The Origin of the Hota & Udgata surname, found in Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and other states of India and abroad.
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Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, physical characteristics, etc. Surnames (उपनाम/कुलनाम )and titles (उपाधि/पदवी) or decorations used along with the proper names commonly added at the end of the names - are either genealogical or professional and sometimes topographical.
The genealogical surname has been in use from generation to generation and it is generally family names some of which may even have been personal names. Professional names have also been adopted as family names and are regularly used as surnames.
It has been a practice for quite a few centuries to award titles (उपाधि/पदवी) to persons who occupy positions of distinction in intelligence, learning, wealth, honor, etc. Persons who have rendered meritorious service to the country have also been awarded titles that have gone down from generation to generation and thus got absorbed as family names or surnames.
Indian history from pre-Mughal days has shown that the ruling Hindu Kings had awarded titles to persons and families for either meritorious service to the country or for leadership in society. This practice has been followed by the Pathan and the Mughal rulers and by their successors, the British as well. Even in independent India, the Presidential awards on Republic day are a continuation of the old practice of honoring persons for their service to the country.
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| नित्यं पठ्यते गीता-भागवतम्। मुक्तिमोक्षप्रदाते एतद् द्वयम्॥ |
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| "जन्म और मृत्यु के चक्र में जीव इस वृक्ष -की एक शाखा से दूसरी शाखा तक भ्रमण- करता रहता है।" |
Hota and Udgata Surname:-
The surname Hota (होता), also spelled as হোতা in Bengali and ହୋତା in Odia, as well as Udgata, is predominantly found among the Utkala Brahmins of Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, and occasionally in other regions of India and abroad.
शिशुम् जज्ञानम् हर्य तम् मृजन्ति शुम्भन्ति वहिन
मरूतः गणेन। कविर्गीर्भि काव्येना कविर् सन्त् सोमः
पवित्रम् अत्येति रेभन्।।
ऋग्वेद मण्डल 9, सूक्त 96, मंत्र 17
हरि में खोया हूं मैं।
Hari Mein khoya hoon Main.
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सत्यं प्रथमपादस्तु, शौचं द्वितीय उच्यते।
तृतीयो दयया युक्तः, चतुर्थः तपसा दृढः॥
एते चारुपादाश्चैव, धर्मस्तिष्ठति निश्चितम्।
यः पालयति धर्मं वै, स पालयति सर्वकम्॥
Shri Jagannath Ashtakam- Barnali Hota
Origin of Hota & Udgata Surname.
Hota and Udgata are Ritvik Brahmins who hold crucial roles in Vedic rituals. The Hota is responsible for reciting invocations and hymns from the Rigveda, while the Udgata focuses on chanting hymns and melodies during the ceremony. These titles are given to Brahmin priests, each with distinct duties in the performance of yajnas, or Vedic sacrifices.
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| यज्ञ पुरोहित: |
The Role and Diversity of Ritviks in Vedic Yajnas
In the Indian Vedic tradition, yajna (sacrificial ritual) holds a place of great significance. It is not merely a religious ceremony but a profound spiritual process that fosters harmony between nature, society, and the divine. These yajnas are conducted by specially trained Brahmins known as Ritviks. A Ritvik (or Rtvij) is responsible for the proper execution of the yajna, strictly following the procedures laid out in the Vedas.
Number and Variety of Ritviks
The number and type of Ritviks involved in a yajna depend on the nature and scale of the ritual. Each type of yajna requires a specific set of Ritviks with designated roles. The following points outline the various yajnas and the corresponding Ritviks involved:
In a simple Agnihotra (daily fire offering), only one Ritvik is required, who performs the morning and evening oblations.
In Darsha (performed the day after the new moon) and Purnamasa (performed the day after the full moon) yajnas, there are four Ritviks:
Hotṛ/Hota (recites the Rigveda hymns)
Adhvaryu (performs the physical acts of the yajna)
Udgātṛ (chants the Samaveda hymns)
Brahmā (supervises and corrects errors)
In the Chaturmasya yajna (seasonal ritual performed four times a year), an additional fifth Ritvik called Pratiprasthāta joins the group.
