In Hinduism a gopi (somtimes gopika) is one of the several cow herding girls who had pure devotion (bhakti) to Krishna. The two top-most gopis are known as Srimati Radharani and Candravali. Candravali is Srimati Radharani's rival for Krishna's attention. Because Radharani possesses all charm and sweetness, she is the better of the two and is supremely famous. Each of them has millions of doe-eyed gopi followers.

The gopis are generally divided into three groups: 1. Gopi friends of the same age as Krishna, 2. maidservants and 3. gopi messengers. The first group, Krishna's contemporary gopi friends, are the most exalted, the second group, the maidservants are the next most exalted, and the gopi messengers come after them.

Contemporary gopi friends (samaja)

The first group, Krishna's contemporary gopi friends, may be further divided into varistha (the most exalted) and vara (exalted).

Varistha (the most exalted)

The personalities that these gopis play in Kali-yuga, gauranga-lila are given in brackets.

Lalita (the most important) (Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami), Visakha (Sri Ramananda Raya), Campakamallika (Sri Sivananda), Citra (Sri Govindananda), Tungavidya (Sri Vakresvara Pandita), Indulekha (Vasu Ramananda), Rangadevi (Govindananda Ghosa) and

Often these are known as the eight friends, or ashta-sakhi.

Vara (exalted)

Kalavati, Subhangada, Hiranyangi, Ratnalekha, Sikhavati, Kandarpa manjari, Phullakalika and Ananga manjari.

Maidservants (mandala)

Gopi messengers (gana)

Paurnamasi, Vira devi, Vrnda and Nandimukhi.

Asta-manjaris

In Kali-yuga, in gauranga-lila 6 of these 8 manjaris (as listed in brackets) are played by the Six Gosvamis of Vrindavan.

Rupa manjari (Srila Rupa Gosvami), Rati manjari (Raghunatha dasa Gosvami), Lavanga manjari (Sri Sanatana Gosvami), Rasa manjari (Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami), Guna majari (Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami), Manjulali manjari (Lila manjari) (Sri Lokanatha Gosvami), Vilasa manjari (Sri Jiva Gosvami) and Kausturi manjari (Sri Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami).

See also

• Muses of Apollo in Greek mythology
• Maidservants of Frigg in Norse mythology

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Gopi is a common indian name.

Gopi