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    Gīta Govinda: January 2018

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    This document provides an overview of the Gita Govinda, a 12th century poetic text written by Jayadeva. It explores the relationship between Krishna and Radha through erotic themes representing a spiritual journey. While some see it as profane, most critics recognize its central religious importance in depicting the soul's union with the divine through human experiences of love, passion, separation and reunion. The text uses rich Sanskrit poetry to represent the changing moods and reconciliation of the divine lovers in their spiritual connection.

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    Gīta Govinda: January 2018

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    bajpaiankur1
    60 views3 pages
    This document provides an overview of the Gita Govinda, a 12th century poetic text written by Jayadeva. It explores the relationship between Krishna and Radha through erotic themes representing a spiritual journey. While some see it as profane, most critics recognize its central religious importance in depicting the soul's union with the divine through human experiences of love, passion, separation and reunion. The text uses rich Sanskrit poetry to represent the changing moods and reconciliation of the divine lovers in their spiritual connection.

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    GitaGovida

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    This document provides an overview of the Gita Govinda, a 12th century poetic text written by Jayadeva. It explores the relationship between Krishna and Radha through erotic themes representing a spiritual journey. While some see it as profane, most critics recognize its central religious importance in depicting the soul's union with the divine through human experiences of love, passion, separation and reunion. The text uses rich Sanskrit poetry to represent the changing moods and reconciliation of the divine lovers in their spiritual connection.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    60 views3 pages

    Gīta Govinda: January 2018

    Uploaded by

    bajpaiankur1
    This document provides an overview of the Gita Govinda, a 12th century poetic text written by Jayadeva. It explores the relationship between Krishna and Radha through erotic themes representing a spiritual journey. While some see it as profane, most critics recognize its central religious importance in depicting the soul's union with the divine through human experiences of love, passion, separation and reunion. The text uses rich Sanskrit poetry to represent the changing moods and reconciliation of the divine lovers in their spiritual connection.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
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    Gīta Govinda

    Chapter · January 2018


    DOI: 10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_556-1

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    Amitabhvikram Dwivedi
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    G

    Gīta Govinda Jayadeva

    Amitabh Vikram Dwivedi Jayadeva was born in ancient village of


    College of Humanities & Social Sciences – Kendubilva, the present-day Kenduli in West
    Languages & Literature, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bengal. He was a bard at Lakshmana-Sena, the
    University, Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, India last Hindu king of Bengal, who bestowed upon
    him the title of Kaviraj “the king of poets.” He
    was the pioneer Vaishnava poet who sang the
    Introduction sweet immortal songs in glory of Radha Krishna.
    The oral narratives inform us that Jayadeva was a
    The Gita Govinda, also known as Love Song of loving husband, very fond of his dancer wife,
    the Dark Lord in English, is written by Jayadeva. namely, Padmavati. In Gitagovinda, we find
    On the surface level, this twelfth-century text both explicit and implicit references to Jayadeva’s
    looks like a regular love songs sung by a lover adoration for his wife, and in one such reference,
    (Krishna) for his beloved (Radha), but an in depth he describes himself as Padmavati-charana
    reading will tell us that it comprises profound charana-chakravarti, meaning “a truly sovereign
    allegories of travel of the soul back to God [3]. to cause the feet of Padmavati to move in dance.”
    This mystic text falls under the bhakti tradition, Besides this conjugal bliss, it is also believed that
    and it deals with the connection of human with the Jayadeva was an inspired poetical genius who had
    divine love, separation and union, self-surrender, a blessing of Lord Krishna. The poet’s life and his
    holy inebriation, and many other contrapuntal love and his religious devotion can be seen to be
    themes, concerning the unknown alchemy of the complementary and closely interconnected with
    soul. Actually, Gita Govinda presents a spiritual his artistic genius. Actually, Jayadeva, as a poet,
    quest; this quest refers to a process of metamor- has a historical significance, because he stands at a
    phosis of the lover (also writer/reader who expe- confluence of two epochs: he is last of the ancient
    riences it), from the human and materialistic poets and the first of the medievals [1].
    modes of existence to the divine and spiritual
    modes [2]. So there is union, separation, and
    reunion till the human being reaches the ultimate Gita Govinda: Its Subject Matter
    spiritual destination: from love and suffering to
    the transcendental stage of experience. The Gita Govinda depicts Lord Krishna’s court-
    ship of the gopi “cowherdess” Radha in a cycle of
    Sanskrit songs. Insincere reading might suggest
    # Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2018
    P. Jain et al. (eds.), Hinduism and Tribal Religions, Encyclopedia of Indian Religions,
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_556-1
    2 Gīta Govinda

