Gopi in Sanskrit stands for `cow-herd girl` In Hinduism the Batavia Purana and other Puranic literature the name gopika or gopi is referred to the cow herding girls famous within Vaishnava Theology for their unconditional devotion (bhakti) to Krishna.

The Vishnu Purana narrates Krishna`s story as a cowherd or Krishna Gopala. An important aspect of Lord Krishna`s childhood is his dance with the milkmaids or the cow herd girls (gopis) called the raslila, which eventually became the object of worship by many of the devotional sects .It illustrates that the intense love that gopis had for Krishna was a form of devotion to god and through this the devotee was performing Bhakti, a form of religious practice advocated in the Bhagvad Gita.

Srimati Radharani is a well-known Gopi and is held with high reverence and importance in a number of religious traditions, especially within Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The gopis are generally divided into three groups. Gopi friends who were of the same age as Krishna; maidservants; and gopi messengers. The first group, Krishna`s contemporary gopi friends, are the most exalted, the second group, the maidservants comes next to the gopi friends, and the gopi messengers come after them. The primary eight gopis are considered the foremost of Krishna`s devotees after Srimati Radharani. These gopis are Lalita Sakhi ,Visakha Sakhi ,Campakalata Sakhi ,Citra Sakhi ,Tungavidya Sakhi ,Indulekha Sakhi ,Rangadevi Sakhi Sudevi Sakhi .

Of the eight principal gopis, Lalita is the most important, being the leader and controller and at the same time being the constant companion of Srimati Radharani .Her complexion is like the yellow pigment gorocana and her garments are like peacock feathers. Lalita-devi is full of ecstatic love for the Divine Couple. She arranges their meetings and their conjugal struggles and she does this with the help of Purnamasi-devi and the other gopis. She carries the parasol for the Divine Couple, she decorates them with flowers, and she decorates the cottage where they rest at night and rise in the morning. The chief gopis in Lalita`s group are Ratnarekha (Ratnaprabha), Ratikala, Subhadra, Candrarekhika (Bhadrarekhika), Sumukhi, Dhanistha, Kalahamsi and Kalapini. Her mother is Saradi-devi and her father is Visoka. Her husband is named Bhairava who is a close friend of Govardhana-gopa.

Visaka is the second most of the eight gopis and was born at the exact same moment as her dear friend, Srimati Radharani, appeared in this world. Visakha`s garments are decorated with stars and her complexion is like lightning, being cream-colored with a tinge of red (gaurangi). Her father is Pavana and her mother is Dakshina Devi .Her husband is Bahulka (Vahika gopa). Visakha-devi is the intimate friend of the Divine couple and takes up the work of carrying messages between Radha and Krishna. Sri Visakha`s yutha the chief sakhis are Malati, Madhavi, Candrarekha, Subhanana, Kunjari, Harini, Surabhi and Capala.

Campaklata is the third of the gopis .The color of her complexion is that of a blossoming yellow champak hence the name Campaklata and her garments are the color of a blue jay. Her father is Arama, her mother is Vatika-devi and her husband is Candaksa. Campaklata handles the duties of collecting fruits, flowers and roots from the forest .At the same time she is also an expert cook especially various candy that she has become famous by the name Mistahasta (sweet hands) The chief gopis in Campakalata`s yutha are Kurangaksi, Suracita, Mandali, Manimandana, Candika, Candralatika, Kandukaksi and Sumandira.

Citra another gopi has beautiful saffron complexion and her garments are the color of crystal .Her father is Catura and mother is Carcika-devi her husband is Pithara. Citra-devi can read between the lines of books and letters written in many different languages, and sense the hidden intentions of the author. She is a skilled gourmet and can understand the tastes of various foods made with honey, milk, and other ingredients simply by glancing at them. She can nicely make various kinds of nectarine beverages. She is also well versed in the theoretical and practical activities of protecting domestic animals and an expert in gardening .The chief gopis in Sri Citra`s yutha are Rasalika, Tilakini, Saurasen, Sugandhika, Vamani, Vamanayana, Nagari and Nagavallika.

Tungavidya is the fifth of the varistha gopis. Her complexion is the color of kunkuma and the fragrance of her body is like sandalwood mixed with camphor. Her parents are Puskara and Medha-devi and her husband is Balisa. Some of the sakhis in Tungavidya`s yutha are Manjumedha, Sumadhura, Sumadhya, Madhureksana, Tanu madhya, Madhusyanda, Gunacuda and Varangada.She is an expert music teacher who plays the vina and sings in the style known as marga .The sakhis in Tungavidya`s yutha are the best dancers. These Gopis are especially engaged in fetching water from the streams in Vrndavana.

Indulekha is the sixth of the gopis. She has a lemon-yellow (tan) complexion and wears garments the color of a pomegranate flower. Her parents are Sagara and Vela-devi and her husband is Durbala. Indulekha-devi has a deep love for Sri Krishna and brings nectar like delicious meals for Him. She is expert at making wonderful necklaces, decorating the teeth with red substances, gemology and weaving various kinds of cloth. She carries the auspicious messages of the Divine couple and is aware of their confidential secrets. Some of her friends are engaged in providing ornaments for the Divine Couple, others provide exquisite garments, and others guard their treasury. In Sri Indulekha`s yutha the chief gopis are Tungabhadra, Citralekha, Surangi, Rangavatika, Mangala, Suvicitrangi, Modini and Madana.

Rangadevi is another Gopis whose complexion is the color of lotus filament and her garments are red like a jaba flower. Her parents are Karuna-devi and Rangasara, and her husband is Vakreksana. Her personal qualities are very similar to those of Campaklata. She is very fond of joking with her friend Srimati Radharani in the presence of Lord Krishna The chief gopis in Sri Rangadevi`s yutha are Kalakanthi, Sasikala, Kamala, Prema Manjari, Madhavi, Madhura, Kamalata and Kandarpa-sundari. Kalakanti-devi is the leader of the eight friends of Ranga-devi. These friends use perfumes and cosmetics burn aromatic incense, carry coal during the winter and fan the Divine Couple in the summer. Ranga-devi`s friends are also able to tame the lions, deer and other wild animals in the forest.

Sudevi is the eighth of the principal gopis and the sister of Rangadevi .Her husband is Vakreksana. Rangadevi and Sudevi have so similar qualities that they are often mistaken for one another .She has a similar complexion like that of Rangadevi .She is a dear friend of Srimati Radharani and arranges Her hair, massages Her body and decorates Her eyes with mascara. A expert at massaging the body with scented oils, she knows how to start fires and keep them burning and also knows which flower will bloom with the rising of the moon .The principal gopis in Sri Sudevi`s yutha are Kaveri, Carukavari, Sukesi, Manjukesika, Harahira, Harakanthi, Haravalli and Manohara. Sudevi`s friends are the deities of Vrndavana forest and they are charged with the protection of the forest birds and bees.

The spontaneous and unwavering devotion of the gopis is said to be the expression of the highest form of unconditional love to God Krishna.