[1] The more well-known Gopalas (for example, Abhirāma, Gaurīdāsa, Kamalākara Piplā, Puruṣottama-dāsa and Uddhāraṇa Datta) established "autonomous centres of power" known as sripats.
[2] The Gopalas were the "first organization [sic] within Gaudiya Vaisnavism and appointed directly by Sri Caitanya to propagate nama-dharma [the theology of the name of God (Krishna)].
"[3] They had the right to preach Chaitanya Vaishnava doctrine within their own areas and collect donations for their sripats, which they gradually developed into centres of Vaishnavism or even holy places.
[2] Like Nityananda, the 16th-century Gopalas were associated with figures from Krishna's lila, his playful pastimes in "mythical Vrindavan"[2] – specifically the group of cowherds (gopālas) who "previously had been attracted to the activities of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma".
[5] In "their personal piety" and devotion, the Gopalas are said to manifested behaviour "typical of Krishna and Balarama's male cowherd friends" in the Vrindavan lila.