Srivatsa

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Srivatsa or Shrivatsa is Sanskrit for Endless Knot. It is a mark on the chest of Vishnu where His consort Sri Lakshmi resides. It is said that the 10th avatar of Vishnu, Kalki will be bearer of the Sreevatsa mark on his breast. Srivatsa is also another name of Vishnu and is mentioned in the Vishnu Sahasaranamam. The Brahmin subcastes are grouped under various gotras. In Sanskrit, gotra means family, race, lineage, a mountain, a cow-pen and so on!) that are patrilineal groups. According to one legend elaborated by Rev. M.A. Sherring), all the chief Brahmin gotras are descended from the Saptarishis (seven sages).

• Descendants of Sage Bhrigu

1. Arshtikhena
2. Bida
3. Mitryu
4. Shaunak
5. Vatsa
6. Yaska

• Descendants of Sage Angirah

1. Bharadwaj
2. Gautam
3. Kewal-Angiras

• Descendants of Sage Atri

1. Atre
2. Badbhutak
3. Garishtira
4. Mudhgala

• Descendants of Sage Vishwamitra

1. Aja
2. Agamarkhan
3. Dhananjaya
4. Indra-kaushika
5. Kaushika
6. Kamkayana
7. Katab
8. Lohit
9. Raukshak
10. Puran

• Descendants of Sage Kasyap

1. Kasyap
2. Langakshi
3. Nidruba
4. Rebha
5. Sandila

• Descendants of Sage Vashisht

1. Jatukaraniya
2. Kundin (Koundinya)
3. Parashara
4. Upamanyu
5. Vashisht

• Descendants of Sage Agastya

1. Idhamabahar
2. Somabahar
3. Sambhabahar
4. Yagyabhar

Other gotras are said to have been derived from these gotras.

Sri-Vatsa is another such gotra derived from the existing Vatsa gotra. According to another source, each gotra has some rishis associated. For Ex: Srivatsa has 5 rishis (sages)Bharagava, Chyavana, Apnavana, Aurava and Jamadagni.

It is also the symbol of Rakhine State and the Arakanese people of Myanmar. Srivatsa is also used in Hindu names, although the usage is not very common.