Respect across traditions
We describe differences without ranking communities or presenting one lineage as the universal voice of Krishna devotion.
HOW GOKULAS EARNS TRUST
Respectful in spirit.
Rigorous in practice.
Our standards for sources, temple verification, differing traditions, corrections and commercial independence.
Source-guidedTradition-awareOpen to correction
OUR EDITORIAL PROMISE
Devotion deserves care. Visitors deserve clarity.
Gokulas brings sacred narratives, living traditions and practical travel information into one place. Those materials require different kinds of evidence—and different kinds of humility.
We aim to explain what a tradition teaches without pretending that interpretation is neutral, and to verify operational details without treating an official webpage as permanently current. When sources disagree, we say so.
SIX WORKING PRINCIPLES
What guides every page and listing.
Sources before certainty
Claims are stated as firmly as the evidence permits. Tradition, history, interpretation and current operational facts are labeled distinctly.
Useful over exhaustive
A clear, accurate starting point is better than an impressive page that obscures uncertainty or overwhelms a new reader.
Living information
Temple schedules, contact details and visitor policies can change. Every directory record is treated as maintainable, not permanently settled.
Independent judgment
Donations, partnerships, affiliate relationships and sponsored placements do not determine editorial conclusions or verification status.
Corrections are part of trust
Substantive errors are corrected openly and quickly. We do not quietly preserve a claim merely because it has already been published.
SOURCE HIERARCHY
Start as close to the claim as possible.
“Official” does not always mean independent, while “independent” does not always mean informed. We choose sources according to the question being answered.
Primary sources
Scripture, official temple and organization websites, government records, institutional publications and direct authorized statements.
Scholarly sources
Critical editions, peer-reviewed research, university publications and recognized reference works used for historical and interpretive context.
Responsible reporting
Established news and specialist publications used for recent developments, controversies or independent corroboration.
Community knowledge
Local testimony, oral history and practitioner accounts used with attribution—not as silent substitutes for verifiable facts.
TEMPLE DIRECTORY STANDARD
How a listing becomes verified.
A Gokulas “verified” label means the institution’s core identity and official destination were checked—not that every program, schedule or visitor detail is guaranteed.
- 1
Identify
Confirm the temple or organization’s name, location and tradition.
- 2
Match
Locate an official or clearly authorized source controlled by the institution.
- 3
Cross-check
Compare important travel details with another credible source where practical.
- 4
Date
Record when the information was last reviewed.
- 5
Publish
Link the source and avoid copying uncertain schedules into permanent prose.
- 6
Maintain
Review changes, correction requests and inactive links.
Before you travel
Confirm darshan hours, dress requirements, festival access, bookings and accessibility directly with the temple. High-demand events and local observances may change normal arrangements.
WORDS HAVE JOBS
How we label different kinds of information.
A theological or devotional claim presented within its lineage or textual context.
A claim supported by historical, institutional or scholarly evidence, with uncertainty noted where relevant.
A current statistic or impact claim supplied by the organization itself and identified as such.
Our own plain-language synthesis, comparison or editorial framing.
COMMERCIAL INDEPENDENCE
Revenue must not purchase trust.
Gokulas may eventually earn revenue through clearly labeled sponsorships, premium listing tools, pilgrimage services, memberships, donations or affiliate links. Commercial support will be separated from editorial judgment.
- Payment cannot buy a “verified” label.
- Sponsored placement must be visibly labeled.
- Affiliate links must be disclosed near the recommendation.
- Partners cannot preview or approve independent editorial conclusions.
- Free core knowledge remains accessible without requiring a purchase.
CORRECTIONS & CONTRIBUTIONS
Help us make the guide better.
Temple representatives, scholars, practitioners and visitors may submit corrections or additional context. Please include the page, the exact claim, your proposed correction and a supporting source. Material corrections should include a visible review date or correction note.