Gita Govindam

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Dr. P V S Subramanian hails from a family of vedic scholars. He had his early education in Kerala, graduation from Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu and post-graduation from Bangalore, Karnataka. He had a stint of 6 years on the faculty of a college and around 2 years in research in electro chemistry at the Central Electrochemical Research Institute at Karaikudi under the CSIR which organization he served for over 30 years and retired as senior scientist. At the age of 65 he obtained his Doctorate degree from Madurai-Kamaraj University. His academic interests include Hinduistic scriptures like the Vedas and Upanishads and he has published several articles having a bearing on Hindu thought and wisdom in Bhavan's Journal of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai and Kalyana-Kalpataru of Gita Press, Gorakhpur besides some Tamil articles in Tamil religious magazines. He has conducted classes on Lalita Sahasranamam, Bhagavadgita and Narayaneeyam of Narayana Bhattatiri. He has published 2 books titled "Glimpses into Hindu Thought and Wisdom" and "The Message of the Bhagavadgita ".

Poet Jayadeva's Gitagovindam is an immortal classic which is held in high esteem and adoration by all devout Hindus. The work exemplifies the irresistible longing of the Jivatma ( individual soul ) for union with the Paramatma ( Supreme Soul ) and the readiness of the latter to accept into His fold the suffering Jivatma. Gitagovindam is one of the oldest treatises composed in the sentiment of Sringararasa ( amorous love ).

Gitagovindam portrays the pining of Radha for union with the Lord which is finally accomplished through the efforts of her female companion. This signifies the all-important role of an acharya or preceptor in enabling the individual soul's reunion with the Lord. As Radha herself says that though she is jealous, angry and unforgiving with Krishna for His dalliance with other gopa women, her mind goes after Him incessantly. The sublime sentiment of devotion is treated through the medium of sentiment of Divine love. Prema bhava or the sentiment of amorous love scores over other sentiments like that of a parent, child, servant, and friend through any one of which when practised with steadfastness, the Almighty can be approached and attained.

In this entire mahakavya, the nineteenth Ashtapadi has a special distinction that the 7th charanam of this Ashtapadi was written by Lord Krishna Himself coming in the guise of poet Jayadeva, thus blessing this work. While about to write this charanam, it occurred in the imagination of Jayadeva as the Lord asking Radha to place her foot on His head to remove the suffering due to virahatapa ( suffering due to separation) as her foot will remove this poison. Feeling remorseful that it is an affront to the Lord for such a thought having entered his mind, Jayadeva, a great devotee, was unable to write this charanam . It was in this context, the Lord appeared as the poet and wrote as occurred in the mind of Jayadeva. This shows that the Lord considers His devotee greater than Himself.

The theme of Jayadeva's work follows closely the Rasakreeda episode depicted in chapters 29 to 33 of canto 10 of Srimadbhagavata Mahapurana, referred to as Rasapanchadhyayi. Poet-scholar Narayana Bhattatiri's work Srimannarayaneeyam also covers this topic in 5 dashakas ( 65 to 69 ) known as Rasapanchadashaki.

There are many books written by scholars and bhagavatars on Gitagovindam. The present book in English and Devanagari on poet Jayadeva's devotional masterpiece has been planned principally for those who want an English version and are not conversant with Tamil.

**Contents and Sample Pages**