May - 2013 Odisha Review Jayadeva's Geetagovindam and Srimad Bhagavat Geeta : In Pursuit of Truth Dr. K.C. Sarangi True guide and philosopher, Sri Radha advises to Time elapsed. The Mahabharata Yuga concentrate on the Lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna prevailed on the earth. A ‘geet’ i.e song was sung because the life, temporary as it is, will one day in the great battlefield of the Mahabharata. It was go away and this body of primordial elements will neither a ceremonial occasion, nor a gala fuction go again to be mixed with the said elements. but a ‘dharmakshetra – kurukshetra’ (The Gita, Bharat, according to Srimad Chapter-I verse –I). The listener was a warrior. But on the spur of the moment, he was kneeling, Bhagvatam was named as ‘Aja’. Bharat, the son tears rolling down from his eyes, ‘ashrupurnakule of this soil, born in the lap of Rusava, (an kshanam’; saddened in mind, incarnation of the Omnipotent Divine Father) ‘visidantamindam’ (chapter 2, verse-1). The administered his subjects in such an ideal and Divine Preceptor was gracious enough to unfurl disciplined manner following the Vedic Principles, before His dearest disciple, Arjuna, the science performing the yajnas like ‘Agnihotra’ and Soma of the self and the true wisdom amidst all other etc. that he, not only became dearest to his relevant yogas for enabling the disciple not only subjects, but also won a place in the heart of to win the war but also to shower on him and the “Bhavagrahi Sri Krishna’, the Cosmic Father and humanity through him, the path to the Divine, the Mysterious Controller of the Universe. The ‘mayasaktamanah partha yogam yunjan greatest elegance of Bharata’s character was that madashrayah’. (The Gita, Chapter-7. Verse-1) he had set his mind on the Lotus Feet of the Lord in an uninterrupted manner. No wonder, he Dwapar Yuga was replaced by the Kali cleansed his consciousness and gave a good Yuga. Amidst the brilliant geniuses, who were born governance to the country with pure thought, pure on the soil of Utkal, the great citadel of divine word and pure action. The ‘Anadi Purusha- culture in Bharat, as Kapila Samhita asserts, two Madhava’, who is always pure, sacred and the great sons were enormously concerned about the Embodiment of Truth was impressed with the suffering humanity and how to ensure manner and expertise with which the Emperor was emancipation for them from the ocean of death, running the administration. The entire world was birth, hate and rivalry. They were Sri Achyuta and subjected to the throne of Bharata and our country Sri Jayadeva. Whereas Sri Achyuta was born and was named after him. Justifiably ‘Aja’ was he performed in sixteenth century, it is believed substituted by Bharata. by scholars that he was born in 1510 or 1511) 29 Odisha Review May - 2013 (Sharanapanjara P.10) and was the exponent of ude hoichhanti, tathimadhyara go wisdom and accepted the service to humanity as anubhava dware vara go his avowed goal, through astrology, ayurveda, (Sri Achyuta’s ‘Dutibodha Chautisha’, spiritualism character-building, discipline and Sharana Panjara P.83) ethics Sri Jayadeva (born in 12th Century around 1100-1150 A.D, and contemporaneous to the According to Sri Radha Lord Krishna is emperor of Ganga Dynasty Kamarnavadeva) ‘anama,’ ‘Parama Purusha’ the highest and apex (Geetagovinda, Sadgrantha Niketan, P.10) was point of ‘Sunya Aradhana’, which later Sri merged in the Premayoga as well as in his Achyuta practiced himself. endeavour for the restoration of the glory of the Srihari parama purusho tahin previous incarnations of the Lord. A lot of Sripada anucaraku dishai speculations hover around Jayadeva’s Sriradha bhakti ya hridayare thiva Geetagovinda. While admitting its effulgence in Sri padmapada ambuja dishiva go the realm of ‘Prema Yoga’, its relevance, is at Sriangeleena karaai go (Ibid. P.89) times, scanned through skepticism. However the Sri Radha was a princess. She was reality was something else. Through stainless ‘charusheelaa’ i.e. of elegant character devotion, (bhaktiavyavicaarini) elegance, dance (Geetagovinda Sarga 10, Verse 53). She was colour, and colourful tradition and uttering the reared by king Brushavanu. A learned princess, divine name, prevailed in the pages of this great as she was, she was conscious that Lord Krishna masterpiece. It is pertinent to mention that even was none other than the ‘Ekashara Om’ the Om Sadguru, Sri Sankaracharya had to go through Tat Sat the ‘parama pada’. Sri Radha was the process of transmigration of soul to answer shraddhasheela i.e. embodiment of affection. True the questions raised by Dwaya Bharati (Sharada). Love of course, existed but added with that there In ancient India Shrungarashastra was was a total surrender of mind and intelligence, acknowledged as a branch of knowledge. ‘arpita manobuddhi,’ and devotion (bhakti) of Bhratrahari, who wrote Shrungara Sataka also sublime order. This vital link of Shraddha weds wrote Neeti Sataka. It is also worth-mentioning with Swavaidyapralima, then love unfurls. That that Arjuna, the great warrior of the battle of love is