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----- bhagap310.html
heavenly mother of the cows, said: "Now that thou hast taken the
place of Indra, we shall call thee our Indra, or GOVINDA." Sri-
dara says, go means a cow, as well as Svarga. Govinda is one who
acquires supremacy over the cows or over Svarga. So the word
means Indra as well. But the peculiar significance of the word
Govinda has been elaborated in the Brahma Sanhita and other
works.
The plane of the first Purusha, which is the common plane of
innumerable solar systems, with their sevenfold planes, has two
broad aspects Vaikuntha and Goloka. Vaikuntha has reference to
the solar systems as a whole. The energies that guide the Brahm-
andas proceed from the plane of Vaikuntha. Both Siva and Vishnu
are aspects of the first Purusha, but not Brahma. Siva Loka or
Kailasa is therefore included in Vaikuntha. The plane of Brahma is
Satya Loka or Brahma Loka, the highest plane of the Brahmanda.
The worshippers of Brahma or Hiranya-garbha reach the plane of
Brahma Loka. There they remain till the Brahmanda becomes dis-
solved at the end of the life period of Brahman
Vaikuntha is the plane of Vishnu as the first Purusha. He
has four aspects on that plane Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna
and Aniruddha. His female aspect is Lakshmi. The worshippers of
Vishnu, Preserver of the Universe, reach this plane.
Goloka is a higher aspect of the plane of the first Purusha.
There Krishna is not the Lord of the Universe. He is the Lord of
only His followers those that give up everything for His sake. The
highest spiritual life is on this plane. In Vaikuntha there is the
majesty of power. In Goloka there is the sweetness of love. Love
is a surrender which we all owe to Krishna, who makes the greatest
sacrifices for us. Isvara gives us existence, consciousness and bliss,
so that we may develop new centres that approach the state
of Isvara, and when we do that we have no right to keep
them to ourselves, but should give them back to Him from whom
we owe them. Nothing can please the Lord so much as when we pay
this willing homage to Him. He has full control over the senses and
experiences of the Gopas and Gopis that dwell in Goloka. He can
turn them to any use He likes. They are His own property, and the
dwellers of Goloka form His own household. He is one with them
as they are with Him. The highest spiritual life is in Goloka. Every
kalpa adds to the number of the devoted band.
Vaikuntha is represented in the Dvaraka Lila. The acts of
Sri Krishna that constitute the Vrindavana Lila are constant (nitya).
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