Contents
Gita Govinda -Shri Jayadeva Gosvami
INTRODUCTION
Life history of the poet Shri Jayadeva
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It is difficult to ascertain the exact date of Shri Jayadeva Gosvämé’s birth. According to Shri Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s main disciple, Shrila Sanätana Gosvämé, Jayadeva Gosvämé was a contemporary of the Bengali king, Mahäräja Lakñmaëa Sena. On the basis of authentic texts, it is evident that Shri Lakñmaëa Sena was reigning in 1030 Çakäbda, corresponding to 1107AD. This date has also been verified by Dr. Räjendraläl Mitra on the basis of supporting evidence gleaned from his extensive research. Therefore it is certain that Shri Jayadeva, being a contemporary of Shri Lakñmaëa Sena, was a personality of the twelfth century. Cäìda Kavi, a member of the royal council of Mahäräja Påthvéräja, has recounted the glorious histories of the poets of former times in his book entitled Cauhäna-räñöra. Shri Jayadeva and Géta-govinda are also mentioned therein. Påthvéräja Mahäräja was ruling from his capital, Delhi, in the final part of the twelfth century. He was killed in a battle with Mohammad Gauré on the banks of the Dåçadvati river in 1193AD. Thus it is clear that Géta-govinda had already been written prior to the period of Cäìda Kavi, otherwise he could not have mentioned it in Cauhäna-räñöra. Many wondrous and divine events from the life of Shri Jayadeva Gosvämé have been described in Näbhäjé Bhaööa’s text, Bhaktamäla. It is not necessary to make this book excessively long by repeating all those details here. The human side of Shri Jayadeva Gosvämé’s pastimes have now become completely covered by the passing of many centuries. Nevertheless, every year a huge gathering still takes place in Kendulé-gräm to commemorate his disappearance from our mortal vision. The festival begins on Makara-saìkränti in the month of Mägha (January–February). Fifty to a hundred thousand pilgrims congregate at the samädhi mandira of Shri Jayadeva Gosvämé to honour him and to hear and recite his poetry. |
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