Gopal (caste)

{{pp|small=yes}} {{Short description|Social community of Odisha, India}} {{Redirect|Gauda (caste)|similar name pastoralist society of Jharkhand|Gour (caste)|its namesake other uses|Gopal (disambiguation){{!}}Gopal}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox caste | caste_name = Gopal (Gauda) | subdivisions = Mathurapuria<br />Gopapuria<br />Magadhaa | populated_states = Odisha | population =431,474 (1901 census)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gait|first=E. A.|author-link=Edward Albert Gait|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=06YJAAAAIAAJ|title=Census of India – 1901, Vol- VIA – The lower probinces of Bengal and their Feudatourie (Part II, The Imperial Tables)|publisher=Bengal Secretariat Press|year=1909|pages=212–213}}</ref><br/>890,702 (1931 census)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lacey |first=W. g |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.56027 |title=Bihar and Orissa – Census Of India 1931 |volume=7 |others=Part II, Tables |date=1932 |page=137}}</ref> | religions = Hinduism | languages = Odia |classification = Ahir (Yadav) | related = Khandayat<ref name="q939">{{cite book | last=Pati | first=Biswamoy | title=Resisting Domination: Peasants, Tribals, and the National Movement in Orissa, 1920-50 | publisher=Manohar Publishers & Distributors | date=1993 | isbn=978-81-7304-027-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aDZuAAAAMAAJ&q=Chasas+Gaudas+Kshatriya+status | access-date=2025-10-14 | page=}}</ref> }} '''Gopal''' or '''Gouda''' is an Indian caste,<ref name="Ray2007">{{cite book | author = Dipti Ray | date = 2007 | title = Prataparudradeva, the Last Great Suryavamsi King of Orissa (A.D. 1497 to A.D. 1540) | publisher = Northern Book Centre | pages = 90– | isbn = 9788172111953 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=to_U9I6Ol9wC&dq=gopalas+gaudas&pg=PA90}}</ref><ref name="(India)1966">{{cite book|author=Orissa (India)|title=Orissa District Gazetteers: Cuttack|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XTduAAAAMAAJ&q=Gaudas+third+largest|year=1966|publisher=Superintendent, Orissa Government Press |page=168}}</ref><ref name="Kar2002">{{cite book | author = Nishamani Kar | date = 2002 | title = Animal Husbandry and Rural Development: Restructuring and Planned Development of the Bovine Economy | publisher = Deep and Deep Publications | pages = 206– | isbn = 9788176293587 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=xVuCMzpCIsMC&dq=gauda+gopal&pg=PA206}}</ref> from Odisha State in East India. Their traditional occupations include dairy farming, cattle herding, cultivation and carrying palanquins of deities.<ref name="PatiDash2002">{{cite book|author1=Rabindra Nath Pati|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qxxnZ4XxUbsC&pg=PA196|title=Tribal and Indigenous People of India: Problems and Prospects|author2=Jagannatha Dash|publisher=APH Publishing|year=2002|isbn=978-81-7648-322-3|pages=196–}}</ref><ref name="Mahapatra 1981 p. ">{{cite book | last=Mahapatra | first=M. | title=Traditional Structure and Change in an Orissan Temple | publisher=Punthi Pustak | series=Indische Studien | year=1981 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y4sdAAAAMAAJ&q=palanquin+gauda | access-date=2022-11-27 | page=}}</ref> They also worked as Paikas (soldiers) under the kings{{Vague|reason="The kings" is vague. Under which kings/dynasties or in which century?|date=September 2025}}.<ref name="Tanabe2021">{{cite book | author = Akio Tanabe | date = 29 July 2021 | title = Caste and Equality in India: A Historical Anthropology of Diverse Society and Vernacular Democracy | publisher = Routledge | pages = | isbn = 978-1-00-040933-8 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=EPM4EAAAQBAJ&dq=foot+soldier+cowherd&pg=PT55}}{{pn|date=December 2022}}</ref><ref name="SinhaSciences1987">{{cite book | author1 = Surajit Sinha | author2 = Centre for Studies in Social Sciences | date = 1987 | title = Tribal Polities and State Systems in Pre-colonial Eastern and North Eastern India | publisher = Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta | pages = | isbn = 9788170740148 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=S4E_AAAAMAAJ&q=paiks+cowherd+caste}}{{pn|date=December 2022}}</ref> Gopal is the name of the milkmen or herdsmen caste in Odisha, which is known by other names (such as Ahir, Yadav, Goala etc.) in various parts of India.<ref>{{cite book|title=Rolamba|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W445AAAAIAAJ&q=Abhir+tribe|year=1982|publisher=Joshi Research Institute}}</ref><ref name="Singh1993">{{cite book |author=Kumar Suresh Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9QluAAAAMAAJ&q=gauda+ahir |title=People of India: Bio-cultural Dimensions : a K.S. Singh Festschrift |date=1993 |publisher=Inter-India Publications |isbn=9788121003254 |pages=}}</ref>

