In Jainism, “Gautam gotra” is a family/lineage (gotra) name, not a “caste” in the religious sense.

A few simple points:

1. Jain Dharma does not recognise caste as spiritually important.

- Whether someone is called Gautam, Kashyap, etc., has no effect on their ability to follow the path of liberation. - Both Digambar and Shwetambar traditions agree that punya–pap (karma) depend on conduct, not birth.

1. What is Gautam gotra then?

- Among some mainly Śvetāmbara Jain communities (like Oswal, Porwal, etc.), Gautam appears as one of the traditional gotras (clans), often connected (by community belief) with the name of Gautam Swami, the chief disciple of Bhagwan Mahavir. - It is used socially for marriage records and genealogy (to avoid marrying within the same gotra).

1. It is not a “caste name” in Jain religious terms.

- If someone says “we are Gautam gotra Jains,” it only means their ancestral clan name is Gautam within their community. - The broader social group might be Oswal/Porwal/Vania etc., but that is again social, not spiritual.

1. If you want your exact community/caste label

- You need to see your family’s marriage patrikas, community certificates, or ask elders. - Jain scriptures themselves do not fix “Gautam gotra = this exact caste.”

So: Gautam gotra is a Jain clan/lineage name, not a caste defined by Jain Dharma.