Natyasutra Online

Shringara in Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda

Rasa, tone or flavour, is an important aspect of enjoyment of art. Of the nine (navarasa) identified by Indian aestheticians, shringara rasa is the most popular. It is called rasa raja, the king of rasas. Shringara is the dominant rasa in Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda. In this poem, we find both forms of shringara – vipralambha shringara (love in separation) and sambhoga shringara (love in union), each strengthening the other. Radha and Krishna, the protagonists in the story, are separated for most of the time and pine for each other till their joyous union in the end.

Vipralambha shringara (love in separation), compared to sambhoga shringara (love in the union), has the more dominant power in Jayadeva’s celebrated poem. There are several reasons for it. One, its dark clouds envelop nearly three-fourths of the skyscape of Gita Govinda. Two, it contributes to a wide variety of moods and stances in the nayika or the female protagonist which, in turn, lend a rare vibrancy to the otherwise slight plot. Three, it presents the central conflict the story, and thus maintains suspense throughout the work. Thus Gita Govinda enhances and celebrates the immortal love between Radha and Krishna.