Gopalas

The Gopalas, or Twelve Gopalas (IAST: dvādaśa-gopāla, lit. 'twelve cowherds'), were a group of 16th-century Indian missionaries who are credited with spreading Gaudiya Vaishnavism throughout Bengal. They were major disciples of the Gaudiya-Vaishnava saint Nityananda (c. 1474–c. 1540), who is considered to be an incarnation of Krishna's brother, Balarama.