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Generally, the gotra forms an exogamous unit, with marriage within the same gotra being regarded as incest and prohibited by custom. [1] The name of the gotra can be used as a surname, but it is different from a surname and is strictly maintained because of its importance in marriages among Hindus, especially among castes.
People belonging to a particular gotra may not be of the same caste (as there are many gotras which are part of different castes) in the Hindu social system. However, there is a notable exception among matrilineal Tulu speakers, for whom the lineages are the same across the castes. People of the same gotra are generally not allowed to marry.
While Hindu texts prescribe marrying within one's own community, they prohibit individuals from marrying those who belong to their own gotra, or lineage from the same Vedic sage: [7] One should not choose (the bride) from the same gotra or born in the line of same sage.
After marriage, a woman is also required to change her Gotra to that of her husband and any offspring they may have are to adopt the Gotra of their father. [30] Some Brahmin communities also do not marry into their maternal family’s Gotra, believing that such relations hinder genetic diversity. This practice however, is not widespread. [27]
Among the Shresthas, since they are subdivided into two general sub-castes, the higher Chatharīya and the lower Pāñcthariya, one's marriage partner must be from the same grade as well. Hindu upper-castes like Rajopadhyayas and Chatharīyas also try to avoid "Sa- Gotra " marriages; marrying someone of the same gotra or lineage.
In some forms of Hinduism such as Shaktism, people can only marry outside their gotra which is a traditional group of people who may be distantly related but have been living in the same area or have an ancestral home in the same area.
Each Gotra, which is a unit of the Brahmanical exogamous system, is subdivided into several ganas, each with its own distinctive pravara. All ganas within one Gotra usually have at least one pravara-name in common. While the connection of pravaras with exogamy is considered secondary, the pravara system is closely related to the system of gotras.
The gotra is named after the maharshi. This system is broght into place to avoide in breeding in families which result in unhealthy child births. Thus, no two people from same gotra can marry each other until unless the forefathers names does not match in last seven generations (again keeping in view the problem of in breeding).