Answer

Common Jain gotras, as used in family names and clan identification, vary by region and sect. Some of the most commonly seen Jain gotras are:

• Shah
• Mehta
• Gandhi
• Doshi
• Lodha
• Bafna
• Kothari
• Jain
• Pugalia
• Soni
• Zaveri
• Bhansali
• Lunkad
• Navlakha
• Dugar
• Bhandari
• Seth
• Nagori
• Tater
• Chhajed

Explanation

In Jain society, “gotra” is often used in a social or family sense, similar to a surname or clan identity. It is not the same as spiritual progress or religious status.

Many Jain families use gotras that are linked to:

• profession or community history
• region of origin
• family tradition
• merchant and business lineages

Also, the list can differ among:

• Digambara Jains
• Śvetāmbara Jains
• Sthanakvasi and Terapanthi communities

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, the real importance is not in gotra, but in:

• right faith
• right knowledge
• right conduct
• humility
• non-attachment

A noble life is known by karma and conduct, not by surname alone.

Takeaway

Common Jain gotras are many and region-dependent, but the most important identity in Jainism is to live with purity, compassion, and self-discipline.