In Pashu Yajna (animal sacrifice ritual), a sixth Ritvik known as Maitrāvaruṇa is also included.
During Agnyādheya (the ritual of establishing sacred fire), a total of five Ritviks are appointed.
In elaborate rituals like Agnishtoma and other Soma yajnas, a total of 16 Ritviks participate. In addition, there is a 17th Ritvik called Sadasya, who does not actively participate in the ritual but remains seated in the Sadas (a special mandapa), witnessing and spiritually endorsing the yajna.
Conclusion
The system of Ritviks highlights the organized and deeply philosophical nature of Vedic rituals. Assigning specific duties to trained individuals ensures the sanctity and effectiveness of the yajna. This also demonstrates how Vedic culture codified even ritualistic acts into a highly structured and meaningful spiritual framework.
शङ्खध्वनि: सायंप्राते नित्यं कार्या समाहितैः।
नरनार्यः समायुक्ताः प्रसन्नचेतसः सदा॥
न स्त्री न पुरुषो भेदो धर्मे कर्मणि च क्वचित्।
शङ्खध्वनि: सदा कार्या नारायणप्रसन्नये॥
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| यज्ञ पुरोहित: Yagya Purohit |
ऋत्विजों की भूमिका और विविधता यज्ञों में:
भारतीय वैदिक परंपरा में यज्ञ एक अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण और पवित्र कर्म है। यह केवल धार्मिक अनुष्ठान नहीं, अपितु मानव, प्रकृति और दिव्यता के बीच संतुलन स्थापित करने का एक आध्यात्मिक साधन है। इन यज्ञों का संचालन विशेष रूप से प्रशिक्षित ब्राह्मणों द्वारा किया जाता है, जिन्हें ऋत्विज् (Ritvik) कहा जाता है। ऋत्विज्, यजमान के श्रौतकर्म का विधिपूर्वक संचालन करते हैं और वेदों में उल्लिखित विधियों के अनुसार यज्ञ की सम्पूर्णता सुनिश्चित करते हैं।
ऋत्विजों का चयन (ऋत्विक्वरण):
ऋत्विज् केवल ज्ञान से ही नहीं, बल्कि उनके शारीरिक, मानसिक और चारित्रिक गुणों के आधार पर भी चयनित किए जाते हैं। आश्वलायन गृह्यसूत्र (1.23) में ऋत्विज् चयन की प्रक्रिया — ऋत्विक्वरण — का स्पष्ट वर्णन मिलता है। इसमें कहा गया है कि ऋत्विज् को सर्वांगपूर्ण (शारीरिक रूप से स्वस्थ), सशक्त, और युवा होना चाहिए। साथ ही उसमें विद्या, बुद्धि और कर्मनिष्ठा जैसे गुणों का होना भी अनिवार्य है। यह विधि विशेषतः श्रौतकर्मों से संबंधित है, परंतु इसी प्रकार स्मार्त यज्ञों— जैसे हवन, शांति विधानों आदि— में भी योग्य ऋत्विज् का चयन किया जाता है।
विभिन्न यज्ञों में ऋत्विजों की संख्या:
यज्ञों के प्रकार और स्तर के अनुसार ऋत्विजों की संख्या एवं उनकी भूमिकाएं भिन्न-भिन्न होती हैं:
अग्निहोत्र में केवल एक ऋत्विज् होता है, जो प्रातः और सायंकाल अग्निहोम करता है।
दर्श और पौर्णमास यज्ञों में चार ऋत्विज् होते हैं — होतृ/होता, अध्वर्यु, उद्गाता और ब्रह्मा।
चातुर्मास्य याग में इन चारों के अतिरिक्त प्रतिप्रस्थाता नामक पाँचवाँ ऋत्विज् होता है।
पशुयाग में मैत्रावरुण नामक छठा ऋत्विज् जोड़ा जाता है।
अग्न्याधान में कुल पाँच ऋत्विजों की आवश्यकता होती है।
अग्निष्टोम एवं अन्य सोमयागों में कुल 16 ऋत्विज् कार्य करते हैं। इनके अतिरिक्त "सदस्य" नामक 17वाँ ऋत्विज् "सद" मंडप में बैठता है और यज्ञ में प्रत्यक्ष भाग न लेकर साक्षी रहता है।
निष्कर्ष:
