Gita Govinda
Also called: Gitagovindam · Topic: Bhakti and Sufi Traditions · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 4 "Turning Tides: The 11th and 12th Centuries"
Meaning
The Gita Govinda is a Sanskrit poem written by Jayadeva in the 12th century in eastern India. It is made of songs about the love between Krishna and Radha: how they part, long for each other and meet again. The poets of the time read this human love as a picture of the soul's love for God. The poem shaped Krishna bhakti and also inspired music, dance and painting for centuries.
Example
The songs of the Gita Govinda are sung as part of temple ritual in the Jagannatha temple at Puri (Odisha). They are also a key part of the Odissi dance tradition.
Don't confuse with
- Bhagavata Purana: a much larger Sanskrit text about Vishnu and his avatars, especially Krishna. It took in ideas from the Tamil Alvar saints. The Gita Govinda is a short, lyrical poem by one known poet, focused on Radha and Krishna.