Goswami

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Goswami (Devanagari गोस्वामी goswāmī IAST) (pronounced IPA: /ɡɔʃʍæːɱɨ/)) is a typically a title bestowed on people who choose the path of Sannyasa. The sanyasins or disciples of Adi Shankaracharya are also called "Dash Nam" as the Title Goswami is further divided into ten groups viz. Giri, Puri, Bharti, Ban, Aranya, Sagar, Math, Tirth, Yogi and Parwat. These all dashnam Goswamis are associated with four Math in four corners of India, established by Adi Shankaracharya. Initially all the disciples were Sanyasins who embraced sanyas either after marriage or without getting married. Since, sanyasins are considered as Brahmin therefore during the course of time, those who embraced married life on the order of their guru and their decedents are considered Brahmins with the surname Goswami. Being a Goswami Sanyasin includes a vow of celibacy. Some religious traditions use the title Swami for those who had never married, and Goswami for those who had been married in that life and vow not to marry again. This is also the source of the surname Gosain.

Goswami can also refer to an individual from the Brahmin caste of the Hindu religion.

[edit] See also

One of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan
Other uses in religion
Other uses

Goswami are vamsa of Ganesha putra (Siva purana.)

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