According to the 1931 census of India, they are the second largest caste by numbers and comprise around 9% of Odisha's population.<ref>{{cite book| editor=Rob Jenkins |title= Regional Reflections: Comparing Politics Across India's States |chapter=Janata Regionalized: Contrasting Bases of Electoral Support in Bihar and Orissa |first=Sanjay|last=Kumar |pages= 6 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Delhi|year=2004|url=https://casi.sas.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/iit/Sanjay%20Kumar.pdf |format= |accessdate=}}</ref>

==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".<ref name="Grimes1996">{{cite book|author=John A. Grimes|title=A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy: Sanskrit Terms Defined in English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qcoUFYOX0bEC&pg=PA129|date=1 January 1996|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-7914-3067-5|pages=129–}}</ref><ref name="FeuersteinKak1999">{{cite book|author1=Georg Feuerstein|author2=Subhash Kak|author3=David Frawley|title=In Search of the Cradle of Civilization: New Light on Ancient India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=evOZEWralVMC&pg=PA149|year=1999|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=978-81-208-1626-8|pages=149–}}</ref>

== Origin and history == The Gopalas (Gaudas) like all Yadavs claim that they are descendants from Krishna of the ancient Yadava clan.<ref name="PatiDash2002">{{cite book|author1=Rabindra Nath Pati|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qxxnZ4XxUbsC&pg=PA196|title=Tribal and Indigenous People of India: Problems and Prospects|author2=Jagannatha Dash|publisher=APH Publishing|year=2002|isbn=978-81-7648-322-3|pages=196–}}</ref><ref name="Pati2008">{{cite book|author=Rabindra Nath Pati|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_5seKkk3GkIC&pg=PA115|title=Family Planning|publisher=APH Publishing|year=2008|isbn=978-81-313-0352-8|pages=115–}}</ref> They are recognized in many Puranas as soldier's of Mahabharat fame Narayani Sena (Army of Lord Krishna), who were fought in Mahabharata war.<ref name="s998">{{cite book | last=Jain | first=Sandhya | title=Adi Deo Arya Devata: A Panoramic View oF Tribal-Hindu Cultural Interface | publisher=Notion Press | date=2022-03-19 | isbn=979-8-88530-378-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NDBlEAAAQBAJ&q=Narayana%2520army%2520Gopala&pg=PT67 | access-date=2025-10-14 | page=}}</ref> After the Sanskritisation of castes in India, the Gopalas started to be incorporated into a newly established '''Yadav Kshatriya''' or '''Yaduvanshi Kshatriya''' community, along with Ahir, Gops, Goalas, and Sadgops.<ref name="Pinch1996">{{cite book|author=William R. Pinch|title=Peasants and Monks in British India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uEP-ceGYsnYC&pg=PA91|date=18 June 1996|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-91630-2|pages=91–}}</ref> In the Yadav Mahasabha held in 1930, dairy farming castes such as Ahirs, Goalas, Gopalas etc. were advised to Identify themselves as "Son of Krishna" and hence they can identify themselves as martial caste.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Michelutti|first=Lucia|date=2002|title=Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town|url=https://etheses.lse.ac.uk/2106/1/U613338.pdf|journal=London School of Economics and Political Science}}</ref>

