Re. GosvAmi

[Jan Brzezinski]

Goswami was used in Bengal as a general title of
respect, originally for the wealthy (where "go" means
land, rather than cattle, but where both are
indicative of material, rather than spiritual riches).


> From there it came to be applied to spiritual leaders.
To look for Tamil roots for this usage would likely be
futile. Certainly the interpretation "go" = senses,
svami = master, therefore Goswami = "one who has
mastered the senses" seems to be a very much latter
day interpretation. It is certainly not found in the
first couple of generations of Gaudiya literature.

Jan Brzezinski

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