What is jains gotra

Jain gotra means a lineage or clan name used mainly by Jain lay communities to indicate ancestral lines. It is a social/clan identifier, not a spiritual measure in Jain Dharma.

• In many Śvetāmbara Jain communities (like Oswal, Porwal, etc.), there is a traditional set of 84 gotras (the “chourasi gotra”). These names come from ancestral lineages or places of origin and are used mainly for social purposes, especially to encourage exogamy (marrying outside one’s own gotra). The exact list can vary between communities.
• In the Digambar and Śvetāmbara traditions, the concept of gotra is treated as a social construct rather than a determinant of spiritual progress. The focus in Jain practice remains on right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct, not on birth-based hierarchies. Different Jain communities may have their own local gotras and practices. ( jainknowledge.com)

If you want a concise guide to the 84 gotras and how they’re used in practice, you can read more here:

Note: In Jain texts, “gaccha” can also refer to monastic lineages, but the common lay-use of gotra is about family/clan lineage rather than spiritual status. ( jainknowledge.com)