Etymology
Goloka means the world of cows. The Sankrit word 'go' can refer to either cows or star, and loka is translated as world or planet.
In the Vedas, Upanisads and the 18 Maha-Puranas there is no direct mention of the words "Goloka Vrindavan". This strongly argues against the authenticity of the claims that Goloka is the supreme abode as per Vedic shastras (scriptures). However, many sects within Hinduism still propagate the ideology that Goloka is the highest abode, the most vocal of which is the gaudiya vaishnava sampradaya, who believe that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the most recent incarnation of Lord Krishna and the yuga avatara, or descended incarnation for this age, is a hidden incarnation. He is mentioned only slightly in the Vedic literature, and according to the Srimad Bhagavatam when the soul goes to Goloka through the mercy of Sri Caitanya the soul also has an eternal relationship with Lord Caitanya as well as Lord Krishna. This is inconceivable to the conditioned soul.
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