Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c6.s3.15

c6.s3.15

¹ The origin of the term 'Gosvāmin' is obscure and uncertain. It is employed in Middle Bengali (Ghanarāma and Kavikaṅkan) in the general sense of 'lord' or 'master', as well as in the sense of 'religious mendicant or teacher.' Literally, it means 'lord of cows': it is used as an honorific title by the Caitanya sect to signify an authoritative religious teacher or guide. The term may have originated or at least obtained currency from the peculiar theory of Caitanyaism that the only and original form, dress and occupation of Kṛṣṇa as the supreme being is that of a Gopa; his faithful devotee is necessarily a 'cow-lord'.