Gopala — The Cowherd Protector

"Gopala" recalls the cowherd boy of Vraja who grazed and guarded the cows. The Laddu Gopal worshipped in countless homes is a loving form of this name.

"Gopala" joins "go", the cow, with "pala", one who tends and protects. Nanda Baba's family belonged to the gopa community of cowherds, whose wealth and very life were their cows. Krishna grew up in this world, and from childhood he was lovingly called Gopala.

The Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, describes how Krishna and Balarama first looked after the calves, and when they were a little older began taking the cows to the forest. According to tradition, the day they first went out with the cows is remembered on Gopashtami, the bright eighth day of Kartik. In the forest Krishna would call each cow by name with his flute, share his lunch with the cowherd boys, and protect everyone from demons such as Aghasura and Bakasura.

In devotion, Gopala is the name of parental love, vatsalya. As Laddu Gopal or Bal Gopal, the Lord is cared for in many homes as the child of the family, bathed, dressed, fed and put to rest each day. The Gopala Sahasranama and Gopala mantras are widely recited. Serving cows is also seen as a way of pleasing Gopala, for he himself is their dearest friend and guardian.

Name Sa

गोपाल

Name Roman

Gopala

Meaning

protector and keeper of the cows

Source

Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10