Govinda
Gopala Krishna of Krishnaism is often contrasted with Vedism when Krishna asks his followers to desist from Vedic gods worship such as Indra worship. Thus the character of Gopala Krishna is often considered to be non-Vedic in one interpretation, while it can also be based on the popular understanding or rather misunderstanding of the Rig Vedic texts. According to Klaus Klostermaier, "Kumar Gopijanavallabha" – Krishna the lover of the Gopis – is the latest stage in the historical process resulting in contemporary Krishnaism, being added to the worship of Bala Krishna (the Divine Child Krishna), and the original cult of  Krishna-Vasudeva which may date back to several centuries before the Common Era. Etymology. In the word "Govinda", "Govu" means Indriyas. Govinda means the all pervading omnipresent ruler of the sense organs or Indriyas. "Govu" also means 'Vedas', Hence Govinda is the supreme being who can be known through the Vedas. Govinda can also be translated as "protector of cows". Interpretations. "Govinda" is a name of Krishna and also appears as the 187th and 539th name of Vishnu in the Vishnu Sahasranama, the 1000 names of Vishnu. According to Adi Sankara's commentary on the Vishnu Sahasranama, translated by Swami  Tapasyananda, Govinda has four meanings: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, in his commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita, states that Govinda means "master of the senses". In the Mahabharata, when Draupadi's saree was stripped by Dushasana in the court of Hastinapura, it is said that Draupadi prayed towards Lord Krishna (who was in Dwaraka at that time) invoking him as "Govinda" at the instance of extreme distress where she could no longer hold her saree to her chest. For this reason, it is believed that "Govinda" is how the Lord is addressed by devotees when they have lost it all and have  nothing more to lose. This may be the reason why in colloquial Tamil and Telugu the slang-term "govinda" sometimes refers to the prospect of losing or failing in something important. Prayers. A Hindu devotional composition called Moha Mudgara composed by Adi Sankara, a summary of which is "If one just worships Govinda, one can easily cross this great ocean of birth and death." This refers to the belief that worshipful adoration of Vishnu or Krishna can lead believers out of the cycle of reincarnation ("samsara") and lead them into an eternal blissful life in Vaikuntha, 'the supreme abode situated  beyond this material world' where Govinda (Vishnu) resides. Adi Sankara's Moha Mudgara composition expresses the value of inner devotion to Vishnu.