Sri Gopal

[Paramananda das]

Sri Gopal is worshipped in Sri Nathadvara I once had the good fortune to take darshan of Sri Gopal ,Sastra states if you take his darshan you get the benefit of visiting the 4 Dhamas ,Badarikasrama, Sri Ksetra ,Dvaraka and Sri Rangam

Sri Gopal was installed by Sri Vrajanabha, Lord Krsnas grandson ,He was worshipped for 4500 years in Vrindavana but when Srila Madhavendra Puri came to Govinda Kunda , Sri Gopal had been hidden by the Pujaris because the Muslim terrorists destroyed all the orginally Deities of Vrindavana ,Sri Gopal revealed Himself to Srila Madhavendra Puri it is important we hear the pastime in Caitanya Caritamrta again and again about Srila Madhavenda Puri and Sri Gopala .Srila Visvanath Chakravati Thakura has given us a Astakam to Sri Gopal to chant daily :Official Name: Gopaladevastakam

Author: Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura

Book Name: Stavamrta Lahari

Language: Sanskrit

अ

LYRICS:

(1)

madhura-mṛdula-cittaḥ prema-mātraika-vittaḥ

svajana-racita-veṣaḥ prāpta-śobhā-viśeṣaḥ

vividha-maṇi-mayālańkāravān sarva-kālaḿ

sphuratu hṛdi sa eva śrīla-gopāla-devaḥ

(2)

nirupama-guṇa-rūpaḥ sarva-mādhurya-bhūpaḥ

śrita-tanu-ruci-dāsyaḥ koṭi-candra-stutāsyaḥ

amṛta-vijayi-hāsyaḥ procchalac-cilli-lāsyaḥ

sphuratu hṛdi sa eva śrīla-gopāla-devaḥ

(3)

dhṛta-nava-para-bhāgaḥ savya-hasta-sthitāgaḥ

prakaṭita-nija-kakṣaḥ prāpta-lāvaṇya-lakṣaḥ

kṛta-nija-jana-rakṣaḥ prema-vistāra-dakṣaḥ

sphuratu hṛdi sa eva śrīla-gopāla-devaḥ

(4)

krama-valad-anurāga-sva-priyāpāńga-bhāga

dhvanita-rasa-vilāsa-jñāna-vijñāpi-hāsaḥ

smṛta-ratipati-yāgaḥ prīti-haḿsī-taḍāgaḥ

sphuratu hṛdi sa eva śrīla-gopāla-devaḥ

(5)

madhurima-bhara-magne bhāty asavye'valagne

trivalir alasavattvāt yasya puṣṭānatatvāt

itarata iha tasyā māra-rekheva rasyā

sphuratu hṛdi sa eva śrīla-gopāla-devaḥ

(6)

vahati valita-harṣaḿ vāhayaḿś cānuvarṣaḿ

bhajati ca sagaṇaḿ svaḿ bhojayan yo'rpayan svam

giri-mukuṭa-maṇiḿ śrīdāmavan-mitratā-śrīḥ

sphuratu hṛdi sa eva śrīla-gopāla-devaḥ

(7)

adhidharam anurāgaḿ mādhavendrasya tanvaḿs

tad amala-hṛdayotthāḿ prema-sevāḿ vivṛṇvan

prakaṭita-nija-śaktyā vallabhācārya-bhaktyā

sphuratu hṛdi sa eva śrīla-gopāla-devaḥ

(8)

pratidinam adhunāpi prekṣyate sarvadāpi

praṇaya-surasa-caryā yasya varyā saparyā

gaṇayatu kati bhogān kaḥ kṛtī tat-prayogān

sphuratu hṛdi sa eva śrīla-gopāla-devaḥ

(9)

giridhara-vara-devasyāṣṭakenemam eva

smarati niśi dine vā yo gṛhe vā vane vā

akuṭila-hṛdayasya premadatvena tasya

sphuratu hṛdi sa eva śrīla-gopāla-devaḥ

TRANSLATION

1) May Srila Gopaladeva, whose heart is charming and gentle, for whom pure love is the only wealth, who wears garments made by His devotees, who is splendidly handsome, and who wears many kinds of jewel ornaments, eternally appear in my heart.

2) May Srila Gopaladeva, whose virtues and handsomeness have no equal, who is the king of all sweetness, who is served by all bodily splendour, whose face is praised by millions of moons, whose smile defeats nectar, and whose eyebrows playfully dance, appear in my heart.

3) May Srila Gopaladeva, who is the abode of all ever-fresh opulence and auspiciousness, whose left hand rests on His waist, who possesses handsomeness multiplied millions of times, who protects His devotees, and who expertly increases their love for Him, appear in my heart.

4) May Srila Gopaladeva, whose sidelong glances gradually increase His devotees' love, whose knowing smile announces His nectar pastimes, who remembers the Kamadeva-yajna, and who is a lake where the swans of pure love play, appear in my heart.

5) May Srila Gopaladeva, the three lines on whose charming waist, created from looseness and slight chubbiness, are like the mark of Kamadeva, appear in my heart.

6) May Srila Gopaladeva, who showers transcendental bliss, who shares lunch with His friends, who gives them Govardhana Hill, the crest-jewel of mountains, and who shines with friendship for Sridama, appear in my heart.

7) May Srila Gopaladeva, who with devotional potency placed loving devotional service in the pure heart of Madhavendra Puri, appear in my heart.

8) Even today sweet loving service to Srila Gopaladeva may be seen at every moment. What saintly devotee can count the many offerings made to Him? May Srila Gopaladeva appear in my heart.

9) May Srila Gopaladeva appear in the heart of the pure-hearted devotee who, living either at home or in the forest, remembers Him by chanting, either in the day or night, these eight verses glorifying the Deity of Govardhana Hill.

I pray I may once again take Darshan of Sri Gopal in Nathadhvara ,Lord Caitanya and the 6 Goswamis where always eager to get the Darshan of Sri Gopala so we should also be like thatat least we can take Darshan of the photoes of Sri Gopal and chant the Astakams to Sri Gopal given to us by Srila Visvanath Chakravati Thakura ,Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Raghunath das Goswami