    that Gita Govinda is an adulteration of divine with dedications to Lord Krishna. The poem helps the
    the profane, eternal with the ephemeral, and pas- devotees to move from the physical and to reach
    sion with bodily possession. Though this popular to the mystical: the devotees cultivate mental dis-
    and influential poem with its frank and tender crimination and physical relish; two opposite
    lyricism explores many carnal themes, such as traits fill the readers with the sweetness of
    sexual passion, fierce regrets and jealousies, and experiences.
    satisfaction through bodily means, on the whole, it Following the poetic tradition of Sanskrit
    celebrates the majestic nature’s regeneration poetry, Gita Govinda is sonorous, repetitive, orna-
    through the sexual union, the deep mystery of mental, and ambiguous. Linguistically speaking,
    erotic experience, and the interplay of human syllables are long and vowels elongate [4]. Gen-
    and divine. erally, more than one consonant precedes vowels.
    The heroine of Gita Govinda, Radha, is a Aspiration is rampant, and aspirated consonants
    proud possessor of physical attributes like heavy are pronounced as the breathy one. Long vowels
    breasts and hips which are considered to be a are chiefly stressed. Notably, in Gita Govinda, we
    hallmark of beauty in the classical Sanskrit poetry. will not find a single line that indicates poet’s
    Radha longs for Krishna, and the adjectives, jeal- desire to be one with Krishna as Radha has;
    ous, sulking, playful, tempestuous, and despairing Jayadeva simply sings in praise of Krishna. Also
    inform us about her psyche. On the other hand, many orthodox pundits reject the religious status
    Krishna is the eternal male, charming and uncom- of the text. However, majority of critics affirms
    mitted, and he is desirous by all women. Radha the central position of the text within the Hindu
    completely submits herself to Krishna but feels religious tradition and recognizes Jayadeva as a
    derelict when Krishna returns to other women. mystical poet of the Medieval India.
    There are ten long sections of the poem that sep-
    arates Radha’s initial submission to her final rec-
    onciliation with her lover Krishna. Jayadeva, like
    References
    a love guru, explores and analyzes the changing
    moods of attraction and the lovers; Krishna and 1. Arnold E, Jayadeve (1890) Poems: containing the light
    Radha become his mouthpiece, and they declaim, of Asia; pearls of the faith, or Islam’s rosary; and the
    despair, and appear to say few words. Indian song of songs. To which is added Indian poetry:
    Krishna makes Radha jealous; Radha sulks and from the Sanskrit of the Gita Govinda of Jayadeva; two
    books from “the Iliad of India” (Mahabharata); “pro-
    despairs. Krishna pines for Radha, and Radha verbial wisdom” from the Shlokas of the Hitopadesa,
    finds bliss in his company. Krishna commiserates and other oriental poems. Hurst, New York
    with Radha’s distress and waits for her, whereas 2. Chandra M, Jayadeva (1980) Gīta Govinda. Published
    Radha flies into tempers and rails at Krishna. by R.L. Bartholomew for Lalit Kalā Akademi, New
    Delhi
    Krishna importunes and praises Radha; he enjoys 3. Greenberg YK (2008) Encyclopedia of love in world
    and assures her of his love; Radha consents and religions. ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara
    finds contentment in Krishna. These carnal plea- 4. Jayadeva, Vācutēvacāstiri K (1989) Gita Govinda with
    sures are the focus of the entire poem [5]. Further Abhinaya. Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji’s Sarasvati
    Mahal Library Society, Thanjavur
    research can be conducted how and when such 5. Tripathy AK, Tripathy PC, Jayadeva (2006) The Gita
    erotic sentiments came into prominence became a Govinda of Sri Jayadev. Publication Division, Ministry
    part of religious sect in India. Jayadeva, in fact, of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India, New
    invented the aesthetic experience of desire and Delhi
    love; however, the song generally ends with

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