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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

Soaked in devotion without ego

 

CHENNAI, AUG. 25. Among the several Indian sacred texts which are

popular all over the world, the Song of Songs has received wide

acclamation as it presents an epitome of the life of Lord Krishna

and gives a gist of the Bhagavatham. For its devotional contents,

lyrical excellence, for adaptation in musical and dance

programmes, for inclusion in the famed Indian tradition of

bhajans (congregational singing) and, above all, philosophic and

religious values and exposition of God-man relationship, this

masterpiece Geeta Govindam is a treasure that has been handed

over in 11th-12th centuries and continues to attract devotees

even now.

 

The main theme of this devotional work in Sanskrit by Jayadeva,

born near Puri in Orissa, emphasises the deep yearning of the

individual soul to be ever in the presence of the Lord. The soul

will display its feelings of agony if kept separated from the

cosmic soul (the Supreme). But this reunion should be brought out

only by a spiritual guide. Geeta Govindam is essentially a

condensation of the Raasa Leela where Lord Krishna teaches His

beloved that one should shed one's pride that He or She is closer

to God. Likewise, in the life of Jayadeva, there was rivalry

about the competence of his work being acknowledged as the best,

and even a king, who had composed glorious hymns on Lord

Jagannada claimed superiority but God intervened and told him

that the songs by him were no doubt soaked in devotion but they

were tinged with his ego (about his superiority).

 

A manifestation of Vyasa who had codified the Vedic aphorisms and

written the Mahabharatam, the Bhagavatham and other sacred books,

Jayadeva had a desire to present Krishna's life in a brief form

and so, (as Jayadeva), he was gifted with the distinction to

contribute the Geeta Govindam in the form of `Ashtapadi' or each

one of his 24 verses consisting of eight sentences (charanams).

The first focusses on the incarnation of the Lord, the second

pinpoints the lives of Rama and Krishna and from then on, about

Krishna dancing with the cowherd maiden. His beloved, slightly

proud of her intimacy with Krishna, come late by which time

others had gathered. Unable to bear this separation, she deputes

one of her friends to God-incarnate.

 

Sri R. Aravamudan in his Harikatha said Jayadeva underwent many

tests as God demonstrated to the world how His devotees pin their

faith in Him in spite of challenges and how he emerged

victorious, at the same time never claiming any superiority of

his intellectual genius. God is ever present, unseen, by the side

of His devotees, protecting them from inimical forces and

safeguarding their interests.

 

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