International Journal of Applied Ayurved Research ISSN: 2347- 6362 AN IMPLICATION OF HINDU SYSTEM IN RELATION TO GENETICS 1Sakshi 1Assistant Professor, Dept of Rachana Sharir, SGAS & H, Tantia University, Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan), . ABSTRACT In , the Gotra system has its own significance in referring to people who are descendants in an unbroken male ancestor or patriline. The applied aspect of such a ritual is scientifically approved in preventing genetical disorders. Y chromosome is always a male lineage (father-son-grandson) as a son receives it from father and hence Y chromosome plays a crucial role in modern genetics in identifying the Genealogy i.e male ancestry of a person. There come similar references from Ayurvedic to prevent genetical disorders which affect the heredity of family (Atulyagotra). It is of scientific value to avoid marriages in the same clan to avoid considerable genetic disorders and reduce rate of infant mortality &morbidity. Keywords: Gotra, genetical disorders, Atulyagotra INTRODUCTION: Gautam Maharishi, Jamadani, , View from Vedic period: Vashishta and Vishwamitra. In As a Rigvedic term the word Gotra is , the names of Rishis come as formed from the two Sanskrit words Gau (Marichi, , , , Kratu, (meaning Cow) and Trahi (meaning Shed). Vashishta and Kashyapa). This is a proposal Gotra means Cowshed, where in the context to prevent inbreeding and eliminate all is that Gotra is like the Cowshed protecting recessive defective genes from human DNA. a particular male lineage. The references can (3) The essence of Gotra system is finally to be collected from , and prevent marriages within same Gotra. Even other related literature where the concept has some references are also cited related to been recorded timely (around 1st millennium derivative Gotra from the same root Gotra, BCE ).(1) Sometimes and this may happen that they allow the word “Kula” is also considered along marriages within these since their with Gotra where the latter means a names are different. To prevent this, derived community/ group of people following a Gotra maintains a list of Pravaras (which similar ritual. It does not relate to lineage or were prominent junctions where derived caste. In Hindu mythology, the concept of Gotras got created). The ancient Vedic Gotra originated from the relation to Rishis hence very well knew the existence of “”, the seven sacred saints. They the Y-chromosome and the paternal genetic are denoted with “Gotrakarin” meaning root material that was passed almost intact from of Gotras. (2) There are different views for father to son. Hence, they created the Gotra this, for instance the Shatapatha system to identify their male lineage (4). and Briadaranyka Upanishad(2.2.4) In , Charaka and acknowledge the names as Atri, Bharadwaj, Kashaypa has mentioned the concept of :An Implication of Hindu Gotra System in Relation to Genetics]

AtulyaGotra Adhyaya in their respective Relation with modern clinical facts: Samhitas. This relate to the prevention of Marriage between blood relatives can lead to genetical malformation among the people abnormal offspring due to genetic mismatch getting married in same clan. and hybrid DNA combinations. The Gotra DISCUSSION ON ATULYA GOTRA system was defined around 4th century BCE (Marriage in the different Clan): to accommodate changed social rules and The concept of marriage in different clan laws. Human body has 2 copies of every has been mentioned centuries ago by the gene, from inherited from father and the Ayurvedic scholars. They knew this fact that other one from mother. For many genes, our the diseases which are carried by the genes body copes with just a single working copy, from one generation to the other result in but when both copies are faulty, the person occurrence of disease. In Charaka , gets autosomal recessive diseases. (7) Unlike it is mentioned that when a woman after her other chromosomes, there is no way for Y- menstruation cohabits with a man of a chromosome to repair itself by doing cross different clan in a lonely place, the man over with its chromosomal pair. All other ejaculates (semen) which is chromosome comes in similar pairs and implanted for the development of Garbha repairs themselves by copying over DNA (embryo).(5) Even for procreation of a from the paired chromosomes. This process healthy child, it is necessary that both of crossing over not heals the chromosomes partners should be mutually from different but results in different combinations of mix clan. Coitus among the members of the same & match to happen between genes of mother clan is said to be a sinful act. There are -father & allows the best match to survive, studies which help in proving this fact that makes chromosomes stronger as they evolve chances of genetically carried diseases are in successive generation(8) . more prone among such couples. In Kashyapa Samhita, the reference comes under the same AsamanaGotriyeAdhayaya, where the description for marriages in the same clan is considerably avoided. (6)

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Sakshi :An Implication of Hindu Gotra System in Relation to Genetics]

Figure.1.1: Diagram Illustrating the Defective Genes For instance, such diseases include- cystic same Gotra would provide a golden fibrosis, phenylketonuria (PKU) , spinal opportunity for these genes to express muscular dystrophy etc. With the passage of themselves, causing genetic abnormality in time, this system became an important the offspring. It contributes considerably to parameter for finalizing a wedding, and is infant mortality, morbidity and hence for now a well-established system even in the reasons, it is not advisable to get married in modern society. Diseases like galactosemia, the same clan. So, the Indian traditional retinoblastoma, albinism, sickle-cell anemia, values related to such scientific facts must thalassemia, Tay-Sachs disease, autism, not be discarded in the name of modernity. growth hormone deficiency, adenosine REFERENCES: deaminase deficiency, and juvenile muscular 1) https://postcard.news.com / practice dystrophy etc are due to genetic disturbance. gotra system; visited on 22.02.2018 Changes at genetic level: 2) https://en.m.wikipedia.org.wiki/ gotra The genetic changes can be seen in many visited on 22.02.2018 diseases highlighted above. For instance, in 3) https://www.quora.com/ meaning of case of Thalassemia the genetic disorder gotra visited on 23.02.2018 inherited from a person’s parents. There are 4) https://www.hitxp.com/articles/veda;scie two main type Alpha type and Beta type. nce of genetics visited on 8.3.2018 The severity depends upon how many of 4 5) R.K.Sharma and Bhagwan Das;Edited genes for Alpha and 2 genes for Beta type Shaarir Sthana 2/3; are missing. (9) Similarly, in case of Part2;Reprint2012Varanasi:Chaukhamb Phenylketonuria (PKU), the genetic disorder ha Sanskrit Series Office;P-351 that increases levels of phenylalanine in the 6) Pandit Hemaraja Sharma; Edited blood. The mutation in PAH gene causes Kashayapa Samhita Shareera Sthana , PKU, as this gene gives information for Asamanagotriye adhyaya; Reprint 2006, making an enzyme called Phenylalanine : Chowkhamba Sanskrit hydroxylase, which further converts amino Samsthana; P-69-70 acid phenylalanine to other important 7) https://the conversation.com/ genetic compounds of the body. (10) diseases visited on 24.2.2018 CONCLUSION: 8) https://www.hitxp.com/articles/veda;scie The Vedic Rishis had observed the nce of genetics visited on 8.3.2018 degeneration of Y-chromosome and they 9) https://wikpedia.com/thalassemia visited wanted to maintain as many individual on 24.2.2018 healthy unique Y-chromosome lineage as 10) https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov.com visited on possible. Marriages within a Gotra reflect 24.2.2018 inbreeding with significant health consequences. There will be chances for propagation of defective genes within successive generation. Marriages within the

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Sakshi :An Implication of Hindu Gotra System in Relation to Genetics]

Corresponding Author: Source of support: Nil Dr. Sakshi Conflict of interest: None Assistant Professor, Dept of Rachana Declared Sharir, SGAS & H, Tantia University, Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan), India. Cite this Article as : [Sakshi :An Email: [email protected] Implication of Hindu Gotra System in Relation to Genetics] www.ijaar.in : IJAAR VOLUME III ISSUE V NOV-DEC 2017 Page No:1053-1056

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