ऋत्विजों की नियुक्ति और उनकी भूमिकाएं वैदिक यज्ञों की सफलता में केंद्रीय भूमिका निभाती हैं। एक यज्ञ केवल विधि मात्र नहीं, अपितु कर्म, ज्ञान, और श्रद्धा का समन्वित प्रयोग है, जिसमें ऋत्विजों की विद्या, कर्मनिष्ठा, और आचरण का अत्यंत महत्व होता है। ऋत्विक्वरण की शास्त्रीय विधि इस बात को प्रमाणित करती है कि वैदिक परंपरा में न केवल कर्म का पालन महत्त्वपूर्ण है, बल्कि उसे करने वाले व्यक्तियों की गुणवत्ता भी उतनी ही आवश्यक मानी गई है।
Vedic Shanti Mantra
Surname and caste.
A surname alone does not determine caste. Caste identity is shaped by various factors, including family background, social context, and cultural traditions. Many surnames are shared across different communities, and their significance can vary based on region and historical context.
☯In conclusion, we should neither take pride in nor feel sorrow over our surnames or titles, as they are nothing more than temporary labels. Our true focus should be on nurturing virtues like truth, austerity, compassion, charity, purity, love, devotion, and kindness. These enduring qualities shape our true essence far more deeply than any label, surname, title or rank ever can.
Names and Surnames.
On this earth, where names are born,
A title given, love sworn or scorn,
A mark of place, a seal to bind—
A legacy we leave behind.
Surnames rise like rugged peaks,
Voices of clans, the ancient speaks.
In lines and letters etched with pride,
The world decides, who stands, who hides.
Yet walls of stone these names become,
To guard, to block, to silence some.
These syllables, like swords and shields,
They carve out pain; they build, they yield.
Between the names, a chasm grows,
Of justice lost and honor owed.
For names can burn or mend the soul,
Or lock it in a bounded role.
So rise, unmarked by name or kin,
Beyond the walls that keep us in.
With spirit freed from bonds and claims,
We soar beyond the weight of names.
What’s left is pure—a soul set free,
Beyond the binds of blood to be.
🔯
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| ॐ अमृतोपस्तरणमसि स्वाहा ॥१॥ ॐ अमृतापिधानमसि स्वाहा ॥२॥ ॐ सत्यं यश: श्रीर्मयि श्री: श्रयतां स्वाहा ॥३॥Hari Om Jap वेद,और अग्नि पुराण के अनुसार,हरी ओम मंत्र के जप से: व्यक्ति का पाप नाश होता है और उसे मोक्ष की प्राप्ति होती है। |
कल्कि नाम संकीर्तनं।
I dedicate this article to my son
late Akash Mahanty, author
of Waybackpy,Videohash, etc
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| Inventor: Waybackpy |
Click on this link to learn🔗"What should be the character of Brahmins?
2.Collection of information from Utkal Brahmin scholars.
To read "The Genesis of Utkal Brahmin"
click on~🔗Utkal Brahmin
Comment of Author:-This article has been penned under the divine inspiration of Lord Jagannath. If anybody or any organization doesn't agree with any content of this article, he or they may mention it in the comments with documentary evidence and it will be corrected. Any comments in this regard without documentary evidence and source of Information will be treated as mala fide and will be deleted.
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