Harita

Harit/Harita was an ancient and great prince of the Suryavansha dynasty, best known because he is the ancestor of the Brahmin lineage, Harita gotra.

Although a Brahmin lineage, this gotra is descended from Kshatriya princes of the Suryavansha dynasty. This is one of ancient India's most prominent lineages, having produced Rama and Buddha. (See Genealogy of Rama). The first notable king of the dynasty was Ikshvaku. The Puranas, a series of Hindu mythological texts, document the story of this dynasty. Harita was separated from Ikshvaku by twenty-first generations. To this day, many Kshatriyas claim descent from the Suryavanshi dynasty to substantiate their claims to royalty.

Harit/Haritash Gotra

Brahmins with Haritash gotra trace their lineage to Harita. This is unusual as most Brahmins are descended from ancient sages, whereas the Brahmins of Haritash Gotra are descended from Kshatriyas trained by the Brahmin Angirasa hence have full kshatriya qualities. This created, according to the Linga Purana, 'Brahmins with the properties of Kshatriyas.'

This is recorded in the Hindu tradition in the Vishnu Purana:

Ambarishasya Mandhdtus tanayasya Yuvanasvah putro bhut tasmad Harito yato ngiraso Haritah. "The son of Ambarisha, son of Mandhatri was Yuvanasva From him sprang Harita from whom the Harita Angirases were descended."

and in the Linga Purana:

Harito Yuvanasvasya Harita yata atmajah ete hy Angirasah pakshe kshattropeta dvijatayah. "The son of Yuvanasva was Harita of whom the Haritash were sons". "They were on the side of Angiras twice born men." "Brahmans of Kshattriya lineage."

and in the Vayu Purana:

they were the sons of Haritash / Angiras, twice-born men (Brahmans), of Kshatriya race, or sons of Harita raised up by Sage Angiras.

The Pravara of this gotra, used in ceremonies to reference the ancestors of the participant Brahmin has 2 variations:

1. Angiras, Ambarisha, Yuvanaswa, which is most commonly used
2. Harita, Ambarisha, Yuvanaswa.

Ambarisha and Yuvanaswa were also ancient kings in from the Suryavansha dynasty.in first time Haritash was Harita, But now Harita Changed in Haritash.

Famous Brahmins of Harita Gotra

Sage Harita, son of Chyavana, wrote the Harita Smriti, a work of law, and taught his student, Bappa Rawal of Guhilot (later to called Sisodia) martial arts and the four cardinal duties for the service of the state:

1. To follow the principles of Manav Dharma (the Religion of Man) and preserve Vedic Culture.
2. To serve all God's Creations as a service to God, the Creator of all life.
3. To endeavour constantly to keep the human soul awakened and alive, in order that human beings would value the Dignity of Man.
4. To help recognise Man's special status in the hierarchy of God's creations-the eternal principles underlying cosmic creation.

Sri Ramanuja was also of Harita Gotra. Ramanujacharya, was a theologian, philosopher, and scriptural exegete. He is seen by Śrīvaiṣṇavas as the third and most important teacher (ācārya) of their tradition, and by Hindus as the leading expounder of Viśiṣṭādvaita, one of the classical interpretations of the dominant Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy.

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