What is the significance of one's gotram and how did it come into existence?

[An online spiritual discussion in Telugu was conducted on October 18, 2020, in which several devotees participated. Some of the questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]

What is the significance of one’s gotram and how did it come into existence? (2 of 4)

[Smt. Anita Renukuntla asked: Swami, in the Hindu religion everyone has a gotram, but in other religions, such a thing is not there. While doing any pūjā at temples, we are supposed to state our gotram. Nowadays, many do not remember what their gotram is. So, I have this doubt as to what is the importance of stating one’s gotram before performing any pūjā in a temple and who started this practice?]

Swāmi replied: Gotram means the lineage of one’s ancestors. When we state our gotram, we are remembering our ancestors. It is just remembering one’s ancestral elders with respect. While performing the worship of God, the priest asks you to state before God, your name, gotram, birth star and your specific desire behind performing the worship. God is omniscient and knows everything about you, including your problem. When the priest tells all this information about you to God, he is reducing God to an ignorant soul, who would not come to know all that information unless told. If God is such an ignorant and inefficient soul, what is the need to worship such a God? He would be just like like us! In reality, you should not worship God for any selfish desire. Instead, you should worship God due to your attraction towards His divine personality. A fan worships his cinema hero due to his attraction towards the actor’s personality and good qualities exhibited in the cinemas. His worship is not based on any selfish desire. When you reach that stage, you have climbed the first step in divine life and only then will God even look at you.

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