Postage Stamps on Jayadev and Geeta Govinda's Dasavatar Nrusingha Dash

Orissa Review Postage Stamps on Jayadev and Geeta Govinda's Dasavatar Nrusingha Dash The celebrated saint poet Jayadeva as a have danced to the tune of the Geeta Govinda devotee of Madhaba, Krishna and Jagannath in all classical dances of India like Odissi, developed the Indian classical Sanskrit Manipuri and Bharatnatyam and in Palas and literature by his immortal and noted writing of Kirtans. The Geeta Govinda surpasses almost Geeta Govinda Kavya (piece of art), which is all preceding works of Sanskirt literature in the divinely decorated. Most probably the Kavya composite appeal of its music, poetry and was composed in the first half of the twelfth mystical content. It has enormously charmed, century. The Geeta enraptured, feasted Govinda created and charged the mind sensational impact in and the soul of the minds of the then people of India since people throughout 12th century A.D. India and also The great Geeta abroad all through Govinda has been the ages. sung, danced and Geeta enacted at Puri Govinda by saint Jagannath temple poet Jayadeva is a and in several other unique work in Indian temples throughout clasical Sanskrit India. literature and has Geetinatya or been a great source song drama is the of literary and artistic earliest type of inspiration for the last nine centuries. Composed traditional Sanskrit drama in India. Geeta in Sanskrit in the 12th century A.D. it has been Govinda marked the transition stage between translated into most of the modern Indian pure lyric and pure drama. It has the unique languages and many foreign languages like advantage of a poem, which could be enjoyed English, French and German as well people simply by having it recited or sung and could have enjoyed singing its melodious lyrics and also be adopted in dance form and dramatic 54 June - 2011 Orissa Review presentation. It has influenced the art, music, There was a debate and dispute on the dance and literature of India to such an extent birth place of this great poet, who wrote Geeta that it is almost impossible to find school of Govinda some time in twelfth century. The thought in India in the fields of literature, difference of opinion is now settled and the birth philosophy, visual and performing arts without place of Sri Jayadeva is established. the magic touch of Geeta Govinda. The Geeta Unquestionably, this great man was born in the Govinda painted on paper, palm leaf, village Kendubilwa / Kenduvilva or popularly Pattachitra and textile designs are available in known as Kenduli Sasan in Balipatana Block abundance in many parts of India. The pictorial of Khurda district. It is a Brahmin dominated traditions of Geeta Govinda extend from east village located near Prachi river. to west, touching Orissa, Bihar, Bengal, Sri Jayadeva had spent most of his life Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Rajasthan, at 'Srikshetra' or 'Jagannath Dham', the abode Gujurat and even in Nepal. Geeta Govinda of Lord Jagannath. At that time, enchanting singing has a very long tradition in Andhra Padmabati (daughter of a Brahmin named Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Keral and Debasharma from Southern India) was the Manipur. 'Devadasi' or 'Mahari' i.e. the temple dancer Jayadev, the author was not only a great at Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri. 'Devadasi' or 'Mahari' is the woman who is dedicated and singer and a poet but above all a great saint devoted to the deity in the temple for whose devotion for Radha and Krishna and performance of dance and music. The Jagannath left an indelible lustre on the canvas celebrated poet was captivated by this charming of time. His influence on the Vaishnav Bhakti lady artist. He married her and spent his life at cult has been one of the most profound. the feet of Jagannath Mahapravu. It is believed Vaishnavism, which spread the message of that, Jayadeva has institutionalised the social harmony and united people all over India 'Devadasi' tradition in Sri Jagannath Temple, cutting across narrow class, language and caste Puri though this tradition was introduced much boundaries, took Geeta Govinda as one of its earlier from the time of Somavamsi kings. The major inspirations and instruments. The Bhakti great Geeta Govinda is not only sung in the cults of Radha, Madhav and Dasavatar temple of Jagannath Mahapravu but also gradually implanted and entrenched in the devotedly read by the rural folk in the villages Indian soil. throughout Orissa. Jayadeva was born on Akshaya Trutiya The 'Geeta Govinda' (a lyrical poetry) i.e. on the third day of bright fortnight in the aquires a distinctive and exceptional place in Hindu month Baishakha (April-May) at village the list of the celebrated religious scriptures on Kenduvilwa situated on the bank of river this earth. It consists of twelve chapters or 'Prachi'. This area in Toshali was part of Utkal, cantos. Each chapter is further sub-divided into famous from ancient