By my will it is manifested again and again, and by my will it is annihilated at the end” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 9.8)
“Furthermore, O Arjuna, I am the generating seed of all existences. There is no being, moving or unmoving, that can exist without me” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 10.39)
“I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 10.8)
“Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both the origin and the dissolution” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 7.6)
Knowing God means knowing his name, address, description, history, how he maintains and so on.

What is Religion?

The purpose of religion is to know and love God. You can only love someone if you know them. You cannot love an invisible or unknown person. Seeing is believing. Only the Vedic scriptures describe exactly who the person God is. The non-Vedic scriptures don’t have a clue as to who God is. Loving God includes loving all God’s creatures. This means loving all humans and animals. We don’t eat our brothers and sisters, the animals are also our brothers and sisters.

Does God want Blood?

The majority of people in the World. In this age of Kali, the age of ignorance. Seem to think that animal killing is prescribed by God.
This is not so for the real God, Lord Krishna. He only wants your love and not the blood of living beings.
“If one offers me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.”  (Lord Krishna, Bg. 9.26)

Your death is certain

Your grandfather has died, you will also die, and your children will also die. Death is certain, it’s only a matter of time. Still you are madly accumulating money and working very hard all day like a donkey. You do not care for the soul which is eternal, but you care for the body which is temporary. This is ignorance. In ignorance the soul becomes degraded and after this life. Such people take birth as dogs and hogs. There are 8.4 million different bodies that the soul keeps circulating in, one after the other. The fools will not think of the life after this one. They will simply mate, eat, sleep, and be merry. This is animal mentality. The animals also mate, sleep, eat and be merry. The only difference between the animals and the humans is that humans enquire;

Who am I?

Where have I come from?
What will happen to me at death?
Why do I suffer?
Why do others suffer?
Who is God?
How can I serve God?
Why is there variety of living beings?
How can I get out this cycle of birth, old age, disease, and death?
How can I live eternally?