# Woman/Women Devotee(s) *Female saints and devotees in Vedic literature* ## The Gopis of Vrindavan ### Radharani - [[index/entries/radharani|Radharani]] - Supreme female devotee - Greatest example of conjugal devotion - Heart of Krishna's pastimes - Personification of Krishna's internal potency ### Eight Principal Gopis (Ashta-sakhis) - Lalita, Vishakha, Chitra, and others - Most intimate companions of Radha - Exemplars of devotional service ### Other Gopis - Hundreds of cowherd girls - Varying degrees of closeness to Krishna - Example of group devotion ## Queens and Princesses ### Devaki - [[index/entries/devaki|Devaki]] - Mother of Krishna - Suffered imprisonment for Krishna's sake - Pure maternal devotion - Protected the divine child ### Draupadi - [[index/entries/draupadi|Draupadi]] - Common wife of Pandavas - Dignity in trials - Surrender to Krishna - Exemplar of fortitude ### Kunti - Mother of the Pandavas - Composed prayers of praise - Spiritual guide to her sons - Prayer-oriented devotion ### Sita - Wife of Rama - Perfect chastity - Devoted to dharma and husband - Model of feminine virtue ### Himavati - Wife of King Himavat - Spiritual companion ## Saintly Women ### Women Mystics - Holy women who renounced family - Devoted to meditation and service - Teachers of spiritual wisdom ### Mothers of Great Devotees - Devahuti - Mother of Kapila - And other maternal figures ### Female Acharyas - Teachers and spiritual guides - Andal among the Alvars - Other female spiritual leaders ## Characteristics of Women Devotees - Surrender and service orientation - Emotional depth of devotion - Courage in adversity - Family-centered dharma - Pure love as motivation - Various rasas (emotional relationships) ## Types of Women's Devotion ### Maternal (Vatsalya-rasa) - Yasoda, Devaki, Kunti - Protective and nurturing ### Conjugal (Madhurya-rasa) - Radharani and gopis - Intimate and highest rasa ### Marital (Stri-dhana-bhakti) - Queens devoted to husbands and Krishna - Balance of duties ### Service (Dasya-rasa) - Women devoted to Krishna's service - Temple attendants and helpers ## Related Topics - [[index/personalities/gopis|Gopis]] - Cowherd girl devotees - [[index/personalities/royal-devotees|Royal Devotees]] - Queens and princesses - [[index/personalities/devotees|Devotees]] - All categories of devotees - [[index/personalities/acaryas|Acaryas]] - Female teachers --- *This index is under development. Additional entries from Śrīla Prabhupāda's books, lectures, conversations and letters will be added as the indexing work progresses.*