Gopas

Gopas or Gwala are a tribe or caste of Bombay (now Mumbai), India[1],and in Bihar [2] who were kinsmen and fighters for Vasudeva Krishna. They are known as Yadav in Northern India. They were allied with Kauravas, due to a pact made between Vasudeva Krishna, Arjuna and Duryodhana. They are division of the Yadav/Ahir community.[3] [4][5]

The pact of Vasudeva Krishna to Arjuna and Duryodhana:- There is a large body of cowherds known as the Narayanas, all of whom are able to fight in the thick of battle. These soldiers shall be sent to one of you and I alone, resolved not to fight on the field, and laying down my weapons, will go to the other. Arjuna selected Vasudeva Krishna and Duryodhana selected Krishna's army. (5,7)

Many thousands of Gopas with a large Gopayana force battled in the Kurukshetra War, at Kauravas side, against the Pandavas, along with other armies, like the Madras, the Sauviras, the Gandharas, the Trigartas and the Kalingas. (6,71)

Lord Krishna was a Gopa. Amarakosha gives Ballava as well as as synonym for Gopa.[6]

In Harivamsa Purana, it has been said that Gopa/Gopas and Yadav are generic of the same lineage.[7][8]

Gopa or Gopas are found mainly in Bihar, and also in Jharkhand and West Bengal,Maharshtra,Uttar Pradesh.

According to Rigveda Gopa Word is derived from Cow.

References
  1. The tribes and castes of Bombay Volume 1 By Reginald Edward Enthoven
  2. "रोम पोप का, मधेपुरा गोप का..." Dainik Bhaskar. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  3. "Caste and Gender in Contemporary India: Power, Privilege and Politics-Google Books". Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  4. "ग्वाला-यादव जाति को ओबीसी सर्टिफिकेट बनाने में हो रही है समस्या". Hindustan.
  5. "Government and Politics in Colonial Bihar, 1921-1937,from ... – Jawaid Alam- Google Books". ISBN 8170999790. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  6. Enthoven, R.E. (1990). The Tribes and Castes of Bombay. 1. Asian Educational Services. p. 23. ISBN 9788120606302. Retrieved 2015-02-09.
  7. Soni, Lok Nath (2000). The Cattle and the Stick: An Ethnographic Profile of the Raut of Chhattisgarh. ISBN 9788185579573.
  8. The cattle and the stick: an ethnographic profile of the Raut of Chhattisgarh
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