Jayadeva

Lore & Background

Jayadeva was born in a Brahmin family, but the date and place of his birth are uncertain. The Gitagovinda suggests he was born in the 'Kindubilva' village, which scholars have variously identified with Kenduli Sasan near Puri in Odisha, Jaydev Kenduli in Birbhum district in West Bengal, or the village of Kenduli near Jhanjharpur in Mithila (Bihar). Several sixteenth-century texts declare Jayadeva was from 'Utkala', another name of Odisha. His parents were named Bhojadeva and Ramadevi. From temple inscriptions it is now known that Jayadeva received his education in Sanskrit poetry from a place called Kurmapataka, identified near Konark in Odisha. He might have studied at Kurmapataka as well, and it must have been right after his childhood education in Kenduli village that he left for Kurmapataka and gained experience in composing poetry, music and dancing. Historical records from inscriptions at Lingaraja temple, Madhukeswara temple, and Simhachala temple, read and interpreted by Padmashri Dr. Satyanarayana Rajguru, have shed some light on Jayadeva's early life. These inscriptions narrate how Jayadeva had been a member of the teaching faculty of the school at Kurmapataka. According to tradition, he married a dancer named Padmavati, though that is not supported by early commentators and modern scholars. The maximum number of Gita Govinda manuscripts are available in Odisha, in a variety of shapes and sizes, where the tradition of the Gita Govinda is an integral part of regional culture.

Reader's Guide

Jayadeva's significance lies primarily in his epic poem Gita Govinda, which is considered an important text in the Bhakti movement of Hinduism. The poem presents the view that Radha is greater than Krishna and concentrates on their love in a rite of spring. Scholar Thomas Donaldson notes that the Gitagovinda was known at Puri not long after its composition, for the earliest commentary on it was written in Odisha around 1190. In the Jagannatha temple of Puri, the Gita Govinda is ritually sung every night during the Badasinghara ritual from the time of Jayadeva himself, a tradition that has continued unbroken. The maharis or devadasis were instructed to faithfully render and perform the Gitagovinda according to the ragas of Odissi music, as known from inscriptions. Jayadeva is widely considered one of the earliest musicians of Odissi music. Additionally, two hymns of Jayadeva have been incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikh religion, making him the earliest dated author of hymns included in that scripture. The hymns are written in a mixture of Sanskrit and eastern Apabhramsha. There are records narrating how Jayadeva's work had a profound influence on Guru Nanak during his visit to Puri. The Odisha State Museum preserves an exceptionally large number of Gitagovinda manuscripts, numbering two hundred and ten, including illustrated, non-illustrated, and manuscripts of various shapes like garland, fish, and dagger, as well as versions written in ivory, bamboo leaf, and handmade paper.

Did You Know?

• Jayadeva is the earliest dated author of hymns included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the primary scripture of Sikhism.
• The Gita Govinda is ritually sung every night in the Jagannatha temple of Puri, a tradition unbroken since Jayadeva's time.
• Two hymns of Jayadeva, written in a mixture of Sanskrit and eastern Apabhramsha, are incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib.