The Gopalas, or Twelve Gopalas (, ), were a group of 16th-century Indian missionaries who are credited with spreading Gaudiya Vaishnavism throughout Bengal. They were major disciples of the Gaudiya-Vaishnava saint Nityananda (âÂÂ), who is considered to be an incarnation of Krishna's brother, Balarama.
Kavi Karnapura's Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika lists 12 Gopalas: AbhirÃÂma (or RÃÂmadÃÂsa AbhirÃÂma), UddhÃÂraá¹Âa Datta, KamalÃÂkara PiplÃÂi, KÃÂlaká¹Âá¹£á¹Âa-dÃÂsa, GaurëdÃÂsa Paá¹Âá¸Âita, Parameà Âvarë-dasa, Dhanañjaya-paá¹Âá¸Âita, Puruá¹£ottama Datta (or NÃÂgara-puruá¹£ottama), Puruá¹£ottama-dÃÂsa, Maheà Âa-paá¹Âá¸Âita, à Ârëdhara and SundarÃÂnanda-á¹ÂhÃÂkà «ra. In other sources, a 13th, HalÃÂyudha-á¹ÂhÃÂkà «ra, is added.
The more well-known Gopalas (for example, AbhirÃÂma, GaurëdÃÂsa, KamalÃÂkara PiplÃÂ, Puruá¹£ottama-dÃÂsa and UddhÃÂraá¹Âa Datta) established "autonomous centres of power" known as sripats. The Gopalas were the "first organization within Gaudiya Vaisnavism and appointed directly by Sri Caitanya to propagate nama-dharma [the theology of the name of God (Krishna)]." They had the right to preach Chaitanya Vaishnava doctrine within their own areas and collect donations for their sripats, which they gradually developed into centres of Vaishnavism or even holy places.
Of the 12 main Gopalas, three were from the lowest caste, the shudras.
Like Nityananda, the 16th-century Gopalas were associated with figures from Krishna's lila, his playful pastimes in "mythical Vrindavan" â specifically the group of cowherds (gopÃÂlas) who "previously had been attracted to the activities of Ká¹Âá¹£á¹Âa and BalarÃÂma". In "their personal piety" and devotion, the Gopalas are said to manifested behaviour "typical of Krishna and Balarama's male cowherd friends" in the Vrindavan lila.
As given in the Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika, the 12 Gopalas' spiritual identities are: à ÂrëdÃÂma (AbhirÃÂma), SudÃÂma (SundarÃÂnanda), VasudÃÂma (Dhanañjaya), Subala (GaurëdÃÂsa), MahÃÂbala (KamalÃÂkara PiplÃÂi), SubÃÂhu (UddhÃÂraá¹Âa Datta), MahÃÂbÃÂhu (Maheà Âa), Stokaká¹Âá¹£á¹Âa (Puruá¹£ottama-dÃÂsa), DÃÂma (Puruá¹£ottama Datta), Lavaá¹Âá¸Âga (KÃÂlaká¹Âá¹£á¹Âa-dÃÂsa), Arjuna (Parameà Âvarë-dasa) and Madhumaá¹Âá¸Âgala (à Ârëdhara).
A separate group of 12 junior associates of Nityananda are called the upa-Gopalas (, 'junior cowherds'). The upa-Gopalas were probably institutionalised towards the end of the 16th century in response to the increasing number of new claimants to the seat of Gopala.