Gopinath ( Sanskrit: गोपीनाथ, romanized: Gopīnātha) 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]
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."
In many Krishna temples, Krishna is worshipped as Gopinath. Historic temples of Gopinath includes:
Gopinath ( Sanskrit: गोपीनाथ, romanized: Gopīnātha) 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]
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."
In many Krishna temples, Krishna is worshipped as Gopinath. Historic temples of Gopinath includes: