Goloka, Go-loka: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Goloka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Goloka (गोलोक).—A divine world. Mostly cows live in this world which is above all the other worlds. Surabhi, daughter of Dakṣa, acquired great powers by doing rigorous penance in this world. Pandits say that Goloka is the upper lip, Brahmaloka, the lower lip of Mahāviṣṇu. (Mahābhārata Śānti Parva, Chapter 347, Śloka 52).
Goloka (गोलोक) is the name of a region (loka), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.2.—Accordingly, as Sanatkumāra said to the three daughters of Svadhā (i.e., Menā, Dhanyā, Kalāvatī) after cursing them:—“[...] the youngest Kalāvatī shall be the wife of the Vaiśya—Vṛṣabhāna. At the end of Dvāpara, Rādhā shall be her daughter. [...] Kalāvatī by the virtue of Vṛṣabhāna shall become a living liberated soul and attain Goloka along with her daughter. [...]”.
Note: Goloka is a modern addition to the original series of fourteen lokas. It is identified with Gokula, a pastoral district on the Yamunā about Mathurā where Kṛṣṇa passed his boyhood with the cowherd.
Goloka (गोलोक).—The residence of Surabhi;1 bathers in Soma tīrtham and givers of presents of a cow with calf go to this region.2
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 27. 1; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 32. 40; 41. 55; 42. 19; 43. 29; IV. 1. 156; Vāyu-purāṇa 100. 159; 104. 53-55.
- 2) Matsya-purāṇa 191. 99; 205. 8.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Goloka (गोलोक) refers to the “world of cows”, which is explained in the twefth chapter of the Śivadharmottarapurāṇa
Goloka (गोलोक).—At the climax of the description of śivapura we come to learn that the goloka is none other than śivapura itself! However, the impact of this proposition, a most astounding revelation on the face of it, dwindles away as we realize that here goloka does not designate the well-known Vaiṣṇava paradise of the cowherd Kṛṣṇa; in fact, the Śaiva paradise earns the name because the five celestial cow-mothers reside there together with the bull of dharma. Accordingly, there follows a eulogy of the cows and of the merits of protecting, giving, possessing and tending them.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Goloka (गोलोक) or Golokavarṇana (lit. “a description of goloka”) is the name of chapter 1 of the (third section of the) Bṛhadbrahmasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text containing over 4600 Sanskrit verses dealing primarily with Vaiṣṇava theology and practical matters concerning the Śrī-Vaiṣṇava community but also discussing aspects of Viśiṣṭādvaita philosophy.—Description of the chapter [goloka-varṇana]: Brahmā asks Nārāyaṇa to describe the place where the devotees of the Lord will go (1-3). Nārāyaṇa points out that this realm is beyond the fourteen worlds, beyond their “shells” of prakṛti, beyond light, beyond darkness, beyond the reaches and claims of mundane life—a realm reached only by bhakti. [...]
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Goloka (गोलोक).—a part of heaven, cow-world.
Derivable forms: golokaḥ (गोलोकः).
Goloka is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms go and loka (लोक).
Goloka (गोलोक).—n.
(-kaṃ) The heaven of Krishna. E. go a cow, and loka world.
Goloka (गोलोक).—m. Kṛṣṇa’s heaven.
Goloka is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms go and loka (लोक).
Goloka (गोलोक) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—Parāmarśapūrvapakṣagranthavivecana. read Np. Iii, 14.
1) Goloka (गोलोक):—[=go-loka] [from go] a m. (n., [Tantr.]), ‘cow-world’, a part of heaven, or (in later mythol, [Religious Thought and Life in India 118 and 291]) Kṛṣṇa’s heaven, [Mahābhārata xiii, 3195 (cf. 3347); Harivaṃśa 3994 (cf. 3899); Rāmāyaṇa ii; Brahma-purāṇa]
2) [=go-loka] b -loman, etc. See go, p.366.
Goloka (गोलोक):—[go-loka] (kaṃ) 1. n. Krishnu's heaven.
Goloka (गोलोक):—(go + loka) m. die Welt der Kühe, nach einer späteren Vorstellung auch der Himmel Kṛṣṇa’s: trayāṇāmapi lokānāmapuriṣṭānnivatsyasi . matprasādācca vikhyāto golokaḥ sa bhaviṣyati .. spricht Brahman zur Surabhī [Mahābhārata 13, 3195.] devagandharvagolokān [Rāmāyaṇa 2, 30, 37.] [Harivaṃśa 3994] (vgl. gavāṃ lokaḥ [?3899). BRAHMAVAIV. Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 1, 21. 2, 62. 107; vgl. STENZLER in der Einl. S. 5. Nach einem TANTRA im Śabdakalpadruma] auch n. [Mahābhārata 13, 3347] wird den Kühen ein Sitz in Brahman's Welt angewiesen.
Goloka (गोलोक):—m. n. (!) die Welt der Kühe , nach einer späteren Vorstellung Kṛṣṇa’s Himmel.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Gōlōka (ಗೋಲೋಕ):—[noun] (myth.) one of the several higher regions, a part of heaven.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Go, Loka.
Starts with (+0): Goloka nyayaratna, Golokanatha, Golokatapinyupanishad, Golokatattva, Golokavarnana, Golokavasin, Golokeshvara.
Full-text (+50): Golokavarnana, Vindu, Golaka, Golokatattva, Dhenu, Kutaghatitalakshanavivecana, Golokavasin, Surabhi, Anumitivivecana, Raganuga bhakti, Asiddhasiddhantagranthavivecana, Upadhisiddhantagranthavivecana, Kevalanvayigranthavivecana, Golokeshvara, Asiddhapurvapakshagranthavivecana, Upadhipurvapakshavivecana, Tritiyapragalbhalakshanavivecana, Tritiyamishralakshanavivecana, Pakshatapurvapakshagranthavivecana, Pakshatasiddhantagranthavivecana.
Relevant text
Search found 53 books and stories containing Goloka, Go-loka, Gōlōka; (plurals include: Golokas, lokas, Gōlōkas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Krishna Sandarbha of Jiva Goswami (by Kusakratha Prabhu)
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.5.5 < [Chapter 5 - Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s Entrance Into Mathurā]
Verse 2.3.36 < [Chapter 3 - Description of the Yamunā’s Arrival]
Verse 2.24.40 < [Chapter 24 - The Story of Asuri Muni in the Rāsa-dance Pastime]
Brahma Samhita (Jiva Goswami commentary) (by Srila Narayana Maharaja)
Annadatri-carita (study) (by Sarannya V.)
2. Importance of Annadana in Sanskrit literature < [Chapter 1 - The Myth of Grand Feast]
Srila Gurudeva (The Supreme Treasure) (by Swami Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja)
Why do you address Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu as God? < [Chapter 1.5 - Back to Home Village]
Difference between Aiśvarya and Mādhurya < [Chapter 2.12 - Early ISKCON Conversations with Śrīla Gurudeva]
A Locked Treasure Chest < [Chapter 2.8 - Our Lasting Relationship]