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[[File:BalGopal00.jpg|thumb|The infant version of Shri Krishna Bala Gopala.]]
'''Gopal''' ({{lang-sa|गोपाल}} ''Gopāla'', literally "cow protector" but sometimes also, "protector of the world" "Go"-world, "pāla"-protector, again in very seldom cases, "FavouritesFavourite of God" where "Go"-Universal Gods and Goddesses or Universal Mother, "pāla"-affectional adjective, or in a more primitive, direct sense, according to atheist ideas, "One who protects anyone in the ongoing journey of completing the great circle" "Go"-round, "pāla"-protector, See Samkhya Upanishad. But the basic meaning will be "cow protector") is the infant/child form(name) of Lord [[Krishna]], the Cowherd Boy who enchanted the Cowherd Maidens (Gopinis) with the divine sound of his flute, attracting even [[Kāmadeva]] (the Hindu god of love and passion). Historically one of the earliest forms of worship in [[Krishnaism]] or [[Vaishnava dharma]], it is believed to be a key element of the early history of the worship of Krishna. This tradition is considered separately to other traditions that led to amalgamation at a later stage of historical development. Other traditions are [[Bhagavatism]] and the [[Cult of Bala Krishna]], that along with the [[Cult of Krishna-Vasudeva]] form the basis of the current tradition of the monotheistic religion of Krishna.<ref name = kk20072>{{cite book
| author = KLOSTERMAIER, Klaus K.
| authorlink = Klaus Klostermaier
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