Gopi (Sanskrit: गोपी, IAST: Gopī) or Gopika in Hinduism are worshipped as the consorts and devotees of Krishna within the Vaishnavism and Krishnaism traditions for their unconditional love and devotion (Bhakti) to god Krishna as described in the Sanskrit scriptures like Bhagavata Purana and other Puranic literature.[2] Gopis are often considered as the expansion of goddess Radha, the chief consort of Krishna.[3][4] The Raslila of gopis with Krishna has inspired various traditional performance art forms and literatures.[5]
Gopis
Painting of Krishna with Gopis in the forest of Braj
According to Indian philosopher, Jiva Goswami, gopis are considered as the eternal beloved and manifestations of the internal spiritual potency of Krishna. Among the gopis, Radha is the chief gopi and is the personification of the bliss potency (hladini shakti) of Krishna.[6] She alone manifests the stage of mahabhava, or supreme love for Krishna, and holds a place of particularly high reverence and importance in a number of religious traditions.[7]
Gopi (गोपी) is a Sanskrit word originating from the word Gopa. In Hinduism, the name Gopika or Gopi is especially used to refer the milkmaids of Braj region.[8] The word Gopis in the plural refers to the group of cowherd women who possess devotion toward Krishna. When it is used in the singular ("Gopi"), it generally refers to Radha, who was the Krishna's favourite gopi.[9]
Prominent gopisedit
The prominent gopis of Vrindavan are total 108 in numbers. They share the eternal intimate friendship with Radha Krishna. No one can equal or exceed the love they bear for the divine couple.[10] Out of 108 gopis, the primary eight gopis are considered as the foremost of Krishna's devotees after goddess Radharani who is considered as the chief of gopis. Their names are as follows:[11]
According to Hindu Vaishnava theology, the stories concerning the gopis are said to exemplify Suddha-bhakti which is described as 'the highest form of unconditional love for God (Krishna). Their spontaneous and unwavering devotion is described in depth in the later chapters of the Bhagavata Purana, within Krishna's Vrindavan pastimes and also in the stories of the sage Uddhava.[11]
For Vaishnava traditions, the most important representation of the gopis' love and devotion for Krishna is a story in the Bhagavata Purana (10.29-33) by the name of Rasa Lila Panchadhyaya, which translates as "the five chapters on the story of the rasa dance". The bhakti or devotion that the gopis express in this story is believed by the Chaitanya tradition to exemplify the highest form of bhakti. In the story, Krishna's flute music attracts the gopis' attention, making them leave behind their families and homes so that they can enjoy devotion of Krishna[9]:
Upon hearing that sweet music,
their passion for him swelling,
The young women of Braj whose
minds were captured by Krishna,
Unaware of one another,
ran off toward the place
Where their beloved was waiting,
with their earrings swinging wildly (Bhagavata Purana 10.29.4)
^Phyllis G. Jestice (2004). Holy People of the World: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 316–317. ISBN1576073556.
^Walters, Holly (2016-12-01). "Playing God: Participant Frameworks in the Ras Lilas of Krishna". The Journal of Religion and Popular Culture. 28 (2–3): 135–144. doi:10.3138/jrpc.28.2-3.3611. ISSN 1703-289X. S2CID 192161968.
^Jestice, Phyllis G. (2004). Holy People of the World: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 316–317. ISBN978-1-57607-355-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
^Hawley, John Stratton (1992). At Play with Krishna: Pilgrimage Dramas from Brindavan. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 17. ISBN978-81-208-0945-1. Radha expresses herself in the multiple forms of gopis
^Mohapatra, J. (2013). Wellness In Indian Festivals & Rituals. Partridge Publishing. p. 164. ISBN978-1-4828-1690-7.
^Mohanty, Prafulla Kumar (2003). "Mask and Creative Symbolisation in Contemporary Oriya Literature : Krishna, Radha and Ahalya". Indian Literature. 47 (2 (214)): 181–189. ISSN 0019-5804. JSTOR 23341400.
