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Gopashtami: When God Became a Cowherd

Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat
29 October 2025
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By Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj

“Dekho Dekho Ri, Dekho Ri,

Look, look! See!

 Gwaal Baalan Yaari!”

 The friendship of the cowherd boys!

Today is the auspicious festival of Gopashtami. This is the day when the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna commenced His Gocharan Leela, the divine pastime of grazing the cows in Braj. According to the Vaishya tradition, every boy begins the practice of cow grazing at an auspicious time, a custom that has continued since the beginning of creation. On this sacred day, cows are worshipped and the boy who begins cow grazing is adorned with ornaments. Today marks that special day for Shri Krishna.

Shri Krishna lived in the house of Nand Baba, who belonged to the Vaishya community. Hence, as per their tradition, today Shri Krishna was initiated into the practice of grazing cows. A strict rule applies to this act: one cannot wear any kind of footwear – no slippers, shoes, or wooden sandals. As per scriptural injunctions, cows must be tended barefoot. Thus, Thakur Ji too had to follow this rule.

The Gopis once expressed their pain in separation when Shyamsundar would go for cow grazing. They said that when the Lord went away to graze the cows, they felt such intense pangs of separation that upon His return, they would even curse Brahma for creating eyelashes, for these interrupted their vision of their Beloved. They also lamented, saying, “O Shyamsundar, You walk barefoot over rough terrain filled with pebbles, stones, and thorns! How can we bear the thought of Your tender feet touching them?” Yet this rule had to be followed, for it was part of the sacred duty of tending cows. Whether God or saint, anyone who descends into this material world must abide by its rules and customs; otherwise, people would declare them mad!

On this holy day of Gopashtami, Thakur Ji began His cow-grazing pastime, which is filled with the nectar of Sakha Bhav – divine friendship. The essence of Gocharan Leela lies in the blissful pastimes the Lord shares with His friends. Even Brahmaji expressed his wonder at their fortune, saying, “Maho bhagye maho bhagye Nanda gopa…”  How supremely fortunate are these cowherd boys! Brahma, the creator of this universe, glorifies them because they are the eternal friends of the Supreme Lord.

There are many kinds of friendships in the world – some begin today and end tomorrow – but the cowherd boys of Braj such as Dhansukh, Mansukh, Shridama, and others are divine associates who have descended from Golok. They do not belong to the class of ordinary jeevs (individual souls). They are the parikar – the personal associates of God. They are not even from the category of Nityasiddh (eternally liberated souls), for Nityasiddhs belong to the class of jeevs. The cowherd friends, however, are manifestations of Swaroop Shakti, the Lord’s own divine power. They are His eternal companions – members of His divine household.

Kripalu is of the opinion however, God’s words are the supreme authority. In the Vedas, God Himself declares that all souls are His eternal friends. Thus, the debate ends there. God resides within every heart as that eternal companion, never abandoning the soul. Even though we are oblivious to Him, our divine Friend is never oblivious to us. He keeps an account of our countless deeds across innumerable lifetimes, grants us their fruits, and protects us even in our mother’s womb. When we are born, He nourishes us through a mother’s milk, and as we grow, He provides all means of sustenance. His compassion is beyond imagination or expression.

No matter what form we take – a human, animal, or even an insect, our divine Friend never leaves us. He says, “I am not an opportunistic friend; I am your eternal friend.” The moment a soul realises – not merely knows, but realises this truth, he becomes one with God in friendship. For countless lifetimes we have known this truth but have not accepted it. Our intellect, clouded by material attachments, keeps us bound to worldly relationships – parents, spouse, children believing them to be our true companions. But God is our real friend, eternal and unconditional.

Our divine Friend lovingly assures us: “O soul, just turn towards Me. Do nothing else.” The Lord stands behind every soul, waiting for it to turn around. Yet, lifetime after lifetime, we keep surrendering to others, not to Him. We have called countless beings our father, mother, husband, and wife many times over. But we have not accepted the one who has been with us since eternity.

In this world, friendships are often fragile, dependent on self-interest, conditions, and expectations. A small mistake can break them. But in divine friendship, there are no conditions. God does not expect anything from us; He simply wishes us to accept Him as our own. Once that acceptance ripens through sincere practice and determination, the friendship blossoms naturally. No effort, no show – only heartfelt acceptance is required.

