Gita Govinda

Authorship

Traditional: Jayadeva

Scholarly note: High Sanskrit lyrical drama of Kṛṣṇa–Rādhā līlā.

Why it was written

Express madhura bhakti and aesthetic rasa for temple song and personal devotion.

Structure & length

Extent · Twelve chapters (aṣṭapadīs)

Songs in Prakrit/Sanskrit mix with refrain choruses.

Key themes

• Rādhā
• Kṛṣṇa
• rasa
• līlā

Related texts

• Bhagavata Purana
• Brahmavaivarta Purana

Sources

• Gitagovinda (Britannica)
• Gita Govinda (Wikipedia)