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My surname is shah, i am a digambar jain, from kheradi in gujrat. What is my gotra
In Jainism, especially for Digambar Jains, gotra is not fixed or scripturally defined the way it is in Hindu tradition. So from your message:
- Surname: Shah
- Place: Kheradi, Gujarat
- Tradition: Digambar Jain
From this information no one can reliably tell your gotra. Two important points:
- Jain scriptures do not give a compulsory gotra system.
Gotra (clan name) among Jains is mostly a social / family custom, not a religious requirement. Many Digambar families don’t actively use or even know a formal gotra.
- Same surname ≠ same gotra.
“Shah” is a very common Jain business surname across Gujarat and other regions. Different Shah families can have different ancestral lines and different (or no) gotra names. So we cannot assume one standard “Shah gotra”.
How you can actually find it (if your family uses gotra)
- Ask elders in your family – grandparents, chachas, mama, etc. They are the most reliable source.
- Check any old marriage invitations, community registers, or family vahi (account books) – sometimes gotra or kul is written there.
- Ask at your local Digambar Jain temple / community in Kheradi or nearby town – some sanghs maintain family-wise details.
It is also completely fine, from the point of view of Jain dharma, if you do not know or do not use any gotra. Your progress in Jainism depends on samayik, pratikraman, vows, right faith and conduct, not on gotra.
