Sanskrit
  

 



 

 


About

These verses are from the Gitagovinda, the most popular Sanskrit poetry written by Saint-poet Jayadeva in the 12th C. Spiritual and profane at the same time, they are love songs describing the yearning, pangs of seperation and the bliss of union between Lord Krishna (Hari) and his beloved Radha. They are symbolic for the yearning of the human soul for the divine. Jayadeva writes his songs to evoke the image of Hari and to spread the joy of Krishna’s graceful play. He describes the lonely cowherdess Radha’s love and Hari’s delight to bring an end to this dark age.

The contents of the chosen verses:
In spring when the bees hum, cuckoos sing and the soft sandal winds from the Malaya mountains blow, Krishna roams on the banks of the Yamuna river, dancing with beautiful young women. Radha remembers the Ras dance with him, the sweet sound of his flute, his restless glances and the rainbow coloured clothes on his dark body. Yearning for union with him she sends her friend to bring Krishna. By the time he finally arrives she is tormented by jealousy and suspicion. With sweet words Krishna pacifies her to follow him. As she enters his thicket on the river bank and Krishna sees Radha’s joyful face, ardently seeking love his emotions break lose like the sea when the full moon appears.

Rajyashree Ramesh



Country

India

Sung by Rajyashree Ramesh
Recorded by Jacob Kirkegaard
Place & year of recording Berlin, Germany, 2012
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