Friday, April 22, 2016

THE LOVE OF THE GOPIS



                                                                  


Gopis or Gopikas, the feminine form of Gopalas,are a group of girls famous with Vaishnava theology for their unconditioned devotion or bhakthi to Krishna as described in the stories of the Bhagavatha Purana and other puranic literature. It is recorded that there were108 gopikas in  Brindavan groups. ‘Krishna Charit’ describes the number as 16000. Three groups of Gopikas are recognized. The first one is of the same age as Krishna and is called Varishta. The second group contains maid servants and is termed as  ‘Vara’  The third are messengers , the ordinary ones. Varishta group is the most exalted and contemporary to Lord Krishna.  Maid servants are the next most exalted. Varishta  gopis are more famous than all others as they are eternally intimate friends of Radha and Krishna. None can exceed or equal the love they bear for the Divine couple!
        Gopis exemplify “ suddha bhakthi”  the highest form of unconditional love for God Krishna. Their spontaneous and unwavering devotion is described in depth in the later chapters of the Bhagavatha Purana with krishna’s  Brindavan pastimes and also in the stories of the sage Uddhava. To a great extent, these Gopikas can be called mystics! Mysticism is born with them!  They experience a kind of ecstasy, becoming one with God or the Absolute the moment they think of Him or see something associated with him! “The wonderful intensity of their Love” is exemplified in their reaction when they saw a Tamala tree! The very sight of the tree  made them mad and crazy  for their Lord Krishna as the tree was dark in color like Krishna! They would lose themselves in trance at anything associated with Krishna which is a trait of mysticism!
          On one occasion they went to Mathura to see Krishna and got admission with great difficulty. When they saw Krishna with a turban, they refused to believe that he was Krishna! They longed for their’ supreme Beloved’ with his yellow cloth and a crest of peacock tail! Is it not the single minded devotion of the Gopis? The devotion of the Gopis can be called ‘Prema Bhakthi’ or ecstatic love. This absolute constant devotion is called’ Avyabhicharini  bhakthi!’  Inconstant devotion is called ‘ vyabhicharini bhakthi’. This devotion is mixed with knowledge. The bhaktha is conscious that He is the supreme Brahman, Rama, Siva, Shakthi and Divine energy! In ecstatic love this apprehension is totally absent. It is said that Hanuman, after going to Dwaraka, was particular to see his Rama and Sita. Sensing this, Lord Krishna became Rama and asked Rukmani to become Sita for Hanuman’s darshan!
            The Gopikas can never tolerate separation from their dear God! This separation or ‘Viraha’ as it is called, causes immense suffering to them.  They would cry out and feel that a spear had been passed through their body! They also feel that death was very near! But it finally led to indescribable beatitude! Sometimes they are seized with ‘ supreme God consciousness or Mahabhava that brings about ‘a terrible commotion both in the body and the mind! But finally there is as much bliss after the state, as there is suffering before it! The devotion or bhakthi of individuals differ and depend upon their associations, bringing up and circumstances! In a few,  bhakthi  is spontaneous and does not require any ignition. The company of saints and sadhus , and constant conviction about the effects of pure devotion shall surely turn even the atheist into a bhaktha or devotee. Devotion is the sure way for salvation and final emancipation as Sankara said:  “ sat sangatve nissangatvam nissangatve nirmohatvam nirmohatve nischala tatwam  Nischala tatwe Jivan muktihi.”

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