== Subdivisions == The Gopalas (Gaudas) are three types:- '''Mathurapuria''', '''Gopapuria''' and '''Magadhaa''',<ref>{{cite book |url=http://gopabandhuacademy.gov.in/sites/default/files/gazetter/Khordha_Gazetteer.pdf |author=Dr. Taradatt|title=Odisha District Gazetteers (Khorda) |via=gopabandhuacademy.gov.in |format= |accessdate=}}</ref> where Mathurapurias and Gopapurias are superior to Magadha classes.<ref name="(India)1972">{{cite book|author=Orissa (India)|title=Orissa District Gazetteers: Sambalpur|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ry1uAAAAMAAJ&q=gopapuria+mathurapuria+magadha|year=1972|publisher=Superintendent, Orissa Government Press}}</ref> Which symbolically refer to their ancestral land of Mathura and Gokul (Gopa) of Uttar Pradesh and Magadha of Bihar.<ref name="Mishra1992">{{cite book|author=Prashant K. Mishra|title=Harijans in Hindu and Tribal Social Structures|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_CRvAAAAMAAJ&q=gopapuria+gauda|year=1992|publisher=Discovery Publishing House|isbn=978-81-7141-165-8}}</ref> While the Magadha Gauda are inhabitants of Singhbhum and western Mayurbhanj, they possibly represent an accretion of some aboriginal tribes.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Taradatt |first=Dr |title=Mayurbhanj district Gazzetter |url=https://gopabandhuacademy.gov.in/sites/default/files/gazetter/Mayurbhanj_Gazetteer.pdf|year=1967 |pages=99}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Laeequddin |first=Muhammad |title=Census of Mayurbhanj State 1931 |year=1937 |volume=I |location=Calcutta |publisher=Caledonin Printing Company |pages=173–178, 197–198 |jstor=saoa.crl.25352830 |jstor-access=free |oclc=496724918}}</ref> There are minor differences among them, some area of Odisha the Gopalas are also known as their other names including: '''Mahakul''', '''Sholakhandia''', '''Sadgope''' and '''Gopal Baishnab'''<ref name="q72v8">{{cite book | last=Russell | first=R.V. | publisher=Macmillan and Company, limited | title=The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India |volume=II | year=1916 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fbgBAAAAMAAJ&q=mahakul | access-date=2023-06-17 | page=20}} [https://archive.org/details/TheTribesAndCastesOfTheCentralProvincesOfIndiaVolII/ Alt URL]</ref><ref name="Padhi2007">{{cite book|author=Nagendra Kumar Padhi|title=Police and the Weaker Sections|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ax0rSwXmVZIC&pg=PA55|year=2007|publisher=APH Publishing|isbn=978-81-313-0129-6|pages=55–}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stscodisha.gov.in/Pdf/SEBC_List_Orissa.pdf |title=www.stscodisha.gov.in |format= |accessdate=}}</ref> among them.

== Culture == === Festival === [[File:Image Gopala dolayatra.jpg|thumb| 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),<ref name="Mohanty2003">{{cite book|author=Ramesh P. Mohanty|title=Dalits Development and Change: An Empirical Study|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tMCEOmVXhLkC&pg=PA38|year=2003|publisher=Discovery Publishing House|isbn=978-81-7141-696-7|pages=38–}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Odisha Tourism 2010">{{cite web | title=Dola Purnima (Holi) | website=Odisha Tourism | date=2010-01-01 | url=https://dot.odishatourism.gov.in/?q=node/268 | access-date=2020-10-16}}</ref> * 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://magazines.odisha.gov.in/Journal/journalvol3/pdf/15-27.pdf |title=magazines.odisha.gov.in |format= |accessdate=}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Orissa Historical Research Journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xSduAAAAMAAJ&q=dahi+handi+jatra+gauda|year=2004|publisher=Superintendent of Research and Museum}}</ref>

=== 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.<ref name="Nanda 2013">{{cite web | last=Nanda | first=Kanhu | title=Odihsa's folk dance 'Laudi Khela' during Dola fest loses its fame and charm. | website=Odisha Views | date=2013-04-06 | url=https://www.odishaviews.com/odihsas-folk-dance-laudi-khela-during-dola-fest-loses-its-fame-and-charm/ | access-date=2020-08-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://gopabandhuacademy.gov.in/sites/default/files/gazetter/Cuttack_Gazetteer.pdf |title=gopabandhuacademy.gov.in |format= |accessdate=}}</ref> *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.<ref name="BrandonBanham1997">{{cite book|author1=James R. Brandon|author2=Martin Banham|title=The Cambridge Guide to Asian Theatre|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ttnH5W9qoBAC&pg=PA89|date=28 January 1997|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-58822-5|pages=101–}}</ref>

