शुनक गोत्र -Shunak Gotra

प्रबर: > शुनक: – शौनक: – गृतसमद: (Follower of Rig Veda Sakal Samhita)

The Brahmans are originally descended from Seven Rishis (Brahma is the Father of the Saptarshis), or sages, held by Sanatan Dharmins universally in profound veneration as semi-deities of great sanctity and wisdom. These, as given by the Nirnai Sindhu (निर्णयसिन्धु of श्री कमलाकर भट्ट -15th CEN CE), and also by the Dharma Sindhu (1), are as follows : —

1. Bhrigu
2. Angirah
3. Atri
4. Viswamitra
5. Kasyap
6. Vasliisht
7. Agastih

Each of these Rishis stands at the head of a great division, the various members of which are further sub-divided into sections, termed gotras or classes. These gotras are found more or less in all the twelve tribes. Many, but not all, of the original gotras are as follows : —

Gotras descended from Bhrigu Rishi

1. Vatsa
2. Bida
3. Arshtikhena
4. Yaska
5. Mitryu
6. Shunak
7. Bainya

NOTE

(1) Panditha Kashinaatha, of Pandaripura (1790 AD) scripted Dharma Sindhu, after digesting innumerable works of the yore. The Scriptures include Manu Smriti (200 BC-100 AD approx.), Yagnyavalka Smriti ( during 100 -300 AD approx.) , Paraashara Smriti (some time during 100-500 AD), Narada Smriti (some time during 100-400 AD), Brihaspati Smriti ( some time during 300-500 AD), Katyaayana (400-600 AD) , Vyavahaara Kaara-Nibandha Kaara (sometime during 400-600 AD), Bhava Deva Bhatta’s Vyavahaara Tilaka (1100 AD), Prakaasha Nibandha (1125 AD), Govindaraja Smriti Manjari ( 1080-1100 AD), Lakshmidhara Kalpataru (1100-1130 AD) ; the Trio of Jeemutavaahana , Shulapaani and Raghunandana (1090- 1130 AD) of Dharma Shastraas); Aparaarka Nibandha (1115-1150), Shridhara Smrutyarthasaara Nibandha (1150 AD), Aniruddha’s Dharma Shastra (1168 AD), King Ballalasena’s edited books of Vedacharya’s Smriti Ratnaakara/ Aachaara Saagara, Chandeswara’s Daana Ratnaakara and Todanaananda’s Samhitaa Soukhya & Nirnaya Sindhu, Devana Bhatt’s Smriti Chandrika (1090-1091AD); Hemadri’s Vipula-kaaya Nibandha (1260-70 AD ), Kulluka Bhatt’s Manusmriti Vyaakhyas viz. Ashouycha Sagara, Vivada Sagara and Shraddhaa Sagara (1260-1270 AD); Shri Datta Upaadhyaaya’s Maithila Nibandha (1275-1230 AD), Chandeswara’s Dharma Shastra (1300-1370 AD); Madhavaacharya’s several Kaala -maana Grandhaas (1330-1385 AD); Vishweshwara Bhatta’s Madana Paarijata Grandha (1360-1390 AD); Raja Madana edited Madana Ratna Prabandha of five Vidwans (1350-1500 AD) on Kaala, Aachara, Vyavahaara, Prayaschitta, Shaanti etc. ; Shulapaani scripted several Grandhas like Ekadashi Viveka, Dolayatra Viveka, Shradda Viveka, Pratishtha Viveka etc. (1365-1470 AD ); Rudradharo -paadhyaaya’s Shudda Viveka, (1425-1460 AD); Misuri Mishraa’s Vivadachandra (1400-1450 AD); Vachaspati Mishra’s Vivada Chintamani (1425- 1490 AD); Nrisimha Prasad‘s Vishwa kosha (1490-1515 AD); Pratapa Rudra Deva ‘s Saraswati Vilaasa (1500-1525 AD) ; Govindaananda ‘s several Grandhaas like Daana-kaumudi, Shuddhi-kaumudi, Shraaddha-kaumudi and Varsha Kriyaa-kaumudi (1500-1540 AD); Raghunandana’s Smriti Tatwa (1520-1575 AD); Narayana Bhatta’s Anityeshtha paddhati, Tristhalisetu and Prayogaratna Nibandhus; Todaraananda/ Todaramul the Finance Minister of the Great Akbar’s Vishwakosha (1520-1589 AD); Nandana Pandita’s Vyakhya on Paraasara Smriti called Vidwan Manohara as also Keshavaijayanti (1590- 1630 AD); Kamalakara Bhatt , Narayana Bhatt and Ramakrishna Bhaatt of the progeny-link’s made signal contributions on Nyaya-Vyakarana- Meemaamsa- Vedanata- Sahitya- Dharma Shastraas and Vaidika Yagnaas besides Nirnaya Sindhu (1610- 1640 AD); Mitra Mishra’s Veera Mitrodaya (1610-1640 AD); Ananta Deva‘s Smrita Koustbh Nibandha (1650-1680 AD); Nagendra Bhatt’s authoritative writings like Aachaarendu-shekhara, Ashoucha Nirnaya, Tithindu shekhara, Teerthendushekhara, Praayataadichittendu shekhara, Shraaddhendu shekhara, Sapandika Manjari, Saapindika Deepika etc.( 1700-1750 AD); and Bala Bhatt’s Lakshmi Vyaakhya or Mitakshara para Bhashya (1730-1820 AD).