Goloka

Goloka () or Goloka Vrindavan () is the celestial abode of the Hindu god Krishna and his chief consort Radha. In the ''Bhagavata Purana'' and '' Garga Samhita'', Krishna is portrayed as the highest person who resides in Goloka along with his consort Radha.

Goloka is often represented as the celestial realm containing flowing streams and lovely gardens, and is inhabited by cows and enchanting maidens - Gopis.

Goloka is revered in various Vaishnavism traditions including Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Swaminarayan Sampradaya, Pranami Sampraday, Pushtimarg and Nimbarka Sampradaya. Besides ''Bhagvata Purana'', Goloka is also mentioned in Sanskrit scriptures such as the Pancharatra texts,goloko nitya-vaikuntho yathakaso yatha disah '' Garga Samhita'', ''Brahma Samhita'', ''Brahma Vaivarta Purana,'' and ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana''.

Etymology

''Goloka'' literally means "World of cows". The Sanskrit word ''go'' refers to "cow" and ''loka'' is translated as "realm."

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:

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." Śrĩla Sanãtana Goswãmĩ, '' Śrĩ Bṛhad Bhãgavatãmṛta, Dig-darśinĩ'' commentary to Part Two (Śrĩ-goloka-mãhãtmya) 1.24 (tr. Gopiparanadhana Dasa, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, p. 39)

The Brahma Vaivarta Purana explicitly describes Goloka Vrindavan to be about 500 million yojanas (4 billion miles) above Vaikuntha loka and expands till 30 million yojanas (240 million miles). The depiction is similar to a verse found in Brahma Samhita verse 5.43.

Acharyas of Gaudiya Vaishnavaism explain it to be limitless. Both Vaikuntha and Goloka are considered to be ''Nitya Dhama'' (the eternal realm of existence) which are not prone to annihilation even after the whole cosmic dissolution. Krishna in his two-armed form eternally resides in the realm of Goloka and in his four-armed form, as Vishnu he eternally resides in the realm of Vaikuntha loka.

Literary sources

Mention of Goloka is also found in other Puranas, such as Skanda Purana and Markandeya Purana. In Brihad-bhagavatamrita, Sanatana Goswami explains that this verse is quoted from the Skanda Purana and is spoken by Krishna to Arjuna:

In the Markandeya Purana, Krishna declares,

Goloka Structure

According to 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. Based on Rupa Goswami's ''Laghubhagavatamrita'', Jiva Goswami asserts that Goloka is the transcendental prototype of the earthly Vrindavan, where Krishna performed his lilas''.''

See also

* Radha Krishna
* Vaikuntha
* Kailasha

References and notes

{{Vaishnava philosophy

Krishna
Swaminarayan Sampradaya
Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophical concepts
Vaishnavism