times. Every year people twentyfour divisions called Prabandhas and of Orissa remember this great soul and each Prabandha contains couplets grouped into commemorate his birth day on this day with eights. So it is called 'Astapadi'. As a lyrical much display and pomp. poem, it depicts the love story of Radha and June - 2011 55 Orissa Review Krishna. It is a devotional romantic poetry. It occasions like 'Chandan Jatra', 'Rukmini was composed mainly for dance performance Bibaha', 'Niladree Bije', 'Solaha Puja' of Bimala during the night ritual of Lord Jagannath. The and during the period of Baladhupa in the month Geeta Govinda was composed so beautifully of Kartika. that it was easily fitted to the foot movements The first chapter of the Geeta Govinda of the danseuses. It was the first of its kind to may be called 'Dasavatara Strota'. It describes be included in the ritual service of Lord the ten Avataras or incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Jagannath as an essential component of After that, the poet portrays the spring season worship. with feelings of Radha and her desire to meet Jayadeva's father was Shree Bhojadev Krishna. Subsequently, the poet describes the and mother was Smt. Bamadevi. Bhojadeva delightful dance of Krishna with Gopis in was a reputed scholar in Sanskrit. With his Brundabana. He was expert on 'Hindu Sastra' father's guidance, Jayadeva acquired a vast and 'Puranas'. He had also authority over music and dance. In this work, Sri Jayadeva has learning in Sanskrit literature and theology in a narrated the love scenes passionately. Krishna very short time. It was from Jagannath temple, is waiting Radha on the bank of river Jamuna Puri that the melodious music of Geeta Govinda restlessly. Depiction of the scene of Krishna reverberated to the distant corner of India and embracing Radha and madness of Radha to then fascinated people all over the world. meet Krishna etc. are matchless. In fact Jayadeva's devotional songs, including the Jayadeva has introduced and popularised the famous one describing the Dasavatar, have cult of Radha and Krishna in Odisha through inspired choreographers. Padmavati, wife of Sri this divine composition, the Geeta Govinda. This Jayadeva performed those dances in the Puri is considered as an important text in Shakti Jagannath Temple to the tunes of Gita Govinda. movement of Hindusim. The Talas and Ragas are such that they were meant for dance performance. It is believed that The Dasavatar Shlokas are chanted as Mantras in honour of Vishnu temples all over the Geeta Govinda as a dance drama was first India. enacted in the Puri temple of Sankha Kshetra during the reign of Kamarnava Deva. It is also The cycle of bither and death is an believed that Narasingha Deva-II had for the integral part of Hindu philosophy, which also first time introduced singing of the Geeta reaffirms the notion of the Dasavatar. This Govinda in the service of Jagannath concept of the Avatars reestablishes the idea Mahapravu. We may, however, avoid such that God has time and again taken a human form difference of opinions regarding introduction of to rid the earth of suffering and evil. The the Geeta Govinda in the Puri temple because, Avataras incarnate at a juncture when the world there is no denying the fact that the Geeta is in a crisis and when evil, injustice and Govinda was a divine grace. It is extremely inequality prevail. He removes negativity and inequality from this world and anchors in a popular not only in 'Srikshetra' but also positive new change creating a whole new throughout the country. As per the tradition, world order - a Golden Age. Devadasi of Srimandira at Puri used to sing the 'Geeta Govinda' and perform dance at different The concept of Dasavatara of Vishnu times of the auspicious day and on other special is a significant contribution of Sri Jayadeva, 56 June - 2011 Orissa Review Krishna as an Avatar is not included in the incarnations (Dasavatar) of Lord Vishnu and Dasavatara hymns. The enumerated list of he evokes vishnu as Krishna Keshava. Avataras varies from four, six, ten, twentyfive O' Krishna, I offer my obeisance to you and thirtynine. The poet narrates only ten who appear in ten incarnations. In your Avatars which is universally accepted. appearance as Matsya, you rescued the Vedas, The concept of Vishnu's Avatara dates and as Kurma, You supported the mount back to the Mahabharata age spread Mandara on your back. As Varaha You lifted sporadically either in individual form or in group the Earth with your tusks, and as the Narasimha, (the number of Avatars varying from period to You tore open the chest of the demon period and from author to author). Historically, Hiranyakashyapu. In the form of Bamana, You archaeologically and literarily the Avatar Vada subdued Bali by asking him for three feets of of Vishnu became an integral part of Vaishnava land and then you took away the entire universe faith from the early centuries of Christian era.

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