Goswami
गोस्वामी
গোস্বামী

Adi Shankara Mamoni Raisom Goswami Swami Dayananda Saraswati Arnab Goswami Jhulan Goswami
Languages
Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, English, Kannada, Tulu and Pahari used for general purposes, Sanskrit used for religious purposes
Religion
Hinduism Divisions based on Veda Rigvedi Divisions based on sect Shaivaites Vashnaivites
Related ethnic groups
Assamese Brahmins, Indo-Aryans, Arya, Nepali people

Goswami (Sanskrit: गोस्वामी gōsvāmī "Master of the Five Senses" or "Master of the Senses", Assamese: গোস্বামী goswami), is the name of a Brahmin caste predominantly found in Assam.^[1]

Etymology [edit]

Gōsvāmī is a honorific used for renunciates in the religious traditions of India. This use of the word is predominantly found in its Standard Hindi form, gossain. Those who can use the title "goswami" are usually those who have taken the sannyasa vows.^{[citation needed]}

History [edit]

The exact origin of the Goswami Brahmins is difficult to ascertain. They are mentioned in the Vedas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata and even the Bhavisyottara Purana by different names and titles.^{[citation needed]} Most Goswami Brahmins are ethnically Indo-Aryan.^{[citation needed]}

Widespread Buddhism saw a decline in the number of Hindu monks in India. With the decline of Buddhism, there was no organised structure that could provide an impetus for the resurgence of the Vedic dharma. One of the major achievements of Adi Shankara was to organize a section of the Ekadandi monks under an umbrella grouping of ten names, to provide an organized base for the growth of Hinduism. Several other Hindu monastic and Ekadandi traditions remained outside the organization of the Dasanamis.^[2]

Notable Goswamis [edit]

• Arnab Goswami, Assamese/Indian television journalist
• Bindiya Goswami, actress
• Debabrata Goswami, scientist
• Gautam Goswami, civil servant
• Hemant Goswami, Social activist
• Rama Tirtha, Saint and Hindu philosopher
• Chuni Goswami, a footballer from Calcutta.
• Jhulan Goswami, ICC Women's Player of the Year 2007
• Joy Goswami, a Bengali poet
• Indira Raisom Goswami, Jnanapeetha award winner
• Manoj Kumar, Bollywood actor
• Rajiv Goswami, student leader
• Udita Goswami, Bollywood actress
• Shahana Goswami, entertainment industry worker
• Bhairavi Goswami, model
• Ramakant Goswami, Politician (Congress Party)
• Moloya Goswami, National Film Award winner

See also [edit]

• Dashanami Sampradaya
• Six Goswamis of Vrindavana

References [edit]

v t e Assam topics Capital: Dispur Topics Etymology Assam Valley Biodiversity Cuisine Culture Economy Education List of educational institutions in Assam History Physical Geography Politics Tourism Assam Tea Assam Silk Assam Rifles Districts Baksa Barpeta Bongaigaon Cachar Chirang Darrang Dhubri Dibrugarh Dima Hasao Dhemaji Golaghat Goalpara Hailakandi Jorhat Karbi Anglong Kokrajhar Kamrup Kamrup Metro Karimganj Lakhimpur Marigaon Nagaon Nalbari Sibsagar Sonitpur Tinsukia Udalguri Geography Upper Assam Western Assam The Brahmaputra Majuli Mora Dhansiri River Dhansiri Dihing Diphlu Halflong (The Hill station of Assam) Culture Assamese Assamese Script Assamese Jalpan Traditional crafts of Assam Bihu Folk dances of Assam Bagurumba Bihu Dance Ekasarana Dharma Borgeet Sattra Sattriya Dance Saraai Gamosa Textiles and dresses of Assam Arts, Literature, Music Cinema Assamese literature Assamese poetry List of Assamese Poets List of Assamese writers Pen Names List of Assamese Periodicals The Hemkosh Assam Rhetorical Congress Buranji Kirtan Ghosa Dasham Namghosa Kotha Ramayana Jonaki Music of Assam Goalpariya Lokageet Tokari Geet Dihanaam Hiranaam Dhol Gogona Pepa Cinema of Assam Joymati, first Assamese motion picture People History Assamese people Ahom Kalitas Assamese Brahmins Kamrupi Brahmins List of people from Assam Notable surnames Barua (and its variations) Bora Chakraborty Choudhury (and its variations) Das Deka Dutta Goswami Hazarika Saikia Sarma Sutradhar Urban centres Barpeta Bongaigaon Dhubri Dibrugarh Diphu Goalpara Golaghat Guwahati Jorhat Karimganj Nagaon North Lakhimpur Sibsagar Silchar Tezpur Tinsukia Fairs and Festivals Hindu Temples History