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Gopal (caste)

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For other uses, see Gopal.

Gopal (Gauda)
ClassificationAhir (Yadav)
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesOdia
Populated statesOdisha
SubdivisionsMathurapuria,
Gopapuria,
Magadhaa
Related groupsKhandayat, Chasa

Gopal or Gauda is an Indian caste[1][2][3] which is a synonym of Ahirs[4] from Odisha State in East India. Their traditional occupation is dairy farming, cattle-herding, cultivation and deity's palanquin bearing.[5][6] Beside from this they also worked as Paika (soldiers) under the kings.[7] However during british rules they were used to be zamindars in many areas including : Ranapura, Nayagarh and Khandapara[8][9] and in Mahabharata they were also mentioned as soldiers of Narayani Sena, whom Krishna had offered to Duryodhan.[10][11]

As per the census of India, they are the second largest caste in Odisha and comprise more than 16% of population.[12][13] 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"[14][15] 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.[16]

Origin and History

The Gopalas (Gaudas) like all Yadavs claim that they are descendants from Krishna of the ancient Yadava clan.[5][17] In the Mahasabha held in 1930, Dairy faming castes such as Ahirs, Gopalas, Sadgopes etc were advised to Identify themselves as "Son of Krishna" and hence they can identify themselves as martial caste.[18]

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.[19]

List of chieftain and zamindari

In Odisha there were many zamindars belonging to Gopal (Yadav) caste

  • Ranapura Zamindars
  • Nayagarh Zamindars
  • Khandapara Zamindars

Subdivisions

The Gopalas (Gaudas) are three types:- Mathurapuria, Gopapuria and Magadhaa,[20] where Mathurapurias and Gopapurias are superior to Magadha classes.[21] Which symbolically refer to their ancestral land of Mathura and Gopa of Uttar Pradesh and Magadha of Bihar.[22] 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[23][24] among them.

Culture

Festival

Peoples of Gopal community carries Bimana of Radha Krishna during Dola Purnima festival
  • The Dola Purnima (Holi festival): is the Major festival of Gopalas (Gaudas),[25] 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.[26]
  • 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.[27][28]

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.[29][30]
  • 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.[31]

Titles

The Gopalas (Gaudas) uses surnames like Behera, Das, Palai, Mahakud, Sasmal, Rout, Parida, Mohapatra, Barik, Bhutia [32] Chaudhuri, Mandei, Apata, Boitei,Senapati, Dalua, Nayak[33] Bagarti, Pradhan, Puntia, Bag/Bagh, Hansha, Dalchhatra, Kharsel, Karuan, Nag and Shandh, among others.[34]

Social Status

Gopalas are followers of Vaishnavism.[35] They are also known as Gopala Vaishnava.[36] They are one of a caste of Panikhia Jati group of Odisha.[37] They assist Brahmins on ritual occasion and also serve as priests in some temples.[38][39][40]

