Gopa or Gop or Gope is a synonym of the
Ahir (
Yadav
Yadavs are a grouping of non-elite, peasant-pastoral Quote: "The Yadavs were traditionally a low-to-middle-ranking cluster of pastoral-peasant castes that have become a significant political force in Uttar Pradesh (and other northern states l ...
) caste in India and Nepal.
It is generally used as a title by the Ahir caste in the states of
Bihar
Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...
in India and
Terai
The Terai or Tarai is a lowland region in parts of southern Nepal and northern India that lies to the south of the outer foothills of the Himalayas, the Sivalik Hills and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
This lowland belt is characterised by ...
region of Nepal.
Etymology
The Sanskrit word Gopa, originally meant only a cowherd; it then came to mean the head of cowpen and lastly the chief of a tribe.
Origin and history
Buddhaswami, an ancient scholar, in his Brhatkathaslokasamgraha has mentioned the story of an
Abhira who lived in a 'Ghosha' where both the terms 'Abhira' and 'Gopa' have been used for the same people.
The
Amarakosha
The Amarakosha (Devanagari: अमरकोशः, IAST: ''Amarakośaḥ'', ISO 15919, ISO: ''Amarakōśaḥ'') is the popular name for ''Namalinganushasanam'' (Devanagari: नामलिङ्गानुशासनम्, IAST: ''Nāmaliṅg ...
lists Gopa, Gopala, Gosamkhya, Godhuk, and Ballava as synonyms for
Abhira and states that the village or settlement where Abhiras lived was called Ghosa or Abhirapalli.
Gwalior
Gwalior (Hindi: , ) is a major city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh; It is known as the Music City of India having oldest Gwalior gharana, musical gharana in existence. It is a major sports, cultural, industrial, and political c ...
was known as Gopagiri in ancient and early medieval times, as mentioned in inscriptions by rulers such as
Mihirkula and in an 876 AD inscription of Bhoja Deva, which suggest some kind of association of this place with pastoral communities like the Gopas.
Dynasties, chieftaincy & zamindari
*
Gupta dynasty of Magadha
*
Gopala-Gupta dynasty and
Mahisapala dynasty of Nepal.
* Sadgope Dynasty of
Gopbhum. It had two Sadgope (Gopa) kings, one ruled from
Amrargar and other from Dhekur (also known as Trisasthigar).
* Sadgope rulers of
Midnapore Raj,
Narajole Raj,
Narayangarh and Balrampur in Bengal.
* Gopa or Ahir chieftain of
Murho Estate, Parasadi Estate, Belwarganj Estate, Ranipatti Estate, Tintanga Estate in Bihar.
Gop Jatiye Mahasabha
Gop Jatiye Mahasabha was formed by Babu
Rash Bihari Lal Mandal in 1911, It was the regional organization of Gope or Ahir caste of Bihar. Later, the
All-India Yadav Mahasabha was formed by merging the Gop Jatiye Mahasabha and other regional organisation of Ahirs. AIYM first National Conference was held in
Purnea, Bihar on 17 to 20 April 1924.
See also
*
Yadav
Yadavs are a grouping of non-elite, peasant-pastoral Quote: "The Yadavs were traditionally a low-to-middle-ranking cluster of pastoral-peasant castes that have become a significant political force in Uttar Pradesh (and other northern states l ...
*
Ahir
*
Bihari Ahir
*
Yadavs of Nepal
*
Sadgop
References
{{Reflist
Yadav
Yadavs are a grouping of non-elite, peasant-pastoral Quote: "The Yadavs were traditionally a low-to-middle-ranking cluster of pastoral-peasant castes that have become a significant political force in Uttar Pradesh (and other northern states l ...
Hindu communities
Social groups of Bihar
Social groups of Haryana
Social groups of West Bengal
Social groups of Maharashtra
Social groups of Chhattisgarh
Social groups of Uttar Pradesh