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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