infinite as the sky is, endless as the ocean Mahabharata had to spend months in teaching is, pure as the nectar is. The speech, and the works the art of dancing to Uttara, the princess of the all were delivered as they were done to perform Emperor Birata. To approach Geetagovinda, a Yajna a ‘brahmarpana’ (Gita, Chapter.IV, therefore, the simplest and holiest approach is to verse-24. There was no feeling for the existence read Dutibodha Chautisha of Sri Achyuta first. of body. ‘I’ ness and ‘mineness’, were totally We may a have a glance at the following extract detached. All earthly attractions ceased to operate. where Sri Radha was speaking very politely to The consciousness is profoundly concentrated on the Duti (a peer in her personal service) how to the lotus feet of the Paramatma, the World Soul. reach Sri Krishna, the Lord reigning supreme in She was simple Her love was indestructible. She her heart within the heart: was always careful to protect the saving talisman olata mula kamalaku chahan i.e. Sri Krishna in her heart bhavadevanaya olati pavana paalati vaha vishalamswahrudamarmani barma karoti omkar uparaku laye kara (Sarga-4, Verse-25). Such an exponent of sublime 30 May - 2013 Odisha Review love can rarely think of eroticism and if at all it Deenabandhu Brahmachari P-24). The same exists, it exists in form of a total surrender and the Lord Sri Krishna is Utkala’s Lord Jagannath. total performance was purged in the fire of The great Odia scholar, Samanta Chandra Sekhar wisdom. ‘yajnaayacaratah karma samagram writes in his Siddhanta Darpana: praviliyate’ (The Gita Chapter-IV. Verse-23). peetajandadidaitya vivabanakhara ruk In a sacrifice neither woods exist, nor ghee exists chandrakantotmang. all are burnt in the Brahmanic fire, ‘brahmaiva’ shrirasman sarvadomeshwara uditaratih tena bantavyam prahmakamasamadhina kelikantanga sambhut (Gita Chapter-4 verse-24). According to (23rd Prakasha, Verse-25) Chandradutta, the great scholar of Mithila, All divine beings merge in Lord Sri Jayadeva who had lost his parents at the age of Jagannatha. In dress yellow coloured the Lord eleven, came to Srikshetra. He was a Vairagi (an appears extremely beautiful. His colour is blue ascetic), unattached and unaffected and a devotee like the colour of ocean water. Divine Mother, par excellence ‘vidyabhyasah ratah shantah Saraswati worships His two Lotus feet. Divine purushottamapujakah’(Bhaktamala Sarga-39). Mother Lakshmi, Lord Shiva and the Sun-god; The entire Geetagovinda is therefore a garland all worship Him. He is the shelter wherefrom of woven through Mantra like verses dedicated ‘brahmananda’ emanates. He is dexterous enough to the lotus feet of Sri Madhava. Chandradutta to wipe out the ignorance of His devotees. In a writes: subtle form, He can keep the entire universe in a Jagannathapuriprante deshe caiva ultkalabhidhe part of His body. Only the wise men are able to vindubillwa iti kshato gramo brahmanasamkulah. visualize His existence. This being, Sri Krishna tatrotkale dwijo jato jayadeva iti shrutah vidyabhyaasah ratah shaantah purusottamapujakah. Jagannatha, Geetagovinda i.e. an elegant composition of verses about Him, explains its own (Bhaktamala Grantha, Sarga-39) unique position among the creative wonders and Viewed from the angle of above spiritual literature of the world. description the poet Jayadeva, who according to Srimad Bhagavad has established: that Chandradutta, was engrossed in studies, quiet in the Lord is Saarvabhouma. A true devotee does nature, and a worshipper of Lord Sri Jagannatha, not want heaven, Brahmaloka, undisputed control cannot compose ordinary verses. Besides, over the Bhumandala, an invincible empire in the Prakriti-swarupini, the incarnation of Divine world below (Patala) success in Yogas nor even Mother, Sri Radha is the incarnation of emancipation (Moksha) viswajanani (mata lokasya). She is honoured by all and the symbol of fame (sarvaaradhya……… na nakaprustham na ca paaramestyam na saarvabhoumam na rasaadhi patyam paramayasobhuti). On the contrary Lord Krishna, na yogasiddhirapunarbhavam vaa the ‘Saguna Bhagawan’ is not bound by illusion samanjasa twa virahaya kamkshe (maya). Rather, He is the controller of Maya (Srimad Bhagavatam, 6/11/25) (mayadhipati). Wise and enlightened persons like Sanaka, Sanata, Sananda,Sanatana and Janaka If Vritrasura can pray to the Lord with had the natural love for ‘Saguna Bhagawan’. This such total dedication by His grace, action and love, has been revealed from time to time. (Swami dedication of Sri Radha, on whom the divine grace Ramsukhdas Bhagawan aur unki Bhakti tr. showers ceaselessly, who is herself 31 Odisha Review May - 2013 ‘Prakritiswarupini jnanaswarupini’ cannot be defame) was pronounced by Him in the Gita at a comprehended by human vision. later period to raise Arjuna from illusion. In fact, The three Lakshman-rekhas which the the entire scheme of the Geetagovinda has a Divine Mother crossed in ‘Tretayayuga’ in the direct or indirect link with the Gita more incarnation of Sita were dazzling in her eyes in particularly the verse 34 of Chapter IV: Dwapar Yuga.