Gopal (caste)

Gopal or Gauda is an Indian caste, which is a synonym of Ahir from Odisha State in East India. Their traditional occupation include dairy farming, cattle herding, cultivation and carrying palanquins of deities. They also worked as Paikas (soldiers) under the kings. They claim Kshatriya status and in hierarchy, they occupy the rank next to Khandayats. They also owned Zamindaris in Ranapura, Nayagarh and Khandapara regions of Odisha. They find mention in Mahabharata as soldiers of Narayani Sena.
As per the census of India, they are the second largest caste in Odisha and comprise more than 16% of population. as well.

Etymology

The word Gopal derived from vedic "Gopala", which "''Go''" refers to cow and "''Pala''" refers to protector or herder. Hence "Gopala" literally means "cow herder" According to Bhagavata Purana, the earth takes the form of a cow and asks Vishnu to protect her. That was why Vishnu (Krishna), her guardian is called Go-Pala, protector of mother earth in the form of a cow.

Origin and History

The Gopalas (Gaudas) like all Yadavs claim that they are descendants from Krishna of the ancient Yadava clan after the Sanskritisation process by Arya Samaj in 1930. In the Mahasabha held in 1930, Dairy faming castes such as Ahirs, Gaudas, Gopalas etc were advised to Identify themselves as "Son of Krishna" and hence they can identify themselves as martial caste.

Since 1930 during the Sanskritisation of castes in India, The Gopalas started to be incorporated into a newly established Yadav Kshatriya community, along with Ahir, Gops, Goalas, and Sadgops.

Subdivisions

The Gopalas (Gaudas) are three types:- Mathurapuria, Gopapuria and Magadhaa, where Mathurapurias and Gopapurias are superior to Magadha classes. Which symbolically refer to their ancestral land of Mathura and Gokul (Gopa) of Uttar Pradesh and Magadha of Bihar. There are minor differences among them, some area of odisha the Gopalas are also known as their other names including: Sholakhandia, Sadgope and Gopal Baishnab among them.

Culture

Festival

* The Dola Purnima (Holi festival): is the Major festival of Gopalas (Gaudas), It starts from the tenth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Falguna (Feb-March) known as Fagu 'Dasami'. This festival is celebrated for five days in Odisha. In this festival they place the idols of Radha Krishna in a Bimana (richly decorated palanquins), Smearing the heads with Abira (a violet coloured powder). Specially people of Gopala community carrying this palanquin and take round a procession with village Priest, drummers, pipers and the Sankirtana Mandalis. The procession halts in front of each household and the deity is offered Bhog. On the final day of the purnima the celebration culminates in a swing-festival for the deities.
* The Dahi-handi Jatra (curd-pot festival): The birthday of Lord Krishna on the eighth day of Krushna pakshya is popularly celebrated throughout India as Janmastami on the ninth day. Lord Krishna along with his friends had broken the curd-pot in the house of the king Nanda. This tradition is maintained in Paralakhemundi as Dahi-handi-Jatra. On the ninth day or Nabami, the people tie a curd pot with a bamboo and place it between two poles. Traditionally, a Gauda-boy as the representative of Lord Krishna breaks the curd pot. The other boys throw the coloured water from a hand pump (pichakari). Then the people place the Radha Krishna on a stage called 'Kunja’ and take a procession around the town.

Tradition

* Laudi Badi Khela is a traditional dance with combination of martial art and folk dance (called Laudi Nacha & Badi Khela) of the Gaudas (Gopalas), which is performed during Dola Purnima. In this dance the young Gopala boys wearing a special clothes in associated with Krishna. At first they practice 'Badi Khela'(martial art) by one or two trained people of their community, who held a sword in the right hand and a stick in left hand. They perform this art for sometime and then played 'Laudi'(folk dance) by a group of minimum 9 to 12 boys. Each boys holding two stick in their hand, dance with striking each other's stick in a rhythmical manner in front of the Palanquin of Radha Krishna.
* Gopalila is a traditional puppet theatre, performed by Gopals (Cowherd boys) of Odisha. They perform this theater on the occasion of Janmastami and Govardhan Puja. The concept of this theatre is associated with god Krishna's life.

Titles

The Gopalas uses surnames like Behera, Das, Palai, Bhutia, Mahakhud, Sasmal, Rout, Parida, Mohapatra,
Barik Chaudhuri, Mandei, Senapati, Dalua, Apata, Nayak Bagarti, Pradhan, Puntia, Bag/Bagh, Hansha, Dalchhatra, Kharsel, Karuan, Nag and Shandh, among others.

Social Status

The Gaudas are known in the locality for their militancy and are over conscious of their physical prowess and solidarity.
Gopalas are followers of Vaishnavism. They are also known as Gopala Vaishnava. Among them Gopapurias and Sadgops are the relics of Bala Gopala cult. They are one of a caste of Panikhia Jati group of Odisha. They assist Brahmins on ritual occasion and also serve as priests in some temples.

See also

* Ahir
*
* Gopa (caste)
*
* List of Yadavs
* Maniyani (caste)
* Raut (caste)
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* Yadav

References

{{Reflist

Indian castes
Social groups of Odisha
Ahir