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]
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: