In the Yogapīṭha, Kṣetrapāla Śiva, the protector of the dhāma, is eternally worshipped. He is also known as Śrī Gopīśvara, and he bestows service to the dhāma.
Pure devotees who perform their worship in accordance with the followers of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī (the śrī-rūpānugas) honour Kṣetrapāla Śiva as Gopīśvara Śiva, and pray to him for eternal service to Śrī Gaura that is devoid of material attrib utes. Śrī Gaura is the embodiment of rasarāja-mahābhāva, the com bined form of Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. Gopīśvara Śiva’s praṇāma-mantra (from Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s Śrī Saṅkalpa kalpadruma, text 103) is:
vṛdāvanāvani-pate! jaya soma! soma-maule!
sanaka-sanandana-sanātana-nāradeḍya
gopīśvara! vraja-vilāsi-yugāṅghri-padme
prema prayaccha nirūpādhi namo namas te
O gatekeeper of Vṛndāvana! O Soma, all glories to you! O you whose forehead is decorated with the moon, and who is worshipful for the sages headed by Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanātana and Nārada! O Gopīśvara! Desiring that you bestow upon me prema for the lotus feet of Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava, who perform joyous pastimes in Vraja-dhāma, I offer obeisances unto you time and again.
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