Goloka
Goloka (
According to Gaudiya Vaishnava philosopher Jiva Goswami, Goloka, also called Vrindavan, is the highest spiritual planet and can be further manifested into three abodes, called Mathura, Dvārakā and Gokul, according to the difference in the pastimes and associates of Krishna.[5]
Goloka is revered in various
Etymology
Goloka literally means "World of cows".[8] The Sanskrit word go refers to "cow" and loka is translated as "realm."
Lord Krishna is also known as Gaulokvihari (vihari means "a resident of") since he is a resident of Goloka and his consort Radha is called Radhika.
Description
A description of Goloka can be found in the Brahma Samhita, verse 5.29:
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the first progenitor, who is tending the cows, yielding all desires, in abodes built with spiritual gems and surrounded by millions of purpose trees. He is always served with great reverence and affection by hundreds and thousands of devotees resembling goddesses of fortune."
Sanatana Goswami, an author of a number of important works in the bhakti tradition of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, states, "Sri Goloka is considered the ultimate destination of spiritual endeavour."[10]
The
Literary sources
Mention of Goloka is also found in other
Evam bahu-vidhai rupais caramiha vasundharam brahmalokam ca kaunteya golokam ca sanatanam. "I move about in many forms on earth, in Brahmaloka, and in eternal Goloka, O Kaunteya."[13]
In the Markandeya Purana, Krishna declares,[citation needed]
Golokam ca parityajya lokanam trana-karanat kalau gauranga-rupena lila-lavanya-vigrahah. "In the Kali-Yuga, I will leave Goloka and, to save the people of the world, I will become the handsome and playful Lord Gauranga."
Goloka Structure
All the Vaikuntha planets are said to be like petals of a lotus flower, and the principal part of that lotus, called Goloka Vrindāvana, is the center of all the Vaikunthas. Thus the expansions of Krishna in various forms, as well as His various abodes on the spiritual planets in the spiritual sky, are unlimited. Goloka is divided into three different portions: Gokula, Mathurā and Dvārakā. As stated in Brahma-samhitā (5.43), all the Vaikuntha planets in the spiritual sky (known as Vishnuloka) emanate from the predominating deity of Goloka Vrndāvana, known as Svayam Bhagavan.
See also
References and notes
- ^ Asiatic Researches or Transactions of the Society Instituted in Bengal for inquiring into the History and Antiquities, Arts, Sciences and Literature of Asia. Vol. 16. Bengal Military Orphans Press. 1828. p. 126.
- JSTOR 42931207.
- ISBN 0-691-11446-3.
- ISSN 0085-6401.
- ISBN 978-019-514891-6.
- ^ goloko nitya-vaikuntho yathakaso yatha disah
- ^ 1.23, 2.14, etc.
- ISBN 9783940381705.
- .
- ISBN 0-89213-346-5
- ^ "Śrī brahma-saṁhitā 5.43". vedabase.io. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
- ^ goloko nitya-vaikuntho yathakaso yatha disah
- ISBN 9789171497093.