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As the novel begins, the reader is introduced to Govinda as Siddhartha's best friend from childhood. Govina looks up to Siddhartha and sees him as someone who will achieve great spiritual accomplishments. Govinda "wanted to follow Siddhartha, the beloved, the magnificent. And if he ever became a god, if he ever entered the All-Radiant, then Govinda wanted to follow him as his friend, his companion, his servant, his lance barer, his shadow" (Hesse 2). Essentially, Govinda loved and aspired to be like Siddhartha, and he made every effort to be around him and to learn from him.

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Govina and Siddhartha share a similar thirst for spiritual knowledge, and they both make every effort to strive for enlightenment. Govina follows Siddhartha and becomes a Samana with him, which means that the two left society to become wandering ascetics. Together, Govina and Siddhartha's relationship grew deeper as the two each grew individually in spiritual knowledge. Their relationship transformed from a relationship of Govina's adoration for Siddhartha to a mutual respect and understanding of each other. As Govina grew in knowledge, he was able to offer teachings to Siddhartha, and the relationship became more mutually beneficial to both. Siddhartha began to rely on and look up to Govina just as much Govina did to him.

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How does the relationship between Govinda and Siddhartha change over the course of the novel? 

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How does the relationship between Govinda and Siddhartha change over the course of the novel? 

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By the end of the novel, Govina and Siddhartha find their way back to one another. Siddhartha lives a good life of riches for years with a wife while Govina stays with the Samanas trying to achieve enlightenment. After an unfulfilling few years, Siddhartha flees his life with his wife and seeks to return to his life as a wandering ascetic to fulfill his life long desire for enlightenment. As he is returning to this life, he meets up with his old friend Vasudeva, who lives on the river as a ferry boat driver. Vasudeva teaches Siddhartha that wisdom can not be taught and that enlightenment must come from within. Siddhartha eventually reaches enlightenment, and shortly after, reunites with Govina, who has been studying with the Samanas since Siddhartha left. This path of struggles for Siddhartha and the consistency of Govina play a role in their relationship because it shows that Siddhartha represents a more unconventional way of thinking where as Govina has always been a consistent friend and stable figure of faith in Siddhartha's life. This plays into the difference between Siddhartha and his enlightenment to becoming Buddha in contrast to the teachings of the Brahmins.

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The relationship between Govina and Siddhartha makes a full circle and reverts back to Govina's admiration for Siddhartha that was seen in the beginning of the novel. Although Govina has been committed to the quest for enlightenment longer than Siddhartha, Govina learns from all that Siddhartha has gone through and reverts to seeing Siddhartha as a spiritual guide again. Siddhartha teaches Govina that everyone reaches enlightenment differently, but people have to look into themselves to understand how their individual self can obtain enlightenment. Their relationship changes throughout the novel as Govina starts off as a character who is a consistent friend filled with admiration for Siddhartha and ready to learn from him. Throughout the novel, their relationship transforms from that of a teacher and student to one of piers working towards the same goal of enlightenment. Govina and Siddhartha learn to rely and learn from each other, until Siddhartha leaves and  brings about a dry period for their friendship. Govina switches roles and becomes more focused on enlightenment than Siddhartha for a few years. Hoever, by the end of the story, Siddhartha reverts to the role of teacher, and Govinda reverts to the roles of admiration of Siddhartha as a great spiritual leader. Essentially, their relationship makes a feel circle as they go through the ups and downs of friendship.

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As the two continue the life of the Samanas, Siddhartha discovers that the ascetic lifestyle of suffering and poverty is not bringing him any closer to enlightenment then he already is. He confides in Govinda saying, "I am willing to listen to these teachings—though in my heart I believe that we've already tasted the best fruit of these teachings" and tells him that he feels like he has already learned all that he can from the Samanas (Hesse 36). This is what initially ignites their separation and different views on their spirituality. Govinda feels that the Samana life is constantly teaching him new ways and bringing him closer to enlightenment. Siddhartha becomes interested in a women, and he chooses to leave the lifestyle because he does not see anymore growth in it. This becomes the first time that the two separate, and it is the first sign of Govina straying away from his constant awe of and need to follow Siddhartha. Govinda chooses to stay with the Samanas and pursue his own faith without Siddhartha, and the two life-long friends separate for the first time.