Govinda
545883
223857634
2008-07-06T04:53:11Z
Zerokitsune
2709306
/* References */
{{otheruses}}
'''{{IAST|Govinda}}''' and '''{{IAST|Gopāla}}''' are [[names of Krishna]], referring to his youthful occupation as a [[cowherd]].
Both names translate to "cowherd". [[Sanskrit]] ''go'' means "cow"; ''pāla'' and ''vinda'' form [[tatpurusha]] compounds, literally translating to "finder of cows" and "protector of cows", respectively.
The story of how Krishna was given the name Govinda is described in detail in the [[Vishnu Purana]]. After lifting [[Govardhan hill]] to protect the villagers and cows of [[Vrindavan]], the lord of devas [[Indra]] awarded him the title.
Gopala Krsna of [[Krishnaism]] is often contrasted Vedism when Krishna asks his followers to desist from Vedic demigod, Indra worship. Thus the character of Gopala Krishna is often considered to be non-Vedic, while it can also be based on the popular understanding or rather misunderstanding -of the Rgvedic texts.<ref>{{cite book |author= [[Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar]], Ramchandra Narayan Dandekar |title= Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar as an Indologist: A Symposium |publisher= Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute|location=India |year= 1976 |pages= p. 38-40}}</ref>
A famous prayer called the [[Bhaja Govindam]] was composed by [[Adi Sankara]], a summary of which is; "If one just worships Govinda, one can easily cross this great ocean of birth and death." This refers to the belief that worshipful adoration of Krishna can lead believers out of the cycle of [[reincarnation]], or ''[[samsara]]'', and into an eternal blissful life in [[Vaikuntha]], 'beyond this material world' where Govinda resides.
''Govinda'' is a name of Krishna and also appears as the 187th and 539th names in the [[Vishnu Sahasranama]].
According to Adi Sankara's commentary on the Vishnu Sahasranama, translated by Swami [[Tapasyananda]], Govinda has three meanings:{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
#The sages call Krishna "Govinda" as He pervades all the worlds, giving them power.
#The ''Shanti Parva'' of the [[Mahabharata]] states that [[Vishnu]] restored the earth that had sunk into the [[underworld|netherword]], or ''Patala'', so all the [[Deva deity|devas]] praised Him as Govinda (Protector of the Land).
#Alternatively, it means "He who is known by [[Vedic Sanskrit|Vedic]] words alone". Adi Sankara's [[Bhaja Govindam]] prayer expresses the value of inner devotion to Krishna.
In the [[Harivamsa]], [[Indra]] praised Krishna for having attained loving leadership of the cows which Krishna tended as a cowherd, by saying, "So men too shall praise Him as Govinda."
According to [[Klaus Klostermaier]], Krishna Gopijanavallabha, Krishna the lover of the [[Gopi]]s, is the latest stage in the historical process resulting in contemporary [[Krishnaism]], being added to the worship of [[Bala Krishna]] (the Divine Child Krishna), and the original cult of [[Krishna-Vasudeva]] which may date back to several centuries before the Common Era.<ref name = kk20072>{{cite book
| author = KLOSTERMAIER, Klaus K.
| pages = p.206
| year = 2005
| title = A Survey of Hinduism
| publisher = State University of New York Press; 3 edition
| isbn = 0791470814
| quote = Present day Krishna worship is an amalgam of various elements. According to historical testimonies [[Krishna-Vasudeva]] worship already flourished in and around Mathura several centuries before Christ. A second important element is the cult of Krishna Govinda. Still later is the worship of Bala-Krishna, the Divine Child Krishna - a quite prominent feature of modern Krishnaism. The last element seems to have been Krishna Gopijanavallabha, Krishna the lover of the Gopis, among whom [[Radha]] occupies a special position. In some books Krishna is presented as the founder and first teacher of the Bhagavata religion.
}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
*''Sri Vishnu Sahasranama'', commentary by Sri Sankaracharya, translated by Swami Tapasyananda (Ramakrishna Math Publications, [[Chennai]]).
*{{cite web
|url=http://www.jstor.org/pss/1062622
|title=A Revolution in {{IAST|Kṛṣṇaism}}: The Cult of Gopāla: History of Religions, Vol. 25, No. 4 (May, 1986), pp. 296-317
|publisher=www.jstor.org
|accessdate=2008-05-24
|last=Hein
|first=Norvin
}}
==See also==
* [[Radha Krishna]]
* [[Hindu scriptures]]
* [[Bhagavad Gita]]
* [[Bhagavata Purana]]
==External links==
* [http://www.krishna.com/node/118 Who is Govinda (Krishna)?]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwNe-2n8baY Sacred Hindi verses describing Govinda]
[[Category:Krishna]]
[[Category:Vaishnavism]]
[[Category:Titles and names of Krishna]]
[[Category:Forms of Vishnu]]
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]
{{Hindu-stub}}
[[de:Govinda]]
[[es:Govinda]]
[[fa:گوویندا]]
[[pl:Gowinda]]
[[ru:Говинда]]
[[sv:Govinda (mytologi)]]