^Francis Bryant, Edwin (2007). Krishna: A Sourcebook. United States of America: Oxford University Press. p. 382. ISBN978-019-514891-6.
^Walters, Holly (2016-12-01). "Playing God: Participant Frameworks in the Ras Lilas of Krishna". The Journal of Religion and Popular Culture. 28 (2–3): 135–144. doi:10.3138/jrpc.28.2-3.3611. ISSN 1703-289X. S2CID 192161968.
^ abSchweig, Graham M. (2007). "Chapter 18: The Divine Feminine in the Theology of Krishna". In Bryant, Edwin (ed.). Krishna : a sourcebook. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 448–450. ISBN978-0-19-972431-4. OCLC 181731713.
^ abPh.D, Lavanya Vemsani (2016-06-13). Krishna in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names: An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names. United States of America: ABC-CLIO. pp. 107–108. ISBN978-1-61069-211-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
gopi, other, uses, disambiguation, sanskrit, iast, gopī, hinduism, worshipped, consorts, devotees, krishna, within, vaishnavism, krishnaism, traditions, their, unconditional, love, devotion, bhakti, krishna, described, sanskrit, scriptures, like, bhagavata, pu. For other uses see Gopi disambiguation Gopi Sanskrit ग प IAST Gopi or Gopika in Hinduism are worshipped as the consorts and devotees of Krishna within the Vaishnavism and Krishnaism traditions for their unconditional love and devotion Bhakti to god Krishna as described in the Sanskrit scriptures like Bhagavata Purana and other Puranic literature 2 Gopis are often considered as the expansion of goddess Radha the chief consort of Krishna 3 4 The Raslila of gopis with Krishna has inspired various traditional performance art forms and literatures 5 GopisPainting of Krishna with Gopis in the forest of BrajOther namesKrishnasakhi KrishnapreyasiDevanagariग प Sanskrit transliterationGopiVenerated inRadha Vallabh Sampradaya Nimbarka Sampradaya Gaudiya Vaishnavism PushtimargAffiliationAvatar of Radha 1 Krishnaism VaishnavismAbodeGoloka Vrindavan BarsanaTextsBrahma Vaivarta Purana Garga Samhita Gita Govinda Bhagavata Purana TiruppavaiGenderFemaleRegionBraj regionTempleAshtasakhi Temple in VrindavanFestivalsSharad Purnima Kartik Purnima Holi Lathmar HoliPersonal informationBornBrajConsortKrishna According to Indian philosopher Jiva Goswami gopis are considered as the eternal beloved and manifestations of the internal spiritual potency of Krishna Among the gopis Radha is the chief gopi and is the personification of the bliss potency hladini shakti of Krishna 6 She alone manifests the stage of mahabhava or supreme love for Krishna and holds a place of particularly high reverence and importance in a number of religious traditions 7 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Prominent gopis 3 Unconditional love 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEtymology editGopi ग प is a Sanskrit word originating from the word Gopa In Hinduism the name Gopika or Gopi is especially used to refer the milkmaids of Braj region 8 The word Gopis in the plural refers to the group of cowherd women who possess devotion toward Krishna When it is used in the singular Gopi it generally refers to Radha who was the Krishna s favourite gopi 9 Prominent gopis editThe prominent gopis of Vrindavan are total 108 in numbers They share the eternal intimate friendship with Radha Krishna No one can equal or exceed the love they bear for the divine couple 10 Out of 108 gopis the primary eight gopis are considered as the foremost of Krishna s devotees after goddess Radharani who is considered as the chief of gopis Their names are as follows 11 Radha Chief gopi Krishna s favourite Lalita Vishakha Champakalata Chitra Tungavidya Indulekha Rangadevi Sudevi All the eight primary gopis are together called as the Ashtasakhis eight friends of Radha and Krishna Unconditional love edit nbsp Radha Krishna with gopis According to