Anyone who has read or heard Gita Govinda, one of the greatest poems of devotion and love ever composed, can guess the 12th century poet Jayadeva’s depth of devotion for his Lord. Legend has it that he once wanted to make a special offering to the deity of Puri, Lord Jagannatha. Jayadeva asked the weavers of Kindubilva, his native village, to weave clothes carrying the motifs of the twelve cantos of his poem Gita Govinda as an offering to the deity of Puri. They agreed but laid a condition. They would weave as Jayadeva himself sang the divine song. The devotee-poet was only too happy to oblige and the weavers kept their word. But by the time Jayadeva reached the seventh canto, he was transported by his own lyrics into spiritual ecstasy, and his singing came to a stop. Just then, a cheerful-looking ascetic appeared and claiming to be Jayadeva’s elder brother sang the rest of Gita Govinda. He said he knew the whole poem by heart. When Jayadeva emerged into consciousness, he was taken aback at the weavers’ tale. As he had no elder brother, Jayadeva was convinced it was Lord Jagannatha Himself who had come to His devotee’s assistance!
Nearly eight centuries have gone by, and Jayadeva’s epic love song is still sung across the country and enjoyed...
Read moreNatyaSutra is an attempt to permanently preserve the rich art and cultural heritage of India. Our dream is to provide 24/7 online access to personalized lectures, tutorials, classes, and performances of all Indian art and culture.
Natyasutra Online
