A History of the Mahrattas v1.c7.86

v1.c7.86

⁴ [The word Gosāin (Gosaeen) is a corruption of Goswāmī (Sanskrit), ‘master or possessor of cows,’ and denotes generally one who professes a religious life. It is applied in a special sense to the members of certain brotherhoods, both Shaiva and Vaishnava. The principal Vaishnava Gosāins reside at Gokul in the Mathurā District. Bairāgī (Byragee) or Vairāgī signifies ‘free from passion’ (Barth, Religions of India, pp. 213, 232). Russell gives an alternative translation of go-swami as ‘master of the senses’ (T. and C.C.P., iii, 150). See footnote on page 169, vol. i, and page 189, vol. ii, post.]