=== Titles === The Gopalas uses surnames like Behera, Das, Palei/Palai, Pandab, Biswal, Sandha, Hati, Kabi, Bhutia, Mahakul, Mahakhud/Mahakud, Mohapatra, Sasmal, Rout, Parida, Podh, Jal, Bhujabal,<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Patra |first=Patitapaban |year=1994 |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/jspui/bitstream/10603/118750/12/12_chapter%25205.pdf |title= Archaeological remains of Dhenkanal|page=205 |location=Utkal University, Bhubaneswar |accessdate= |hdl=10603/118750}}</ref> Khilar, Singh, Routray, Samantray, Pratihari,<ref name="Singh 1996 p. 1082">{{cite book | last=Singh | first=K.S. | title=Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles | publisher=Anthropological Survey of India | series=National series | year=1996 | isbn=978-0-19-563357-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfAMAQAAMAAJ&dq=routray&pg=PA1082 | access-date=2023-07-03 | page=1082}}</ref><ref name="India. Department of Anthropology 1958 p. ">{{cite book | author=India. Department of Anthropology | title=Memoir: (India. Dept. of Anthropology) | publisher=Manager of Publications, Delhi | issue=nos. 5-7 | year=1958 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=be2BSxe8hhMC&q=bhobani+santra | access-date=2023-06-30 | page=}}</ref><ref name="Roy 1964 p. ">{{cite book | last=Roy | first=S.C. | title=Man in India | publisher=A. K. Bose | issue=v. 44 | year=1964 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sKc4AAAAIAAJ&q=pratihari+milkman | access-date=2023-07-03 | page=}}</ref> Mandei, Senapati, Dalua, Apata, Nayak,<ref name="Tripathy1988">{{cite book|author=Shyam Sunder Tripathy|title=Buddhism and Other Religious Cults of South-east India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OXbYAAAAMAAJ&q=Gopalas+Gaudas+Chaudhuri+senapati+dalua|year=1988|publisher=Sundeep Prakashan|isbn=978-81-85067-15-5}}</ref> Bagarti, Pradhan, Khuntia, Bag/Bagh, Hansha, Dalchhatra, Kharsel, Karuan, Nag and Shandh, Banchhor among others.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gopabandhuacademy.gov.in/sites/default/files/gazetter/Kandhamal_Gazetteer.pdf |title=gopabandhuacademy.gov.in |format= |accessdate=}}</ref>

== Social Status ==

Gopalas are followers of Vaishnavism.<ref name="Mukherjee1970">{{cite book|author=Dilip Kumar Mukherjee|title=Chaitanya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=miEgAAAAMAAJ&q=Gopal+Math|year=1970|publisher=National Book Trust, India}}</ref> Among them Gopapurias and Sadgops are the relics of Bala Gopala cult.<ref name="Misra 1986 p. ">{{cite book | last=Misra | first=B. | title=Indian Culture and Cult of Jagannātha | publisher=Punthi Pustak | series=Orissa studies project | year=1986 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BvYdAAAAMAAJ&q=gaudas | access-date=2022-12-03 | page=}}</ref> They are one of a caste of Panikhia Jati group of Odisha.<ref name="Das2012">{{cite book|author=Nava Kishor Das|title=Odisha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sz7m_yM-hJsC&q=panikhia+jatis|year=2012|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India by Seagull Books|isbn=978-81-7046-293-4}}</ref> They assist Brahmins on ritual occasion and also serve as priests in some temples.<ref name="Mukherjee1981">{{cite book|author=Prabhat Mukherjee|title=The History of Medieval Vaishnavism in Orissa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7LFzfbhmJcMC&pg=PA83|year=1981|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-0229-8|pages=83–}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Journal of the Anthropological Society of Bombay|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UeUXAQAAIAAJ&q=Gaudas|year=1925|publisher=Education Society's Press}}</ref><ref name="Bahadur)1998">{{cite book|author=Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai Bahadur)|title=Man in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WKiBAAAAMAAJ&q=Jhankar|year=1998|publisher=A. K. Bose}}</ref> They claim ''Kshatriya'' status and in social hierarchy they occupies the rank next to Khandayats.<ref name="q939">{{cite book | last=Pati | first=Biswamoy | title=Resisting Domination: Peasants, Tribals, and the National Movement in Orissa, 1920-50 | publisher=Manohar Publishers & Distributors | date=1993 | isbn=978-81-7304-027-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aDZuAAAAMAAJ&q=Chasas+Gaudas+Kshatriya+status | access-date=2025-10-14 | page=}}</ref> They are included in the OBC list of the state<ref name="Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes v804">{{cite web | title=Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes | website=Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes | url=https://oscbc.odisha.gov.in/home/ListOfSEBC/ | access-date=2023-08-24}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Prasad |first=D. M. Ravi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sxw57oVgShIC |title=Eradication of Caste and Birth of New Humanity |date=2004 |publisher=Deep & Deep Publications |isbn=978-81-7629-513-0 |pages=29 |language=en}}</ref> but some Gopal sub-castes like '''Vaishya Gopal''', '''Gopal Vaishnava''' and '''Khandeit Gopal''' are recognized as Forward castes

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

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:Indian castes Category:Social groups of Odisha Category:Ahir