Nandagopa
| Nandagopa | |
|---|---|
Nanda (right) watches Krishna being pushed on a swing. | |
| Texts | Bhagavata Purana, Harivamsa, Vishnu Purana, Mahabharata |
| Region | Gokulam |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents |
|
| Spouse | Yashoda |
| Children | Krishna, Balarama (foster-children) Yogamaya (biological daughter) |
Nanda or Nandagopa (Sanskrit: नन्द, IAST: Nanda) is a cow-herd chief in Hindu mythology, who is the foster-father of Krishna. He is featured in the Hindu texts Harivaṃśa and the Puranas. Nanda is the son of Parjanya, a ruler of the Braj region, who is a son of Devamidha. According to sources He was Cowherd and the chief of Gokulam which was one of the powerful mandals of the Yadavas.
According to sources Vasudeva and Nanda were Brothers, while there are also sources which state the two being step-brothers and good friends. Vasudeva takes his newborn son, Krishna, to Nanda on the night of the child's birth, so that Nanda could raise him and to protect new born Krishna from his maternal uncle Kamsa. The chief, who is married to Yashoda, brings up both Krishna, and his brother, Balarama. Krishna derives his epithet Nandanandana (son of Nanda) from him.