The Divine Love of Lord Krishna and Radha: A Philatelic Exploration of the Jayadeva and Geetagovinda

The Geetagovinda, also known as the Gita Govinda or Song of Govinda, is a long poem written by the 12th century Indian Sanskrit poet Jayadeva. Jayadeva, also known as Jaidev or Jayadeva, was born on the day of Akshaya Tritiya in the village of Kenduvilva Sasan or Kenduli Sasan in Balipatna P.S. in Khurda district, a part of the earlier Puri district in Odisha.

Jayadeva was a Hindu mendicant, or a religious ascetic who has renounced worldly possessions and lives a life of poverty and devotion. He is known for his deep spiritual devotion and his focus on the divine love between Radha and Krishna.

It is a work of devotional literature that focuses on the love of Krishna, a Hindu deity, for the gopikas, or female cow herders, of Vrindavana. In particular, the poem tells the story of Krishna’s love for Radha, who is depicted as the most beloved of the gopikas.

According to Jayadeva’s view, Radha is considered to be greater than Krishna, and the Geetagovinda is an expression of the deep spiritual devotion that exists between these two divine figures. The poem is divided into twelve chapters, and each chapter is further divided into twenty four divisions called Prabandhas. The Prabandhas contain couplets grouped into eights, known as Ashtapadis.

In addition to its focus on the divine love between Krishna and Radha, the Geetagovinda also elaborates on the eight moods of the heroine, known as the Ashta Nayika. These moods have been an inspiration for many compositions and choreographic works in Indian classical dances, and Jayadeva’s devotional songs, including those describing the Dasavatar (the ten incarnations of Vishnu), have also inspired choreographers. Jayadeva’s wife, Padmavati, is said to have performed these dances at the Puri Jagannath Temple in India.

The Geetagovinda is an important work of Hindu literature and has had a significant impact on Indian culture and spiritual traditions. It has been widely sung and performed at temples throughout India, including the Puri Jagannath Temple, and the Dasavatar shlokas (verses) are chanted as mantras in many temples. It is Jayadeva’s Ashtapadis that are sung in dance performances of Odissi, the classical dance of Odisha. The poem is known for its beautiful poetry and musical compositions, and has been widely translated and adapted into various languages and forms of art.