Gopi Prem (गोपी प्रेम)

Gopi Prem is the completely selfless Divine love of the Gopis for Shri Radha-Krishna, in which the Beloved's happiness alone is their happiness. The Gopis selflessness serve Shri Radha-Krishna and find their happiness solely in giving happiness to Them.

JKP Literature

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Gopi Prem (गोपी प्रेम)

Gopi Prem /term/gopi-prem/ Gopi Prem | Completely Selfless Divine Love

Gopi Prem (गोपी प्रेम | gopī prema) is the completely selfless Divine love of the Gopis for Shri Radha-Krishna, in which the happiness of the Beloved alone is the lover's happiness.

Its defining sentiment is:

तत्सुखसुखित्वम्।
tatsukhasukhitvam
“Happiness in the happiness of the beloved.”

There is no desire for one's own happiness in Gopi Prem. The sole aim is the happiness of Shri Radha-Krishna.

The Love of the Gopis

The Gopis do not serve Shri Radha-Krishna in order to receive something in return. Their attention is not upon their own pleasure, recognition, proximity, or even relief from the pain of separation.

Their happiness lies in pleasing the Divine Couple.

Thus, even when a Gopi experiences intense longing for Shri Krishna, she does not place relief from her own suffering above His happiness. Her own pleasure or pain becomes secondary to what gives pleasure to her Beloved.

Gopi Prem and Samartha Rati

Within Madhurya Bhav (माधुर्य भाव | mādhurya bhāva), three levels of love are described:

  • Sadharani Rati
  • Samanjasa Rati
  • Samartha Rati

Samartha Rati is the highest of these and is also called Gopi Prem. In this love, there is no trace of the desire for self-happiness.

This is why Gopi Prem is not merely intense affection for Shri Krishna. Its distinguishing characteristic is complete selflessness.

Samartha Rati — the highest level of Madhurya Bhav; also called Gopi Prem.

Madhurya Bhav — the devotional sentiment within which Samartha Rati, or Gopi Prem, is found.

Gopi Bhav — used in KVW's Poetry Dictionary as another name for Gopi Prem.

Tatsukhasukhitvam — the defining sentiment of finding one's happiness solely in the happiness of the Beloved.

Go Deeper

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References

Prema Rasa Madira - The Intoxicating Bliss of Divine Love, Vol. 1, Ch. 6

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