bhagavat gita gita gondan

GITA GOVINDAM THE IMMORTAL SRINGARA KAVYAM OF INDIA

A learned friend raised a query about Gita Govindam.. in one group.. The query was partly addressed to me..

The query is

I have heard some elders say that the Gita Govindam should be merely sung and the meanings should not be elaborated upon due to the Sringara Bhava that it contains. Instead the Bhagavad Gita must be elaborated for explanation.

can throw light on this?

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My response is this

Maybe it is a belief of those who show very great inclination towards bhakti line that Geethagovindam is somewhat sensuous...

But for the Scholars of Sanskrit, the unique style,

use of aesthetically selected words to melody..

the shabdaalankaaram,

the musical nuances ( in fact the raaga for each ashtapadi is prescribed at the time the Kavyam was composed...now musicians do not use those ragas, that is another thing),

all these factors have made this Kavyam uniquely sublime in Sanskrit literature..

There are many scholarly vyakhyas or commentaries on this epic work running to thousands of pages, in Sanskrit and Vernacular

It is the

The greatest Dhvani Kavya.. or Lyric.. in Sanskrit and arguably in whole world literature of mankind ..

and at the same time it containsmany nuances highlighting Sringara Rasam in various facets..

and at the same time it depicts the beauty of the nature and landscape, flora, fauna

and it deals with the delectable relation between man and woman.. in the physical plane as well as in the Divine level..

This kavyam has inspired many poets both in the field of physical love and that love blossoming into spiritual strata too.

As a lover of the great literature of Sanskrit, I cannot agree to the view that Gitagovindam or Ashtapadi should not be analysed for meaning..

because, without knowing the meaning we cannot capture the aesthetic beauty of the work.. the best of its kind ..

Gitagovindam is also a pastoral lyric.. and it has inspired pastoral poetry even in the West..

Of course there are some parts in the epical creation where an open translation might not be to the comfort of people who can see Radha and Madhava only as Godheads and could not come to terms with the leelas of the two at human level..

If we are to extend the argument that the meaning of this Kavyam is not to be analyzed for this reason you, then there are many parts in Puranas and Itihasas which should be shoved under the carpet for treatment of carnal relations, perversion, cruelty, and macabre backdrop..

Of course I tried to translate a few Ashtapadis which were mild in their content of the main theme of Sringaram.. I discontinued such translation because Sringara Rasam does not seem to be my cup of tea..

But I think I have read at least thousand pages on the subject and I am not apologetic about enjoying the beauty of Radhaamaadhavam, understanding fully its meaning..

The texts for Kathakali, Pathakam, Kootiyaattam, Mohiniyattam and many arts forms of Kerala, as also many dance forms of Orissa, Bengal, and even the Seven Sister states have draw their themes and inspiration heavily form Gitagovindam

Radha and Madhava are the symbols of Divine Love and human love too,

way ahead of Romeo and Juliet or Salim and Anarkali and so on..

If a lover of Sanskrit believes that he can avoid going deep into this Kavyam, he is losing too much..

He is missing too much..

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Note..

Sir Edwin Arnold, has translated Gita Govindam to English.. the caption is "The indian Song of Songs".. and that is a classic in its own right..