Gita Govinda With the Commentaries of Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati

About the Book Gita Govinda is the main work of Jayadeva Gosvami, depicting the love of Radha an: Krsna. The famous description of the ten avataras is included in it at the beginning. Through this work, the ten avataras became well known. Krsna is not included as one of the ten avataras, but in regarded by Jayadeva the source of all the avataras. This thus supports the conclusion of Samar_ Bhagavatam as explained by the Gosvami hundreds of years later. Caitanya Mahaprabhu during stay in Puri would recite verses of Gita Govinda in remembrance of the pastimes of Radha and Krsna.

Gita Govinda became a major cultural influence in Orissa. and spread to Andhra, Tamil Nadu an; Kerala, and had an influence upon the local dance forms of those states. As well Gita Govinda became a popular subject of painting in Rajasthan around 1600 CE. William Jones published an English translation of the work in 1792 CE. It has since been translated in the major languages of the world. It is regarded as an example of the finest Sanskrit poetry.

The various portions of the work are set to specific ragas (selection of notes) and talas (beats). However various editions of the work have different ragas and talas for a particular section. The renditions at the present time often use different ragas and talas.

There are twelve chapters, each titled after Krsna in his various moods. Each chapter is divided in several prabandhas, usually having eight verses with a chorus recited with each verse. There are twenty four prabandhas in the work. Prabhodananda Sarasvati has written a commentary on this work for the Gaudiya sampradaya.

About the Author HH Bhanu Swami Maharaja is one of the senior disciples of His Divine Grace A.C Bhakti danta Swami Srila Prabhupada, founder acharya of ISKCON, the International Society Krishna Consciousness. He holds a BA Degree in Oriental fine arts history from the University of British Colombia. He joined the Hare Krishna movement in India in 1970. Initiated in 1971 L Srila Prabhupada, he took sannyasa vows in 1984. Bhanu Swami was personally instructed the art of Deity worship by Srila Prabhupada, and within ISKCON he has become an author on the topic.

He is a great inspiration for many devotees around the world and he preaches Krishna consciousness in Japan, Malaysia Russia and India. His Holiness Bhanu Swami maharaja began to translate Srila Prabhupada's books into Japanese. F. continues with this translation service to this day, giving us the nectar from the Bengali and Sanskrit works of the previous' Vaishnava acharyas to enhance our understanding of the Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy. He is also a member of the, Governing Body Commission of ISKCON.

Foreword Jayadeva was a poet born in 1170 CE. (Caitanya Mahaprabhu was born in 1486, over three hundred years later.) Some say he was born in Kenduli Sasan, a village in Orissa, while others claim he was born in Kenduli in Bengal. From the evidence at the present time, it seems he was born in Orissa. It seems certain that he taught Sanskrit in Orissa, and wrote his famous poem Gita Govinda at Puri. In any case, not much is known of his life in detail.

His main work is Gita Govinda, depicting the love of Radha and Krsna. The famous description of the ten avataras is included in it at the beginning. Through this work, the ten avataras became well known. Krsna is not included as one of the ten avataras, but is regarded by Jayadeva the source of all the avataras. This thus supports the conclusion of Srimad Bhagavatam as explained by the Gosvami hundreds of years later. Caitanya Mahaprabhu during his stay in Puri would recite verses of Gita Govinda in remembrance of the pastimes of Radha and Krsna.

Gita Govinda became a major cultural influence in Orissa, and spread to Andhra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and had an influence upon the local dance forms of those states. As well Gita Govinda became a popular subject of painting in Rajasthan around 1600 CE. William Jones published an English translation of the work in 1792 CE. It has since been translated in the major languages of the world. It is regarded as an example of the finest Sanskrit poetry.

The various portions of the work are set to specific ragas (selection of notes) and talas (beats). However various editions of the work have different ragas and talas for a particular section. The renditions at the present time often use different ragas and talas.

There are twelve chapters, each titled after Krsna in his various moods. Each chapter is divided in several prabandhas, usually having eight verses with a chorus recited with each verse. There are twenty four prabandhas in the work.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages