Three more Imitations of the Gitagovinda
By V. W. Karambelkar
Summary
This study examines three lesser‑known Sanskrit poems inspired by Jayadeva’s Gitagovinda. Jayadeva’s twelfth‑century lyric, celebrating the divine love of Krishna and Radha, set a benchmark for devotional poetry; it spurred imitations across regions and sects. The article discusses the Gitaraghava, which substitutes Rama and Sita for the original protagonists; the Gitagangadhara (or Gitasambhoga), portraying the union of Shiva and Parvati; and a third composition that praises Vishnu and his consort. These works replicate the Gitagovinda’s structure of songs and ashtapadis and employ similar rhetorical devices, yet they adapt the narrative to their respective deities and sectarian contextsfile:///home/oai/share/split_articles/three_more_imitations_of_the_gitagovinda.pdffile:///home/oai/share/split_articles/three_more_imitations_of_the_gitagovinda.pdf#:~:text=fountain,. The author evaluates their metre, imagery and devotional tone, noting that none achieved the widespread popularity of Jayadeva’s masterpiece. Nevertheless, the imitations illuminate the transmission of the Gitagovinda tradition and demonstrate how poets across India employed its stylistic template to honour different divine couples. The article concludes that the Gitagovinda’s blend of eroticism and piety created a versatile model that inspired a rich, though now obscure, corpus of devotional literature.
Conclusion
Analysing three imitative poems, the article shows how later poets adapted Jayadeva’s Gitagovinda to celebrate Rama and Sita, Shiva and Parvati, and Vishnu’s consortfile:///home/oai/share/split_articles/three_more_imitations_of_the_gitagovinda.pdffile:///home/oai/share/split_articles/three_more_imitations_of_the_gitagovinda.pdf#:~:text=fountain,. Though lesser‑known, these works reveal the enduring influence of Jayadeva’s structure and the adaptability of devotional lyrics across sects.