Gopala
Gopala or Gopal is the name of Krishna in child form, who is revered as Bal Gopal throughout India .
etymology
Gopala - Sanskrit गोपाल - gopāla - is derived from गो - go (cow) and पाल - pāla (protector, shepherd). Gopala thus means protector of the cows / cattle or cowherd or shepherd. Gopal is a common boy name in what is now India.
Iconography and history
Gopala is usually depicted with blue skin, tilaka and peacock feather in her hair. As a cowherd he enchanted the cowherds ( Gopis or Gopinis) with his flute playing. Even Madana , the Hindu god of love and passion, was attracted by the enchanting sound.
In Krishnaism or in Vaishnava dharma , the worship of Gopala took place historically very early and is a key element. Its training took place separately from other traditions in Krishnaism such as the worship of Balakrishna , Bhagavatism (Bhagavata religion), Krishna-Gopijanavallabha (Krishna as a lover of the Gopis, especially Radhas ) or the worship of Krishna-Vasudeva . All of these traditions later merged and form the monotheistic Krishna religiosity today .
mythology
The Indian mythology is full of stories wonderful, mysterious and innocent acts Gopalas. So he and other friends stole butter. He also broke the Gopis' clay jugs or stole their clothes while they were swimming.
See also
swell
- Hein, Norvin: A Revolution in Kṛṣṇaism: The Cult of Gopāla . In: History of Religions . tape 25 , no. 4 , 1986, pp. 296-317 .
Individual evidence
- ^ Klostermaier, Klaus K .: A Survey of Hinduism . 3rd ed. State University of New York Press, 2005, ISBN 0-7914-7081-4 , pp. 206 .