Hindu Vaishnava theology the stories concerning the gopis are said to exemplify Suddha bhakti which is described as the highest form of unconditional love for God Krishna Their spontaneous and unwavering devotion is described in depth in the later chapters of the Bhagavata Purana within Krishna s Vrindavan pastimes and also in the stories of the sage Uddhava 11 For Vaishnava traditions the most important representation of the gopis love and devotion for Krishna is a story in the Bhagavata Purana 10 29 33 by the name of Rasa Lila Panchadhyaya which translates as the five chapters on the story of the rasa dance The bhakti or devotion that the gopis express in this story is believed by the Chaitanya tradition to exemplify the highest form of bhakti In the story Krishna s flute music attracts the gopis attention making them leave behind their families and homes so that they can enjoy devotion of Krishna 9 Upon hearing that sweet music their passion for him swelling The young women of Braj whoseminds were captured by Krishna Unaware of one another ran off toward the placeWhere their beloved was waiting with their earrings swinging wildly Bhagavata Purana 10 29 4 Gallery edit nbsp Gopika Radha with Gopal Krishna a 1915 painting nbsp Krishna and Gopis 18th century watercolour in the Bodleian Library nbsp 19th century Rajasthan painting depicting Krishna and Gopis nbsp 1610 painting of Krishna stealing clothes of Gopis nbsp Raslila of Krishna with Radha and gopis nbsp Gopi Talab dedicated to gopis in DwarkaSee also editAshtasakhi Raslila Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Gita GovindaReferences edit Phyllis G Jestice 2004 Holy People of the World A Cross cultural Encyclopedia ABC CLIO pp 316 317 ISBN 1576073556 Walters Holly 2016 12 01 Playing God Participant Frameworks in the Ras Lilas of Krishna The Journal of Religion and Popular Culture 28 2 3 135 144 doi 10 3138 jrpc 28 2 3 3611 ISSN 1703 289X S2CID 192161968 Jestice Phyllis G 2004 Holy People of the World A Cross cultural Encyclopedia ABC CLIO pp 316 317 ISBN 978 1 57607 355 1 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint date and year link Hawley John Stratton 1992 At Play with Krishna Pilgrimage Dramas from Brindavan Motilal Banarsidass Publ p 17 ISBN 978 81 208 0945 1 Radha expresses herself in the multiple forms of gopis Mohapatra J 2013 Wellness In Indian Festivals amp Rituals Partridge Publishing p 164 ISBN 978 1 4828 1690 7 Mohanty Prafulla Kumar 2003 Mask and Creative Symbolisation in Contemporary Oriya Literature Krishna Radha and Ahalya Indian Literature 47 2 214 181 189 ISSN 0019 5804 JSTOR 23341400 Francis Bryant Edwin 2007 Krishna A Sourcebook United States of America Oxford University Press p 382 ISBN 978 019 514891 6 Walters Holly 2016 12 01 Playing God Participant Frameworks in the Ras Lilas of Krishna The Journal of Religion and Popular Culture 28 2 3 135 144 doi 10 3138 jrpc 28 2 3 3611 ISSN 1703 289X S2CID 192161968 a b Schweig Graham M 2007 Chapter 18 The Divine Feminine in the Theology of Krishna In Bryant Edwin ed Krishna a sourcebook Oxford Oxford University Press pp 448 450 ISBN 978 0 19 972431 4 OCLC 181731713 Gopis a b Ph D Lavanya Vemsani 2016 06 13 Krishna in History Thought and Culture An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names United States of America ABC CLIO pp 107 108 ISBN 978 1 61069 211 3 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint date and year link External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gopis The Residents of Eternal Vrindavana The Eight Main Gopis Ashtasakhi Deity Gallery Radha Madhava and the Eight Gopis Diagram of the Yoga Pitha in Vrindavana Srimati Radharani and other Personalities Shree Radha Raasbihiari Ashtasakhi Temple Vrindavan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gopi amp oldid 1197057238, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
