06-25-2004, 11:32 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-Rangaswami+Jun 23 2004, 12:19 AM-->QUOTE(Rangaswami @ Jun 23 2004, 12:19 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> Firstly, how do I find out what subsect of Vadama do I belong to. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The only reliable way to do this is by consulting your predecessors. What kind of forehead mark do you wear? That may give a clue.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Secondly, if Intermarriage within Gotras is prohibited, does that apply to different Pravaras arising out of the same Rishi?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
In most cases yes- All the bhArgavas sharing a common male ancestor for example do not inter-marry, but kevala bhArgavas and real bhArgavas may.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Thirdly, whats the significant difference in usage and practice of semi secular rituals in weddings and other social occassions between different subsects belonging to the same area.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
There are differences between sects of smArtas. For example in Tamil nad there the the great sect (bR^ihat charaNa) or the old migrants who have very different customs from brahmins of the northern sect or vaDamas. The vaDamas are also extremely heterogenous in themselves having multiple unrelated origins with different customs.
Some customs are gotra specific. For example the "main-line" bhArgava who practice the atharvan or were associated at some point with the atharvana shruti had some peculiarity in their marriage [cannot be discussed on open forum] and funeral customs that is no longer in vogue in the moderns. The conversion of vaiShNavism also introduced some special customs.
Finally, amongst other communities like Nayak, Nayadu, Nayar etc there are tremendous regional differences in customs even though they emerged from a common cultural stream.
The only reliable way to do this is by consulting your predecessors. What kind of forehead mark do you wear? That may give a clue.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Secondly, if Intermarriage within Gotras is prohibited, does that apply to different Pravaras arising out of the same Rishi?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
In most cases yes- All the bhArgavas sharing a common male ancestor for example do not inter-marry, but kevala bhArgavas and real bhArgavas may.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Thirdly, whats the significant difference in usage and practice of semi secular rituals in weddings and other social occassions between different subsects belonging to the same area.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
There are differences between sects of smArtas. For example in Tamil nad there the the great sect (bR^ihat charaNa) or the old migrants who have very different customs from brahmins of the northern sect or vaDamas. The vaDamas are also extremely heterogenous in themselves having multiple unrelated origins with different customs.
Some customs are gotra specific. For example the "main-line" bhArgava who practice the atharvan or were associated at some point with the atharvana shruti had some peculiarity in their marriage [cannot be discussed on open forum] and funeral customs that is no longer in vogue in the moderns. The conversion of vaiShNavism also introduced some special customs.
Finally, amongst other communities like Nayak, Nayadu, Nayar etc there are tremendous regional differences in customs even though they emerged from a common cultural stream.