Look at the cowherd friends of Shri Krishna. They treat the Supreme Lord as their equal or even as their inferior. True love knows no reverence or awe. For instance, if an illiterate woman’s husband is a high-ranking officer, she cannot love him if she constantly remembers his position. Similarly, a mother cannot love her son as a Governor or Prime Minister; she only sees him as her child. Likewise, to love God truly, one must forget His divinity and see Him simply as one’s beloved companion.

This is exactly how the cowherd friends loved Shri Krishna. Even Brahma, Vishnu, and Shankar revere the dust of His lotus feet, yet these friends feed Him with their own hands and even share their food. Shri Krishna, the Supreme Lord, would snatch morsels from their mouths and relish them, saying, “Ah! What a taste! Even Maha Lakshmi’s divine delicacies do not compare to this!” Maha Lakshmi’s food is created by divine will, yet the Lord finds greater joy in the simple, love-filled offerings of His friends.

Maha Lakshmi does not need to cook on a stove; whatever she thinks of appears by her will. These are not ordinary, material delicacies but spiritual manifestations. In Golok, objects appear much like here – trees, rivers, and so on – only far more beautiful; yet it is not mere appearance but the bliss within them that is extraordinary. So extraordinary that if a paramhansa merely glimpses a speck of Golok’s dust, he might give up his samadhi. Just as earth and water exist here, so they exist there but the three material modes (sattva, rajas, tamas) cannot pass beyond the Viraja River into that realm. Maya cannot cross that boundary; it remains on our side.

During the cow-grazing pastimes, Shri Krishna would sit together with his friends in a circle and share food brought from their homes. Sometimes one friend would mischievously snatch another’s pudding or sweetmeat, and they would laugh, wrestle, and tease one another. In games, the Lord would often deliberately lose to make His friends happy. Once, after losing to Shridama, Shri Krishna became his horse, and Shridama rode on His back, striking His sides playfully and saying, “Run faster, my horse!” The Lord ran joyfully, shedding tears of bliss, relishing the touch of His friend’s feet.

Such is the beauty of divine friendship – pure, playful, and beyond self-interest. Even their scoldings delighted Him! When Shri Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill, His friends scolded, “O Kanha, use both hands! The hill might fall!” Though the Lord held the hill effortlessly on the nail of His little finger, His friends thought they too were helping with their sticks. Later, when people called Him “Giridhari,” they protested, “We are the real Giridharis! We held the hill with full force while He got all the credit!”

Elders in Braj then began discussing Krishna’s divine powers, some friends started gazing at Him differently with awe instead of affection. Seeing this, Shri Krishna began to cry. When asked why, He replied, “Their way of looking at Me has changed. It feels as if they are no longer my own.” Realising their mistake, the friends said, “No, no! You are just our Kanha!” and returned to their spontaneous love, making Krishna smile again.

Shri Krishna never wishes His friends to see Him as superior. Their teasing, laughter, and carefree affection bring Him the greatest joy. They would even sing playfully:

 “Dvai baapan, dvai maiya, aisa kaun?” 

 (“The one with two fathers and two mothers – who is he?)

 And all would tease in unison – “Kanhaiya!”

Such is the divine sweetness of Gopashtami – a celebration of God’s most intimate, human-like love, where the Supreme Lord becomes a simple cowherd boy, rejoicing in the pure friendship of His devotees.

A brief introduction of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj*

(Known by His devotees as Shri Maharaj Ji)

The original title of Jagadguruttam (Greatest Spiritual Teacher of the World) was bestowed upon Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on January 14, 1957, by Kashi Vidvat Parishad (a council of 500 greatest scholars saints of India). He composed divine texts like Prem Ras Madira, Prem Ras Siddhant, and Radha Govind Geet to lead us on the right path of devotion. He also gave priceless monuments as gifts to the world which include Bhakti Mandir located in Bhakti Dham, Mangarh, Prem Mandir located in Vrindavan Dham, and Kirti Mandir located in Barsana Dham. Shri Maharaj Ji also built hospitals for the impoverished, the Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Vrindavan, Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Barsana, and another one in Pratapgarh. All three help millions of underprivileged to gain free access to medical care. His Kindergarten, School, and College for impoverished girls Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Education is located in Kunda and provides completely free education.