Bhargava gotra descends from the Bhrigu line — the Bhargava sages who include Chyavana, Aurva and Jamadagni. It is one of the foundational Brahmin lineages and is spread across several regions and communities. Sage Bhrigu and his Bhargava descendants (Chyavana, Apnavana, Aurva, Jamadagni, Dadhichi).
Bhargava is carried across these castes and communities: Brahmin (incl. Garhwali, Kashmiri Pandit), Khatri, Bhumihar / Rajput, Kshatriya. A surname or gotra marks lineage, not caste by itself — so the same name can appear in more than one community.
Surnames and variants associated with Bhargava include: Bhargava, Kakar, Nanda, Nautiyal, Dhasmana, Kak, Rai, Varma. Surname–gotra links vary by region and family, so confirm yours with elders.
Same-gotra marriage is traditionally avoided. The pravar recited varies by family: sources record Bhargava, Chyavana, Apnavana and Bhargava, Tvashta, Vishvarupa. Families following pravar rules avoid other Bhrigu gotras that share pravar rishis, and often the maternal gotra.
When creating a biodata for the Bhargava gotra of the Brahmin community, mention your gotra prominently in the horoscope section. Include details like rashi (moon sign), nakshatra (birth star), and manglik status alongside the gotra. If your family follows specific traditions associated with the Bhargava lineage, mention those in the "About Family" section.
A pravara is the short list of rishi-ancestors recited after one's gotra in Vedic rituals, for example in sandhya, abhivadaye or a wedding sankalpa. Most pravaras name three rishis: the remote ancestor first and the nearest one last. Some families recite one, two or five. One gotra can have more than one documented pravara. Your family's own recitation is the one to use.
Gana (rishi group): Bhrigu
| Pravara (rishis in recitation order) | Form | Documented in |
|---|---|---|
| Bhargava – Chyavana – Apnavana (tri-rishi form under the Jamadagni gana) | tri-rishi (3) | Indica Today |
| Bhargava – Tvashta – Vishvarupa | tri-rishi (3) | Wikipedia |
Sources record more than one form for this gotra. All are traditional. None is "wrong". Use the one your family recites.
Gotra: Bhargava | Pravara: Bhargava, Chyavana, Apnavana. The pravara line is optional. Many families include it in Brahmin and South Indian biodatas, and leave it out elsewhere.
Pravara and marriage: some communities avoid marriage when the two families share even one pravara-rishi, not just the same gotra. This is a custom, not a law: the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 bars sapinda and other prohibited relationships, not same gotra or pravara. Check both sides with the gotra compatibility checker.
See all gotras in the gotra pravara list · Find your gotra by surname
8 surnames recorded under Bhargava gotra in our database. Surnames are shared across communities and regions — the same surname can appear under more than one gotra, so treat this as a starting point and confirm your own gotra with family elders.
Bhargava gotra is a Hindu lineage of the Bhrigu group, descending through the Bhargava sages such as Chyavana, Aurva and Jamadagni.
Traditionally no. Families also avoid other Bhrigu gotras that share the same pravar rishis.
It appears among Brahmins, Khatris, Bhumihars and some Rajput/Kshatriya families across regions.
Ask family elders or your priest. Gotra is inherited paternally and cannot be found from a birth chart.
Sources record two forms: Bhargava, Chyavana, Apnavana (Indica Today) and Bhargava, Tvashta, Vishvarupa (Wikipedia 'Pravaras'). Bhrigu-line gotras such as Vatsa and Jamadagni recite the five-rishi Bhargava, Chyavana, Apnavana, Aurva, Jamadagnya. Confirm your family's form with elders or your purohit.
Bhargava is carried across 4 communities, including Brahmin (incl. Garhwali, Kashmiri Pandit), Khatri, Bhumihar / Rajput, Kshatriya. A gotra or surname is a lineage marker rather than a caste, so the same name can appear in more than one community.
Bhargava gotra is found among Brahmins, and also appears in other communities such as Khatri, Bhumihar / Rajput, Kshatriya. Belonging to Bhargava gotra does not by itself make a family Brahmin — the community is a separate identifier from the gotra.
Surnames commonly associated with Bhargava gotra include Bhargava, Kakar, Nanda, Nautiyal, Dhasmana, Kak, Rai, Varma. These vary by region and family — confirm yours with elders or use the gotra finder by surname.
Traditionally, marriage between two people of the same gotra (sa-gotra vivah) is not permitted in Hindu customs. Both families are typically expected to have different gotras for the marriage to proceed.
Include "Bhargava" in the horoscope/religious details section of your biodata. Mention it alongside your rashi, nakshatra, and manglik status. You can create a biodata with gotra details for free on BiodataJi.