- Gopi
Gopi is a word of
Sanskrit (गोपी) origin meaning 'cow-herd girl'. InHinduism specifically the name gopi (sometimes gopika) is used more commonly to refer to the group ofcow herding girl s famous withinVaishnava Theology for their unconditional devotion ("Bhakti ") toKrishna as described in the stories ofBhagavata Purana and other Puranic literatures. Of this group, one gopi known as Srimati Radharani holds a place of particularly high reverence and importance in a number of religious traditions, especially withinGaudiya Vaishnavism .Prominent Gopis
The gopis of Vrindavan, who total one hundred and eight in number, are generally divided into three groups: Gopi friends of the same age as Krishna;
maidservant s; and gopimessenger s. The first group, Krishna's contemporary gopi friends, are the most exalted, the second group, the maidservants are the next most exalted, and the gopi messengers come after them. The primary eight gopis are considered the foremost of Krishna's devotees after Srimati Radharani. Their names are as follows :*
Lalita (gopi) Sakhi
*Visakha Sakhi
*Campakalata Sakhi
* Citra Sakhi
*Tungavidya Sakhi
*Indulekha Sakhi
*Rangadevi Sakhi
*Sudevi SakhiUnconditional love
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'sVrindavan pastimes and also in the stories of the sageUddhava .See also
*
Gita Govinda
*Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
*Holy Basil (Tulsi)
*Six Goswamis
*Gopi Krishna Other meanings of Gopi
:*"Gopi" is a popular Indian name.:*"Gopi" is a
Malayalam film actor. One of Gopi's most notable movies is "Yavanika", a seriousdrama revolving around a murder, and the circumstances surrounding it".External links
* [http://www.swargarohan.org/Prabhu/Bhajans/Gopi-Geet.htm Gopi Geet text and mp3 audio] (Bhagavat Purana, book 10, Chapter 31)
* [http://www.vrindavan.de/vrindavana.htm The Residents of Eternal Vrindavana] (including Srimati Radharani & the Gopis)
* [http://www.naturalnirvana.com/Braja-Mandala/Braja-Spiritual/Gopis.htm The Eight Main Gopis] (Asta Sakhis)
* [http://www.mayapur.info/main/deity_pictures.html Deity Gallery: Radha-Madhava & the Eight Gopis]
* [http://www.yogapitha.org/BrajYogaPitha.htm Diagram of the Yoga Pitha in Vrindavana]
* [http://www.radhakunda.com/personalities/index.html Srimati Radharani and other Personalities]
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