Gita Govinda manuscript c. 1550.

The Gita Govinda (Sanskrit गीत गोविन्द) (Song of Govinda) is a work composed by the 12th-century poet, Jayadeva, who was born in Kenduli Sasan near Puri in Orissa. It describes the relationship between Krishna and the gopis (female cow herders) of Vrindavana, and in particular one gopi named Radha. This work has been of great importance in the development of the bhakti traditions of Hinduism.

The Gita Govinda is organized into twelve chapters. Each chapter is further sub-divided into twenty four divisions called Prabandhas. The prabandhas contain couplets grouped into eights, called Ashtapadis.

The first English translation of the Gita Govinda was published by Sir William Jones in 1792, where Kalinga (ancient Orissa) is referred to as the origin of the text. Since then, the Gita Govinda has been translated to many languages throughout the world, and is considered to be among the finest examples of Sanskrit poetry.

[edit] See also

• Love Song of the Dark Lord
• Jayadeva
• Kenduli Sasan
• Jayadeva birth controversy
• Jayadeva in Sikhism
• List of Sanskrit poets
• Sanskrit literature
• Odissi
• Works of Jayadeva

[edit] External links

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• Oriya version of the Gita Govinda
• The Gita Govinda: a Multimedia Presentation