Gopinath (Krishna) Explained

Gopinath or Gopinatha^[1] is a form of the Hindu god Krishna. It is also one of the primary names of Krishna, meaning, "the lord of the cowherdesses".^[2]

Gopinath is associated with the gopis (milkmaids) of the Braj (Vraja) region. The gopis are regarded to symbolise selfless devotion (bhakti) to the deity, flocking around him in love and worship. The relationship between the gopis and Krishna is described in texts such as the Harivamsa, Bhagavata Purana, and the Gita Govinda.^[3]

Meanings

The name Gopinath is a Sanskrit compound.^[4] Generally, Gopinath is understood to be a tatpuruṣa compound meaning "Lord (or protector) of the gopīs."

A Gaudiya interpretation of the name is that Gopinath is a bahuvrīhi compound meaning "Krishna whose masters are the gopīs."

Temples

In many Krishna temples, Krishna is worshipped as Gopinath. Historic temples of Gopinath includes:

• Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple, Jaipur^[5]
• Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple, Vrindavan^[6]
• Gopinath Dev Temple, Gujarat

See also

• Achyuta
• Gopala
• Govinda
• Keshava
• Madhava
• Radha Ramana
• Vāsudeva

Notes and References

1. Book: Rosen, Steven . Forms of Krishna: Collected Essays on Vaishnava Murtis . 2023-03-15 . Rowman & Littlefield . 978-1-6669-3027-6 . 206 . en.
2. Book: Judah, J. Stillson . Hare Krishna and the Counterculture . 1974 . Wiley . 978-0-471-45200-3 . 229 . en.
3. Book: Dalal, Roshen . Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide . 2014-04-18 . Penguin UK . 978-81-8475-277-9 . 513 . en.
4. Book: Rosen, Steven . Forms of Krishna: Collected Essays on Vaishnava Murtis . 2023-03-15 . Rowman & Littlefield . 978-1-6669-3027-6 . 223 . en.
5. Web site: Gopinath, JAIPUR, RADHAGOPINATH, RADHA GOPINATH, Madhu Pandit, Official Site Of The 5,000 Years Old Rich Heritage, GOPI NATHJI, Pink City Of India, KRISHNA, RADHA KRISHNA, RADHEY GOPINATH . 2023-06-21 . gopinathji.net.
6. Web site: Radha Gopinath Temple, Vrindavan . mathura.nic.in.