See also

References

  1. ^ Dipti Ray (2007). Prataparudradeva, the Last Great Suryavamsi King of Orissa (A.D. 1497 to A.D. 1540). Northern Book Centre. pp. 90–. ISBN 9788172111953.
  2. ^ Orissa (India) (1966). Orissa District Gazetteers: Cuttack. Superintendent, Orissa Government Press.
  3. ^ Nishamani Kar (2002). Animal Husbandry and Rural Development: Restructuring and Planned Development of the Bovine Economy. Deep and Deep Publications. pp. 206–. ISBN 9788176293587.
  4. ^ Rolamba. Joshi Research Institute. 1982.
  5. ^ a b Rabindra Nath Pati; Jagannatha Dash (2002). Tribal and Indigenous People of India: Problems and Prospects. APH Publishing. pp. 196–. ISBN 978-81-7648-322-3.
  6. ^ Mahapatra, M. (1981). Traditional Structure and Change in an Orissan Temple. Indische Studien. Punthi Pustak. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  7. ^ Akio Tanabe (29 July 2021). Caste and Equality in India: A Historical Anthropology of Diverse Society and Vernacular Democracy. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-00-040933-8.
  8. ^ Asiatic Society (Kolkata, India) (1916). Journal and Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Asiatic Society. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  9. ^ Anthropological Survey of India (1960). Memoir (in French). ISSN 0536-6712. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  10. ^ Sandhya Jain (19 March 2022). Adi Deo Arya Devata: A Panoramic View oF Tribal-Hindu Cultural Interface. Notion Press. ISBN 9798885303781.
  11. ^ Murti Yerrapragada (31 January 2022). Messages from Mhabharat. Notion Press. ISBN 9798885303989.
  12. ^ "casi.sas.upenn.edu" (PDF).
  13. ^ "'Yadav regiment in army sought'". The New Indian Express. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  14. ^ John A. Grimes (1 January 1996). A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy: Sanskrit Terms Defined in English. SUNY Press. pp. 129–. ISBN 978-0-7914-3067-5.
  15. ^ Georg Feuerstein; Subhash Kak; David Frawley (1999). In Search of the Cradle of Civilization: New Light on Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 149–. ISBN 978-81-208-1626-8.
  16. ^ Ahmed Sayeed. Dharma Karama of Hinduism. Sankalp Publication. pp. 296–. ISBN 978-93-90636-77-8.
  17. ^ Rabindra Nath Pati (2008). Family Planning. APH Publishing. pp. 115–. ISBN 978-81-313-0352-8.
  18. ^ Michelutti, Lucia (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). London School of Economics and Political Science.
  19. ^ William R. Pinch (18 June 1996). Peasants and Monks in British India. University of California Press. pp. 91–. ISBN 978-0-520-91630-2.
  20. ^ "gopabandhuacademy.gov.in" (PDF).
  21. ^ Orissa (India) (1972). Orissa District Gazetteers: Sambalpur. Superintendent, Orissa Government Press.
  22. ^ Prashant K. Mishra (1992). Harijans in Hindu and Tribal Social Structures. Discovery Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7141-165-8.
  23. ^ Nagendra Kumar Padhi (2007). Police and the Weaker Sections. APH Publishing. pp. 55–. ISBN 978-81-313-0129-6.
  24. ^ "www.stscodisha.gov.in" (PDF).
  25. ^ Ramesh P. Mohanty (2003). Dalits Development and Change: An Empirical Study. Discovery Publishing House. pp. 38–. ISBN 978-81-7141-696-7.
  26. ^ "Dola Purnima (Holi)". Odisha Tourism. 1 January 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  27. ^ "magazines.odisha.gov.in" (PDF).
  28. ^ The Orissa Historical Research Journal. Superintendent of Research and Museum. 2004.
  29. ^ Nanda, Kanhu (6 April 2013). "Odihsa's folk dance 'Laudi Khela' during Dola fest loses its fame and charm". Odisha Views. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  30. ^ "gopabandhuacademy.gov.in" (PDF).
  31. ^ James R. Brandon; Martin Banham (28 January 1997). The Cambridge Guide to Asian Theatre. Cambridge University Press. pp. 101–. ISBN 978-0-521-58822-5.
  32. ^ Patra, Patitapaban (1994). Archaeological remains of Dhenkanal (pdf) (Thesis). Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. p. 205. hdl:10603/118750.
  33. ^ Shyam Sunder Tripathy (1988). Buddhism and Other Religious Cults of South-east India. Sundeep Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-85067-15-5.
  34. ^ "gopabandhuacademy.gov.in" (PDF).
  35. ^ Dilip Kumar Mukherjee (1970). Chaitanya. National Book Trust, India.
  36. ^ People of India: India's communities. Oxford University Press. 1998. ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2.
  37. ^ Nava Kishor Das (2012). Odisha. Anthropological Survey of India by Seagull Books. ISBN 978-81-7046-293-4.
  38. ^ Prabhat Mukherjee (1981). The History of Medieval Vaishnavism in Orissa. Asian Educational Services. pp. 83–. ISBN 978-81-206-0229-8.
  39. ^ The Journal of the Anthropological Society of Bombay. Education Society's Press. 1925.
  40. ^ Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai Bahadur) (1998). Man in India. A. K. Bose.
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