The Krsna Giti of Manaveda

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THE KÎâÛAGITI
OF
MANAVEDA

Edited and Translated by C. R. SWAMINATHAN and SUDHA GOPALAKRISHNAN

1997, xv+349pp., col. ills.,ISBN: 81-208-1478-9, Rs 650 (HB)

The Krsnagiti is a lyrical and devotional poem composed by Manaveda, Zamorin of Kozhikode (17th Century AD). The poem composed in Sanskrit celebrates the life of Krsna from his incarnations (avatara) to his ascent to Heaven (svargarohana). Composed in eight chapters and perhaps modelled on Jayadeva's Gitagovinda and written in the form of a monologue addressed to Krsna, the poem is suffused with the sentiment of spiritual devotion (bhakti). It enumerates the story of the Lord and eulogises His lilas on on the earth. Moreover, it is the source-text for Krishnattam the votive dance-drama affiliated to the Guruvayur temple in central Kerala.

The sentiment of bhakti which pervades the entire poem assumes unique lyrical and dramatic power and invests Krishnattam with immense histrionic possibilities. The dual experience of the poem, a literary work and as a source text for a live performance tradition, makes it interesting for the reader and the spectator alike.

The edition published here presents the text of the Krshnagiti in Devanagari for the first time with a lucid English translation.

C. R. SWAMINATHAN obtained M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Sanskrit. He worked as Librarian in the Oriental Manuscripts Library, Madras. He joined Government of India in1961 as a Lecturer in Sanskrit. He retired as Deputy Educational Advisor (Sanskrit) in 1985. After his retirement he worked as Consultant in IGNCA for four years. Besides several articles and Sanskrit poetic compositions, he has many publications to his credit in English and Sanskrit, including A comparative Study of Gita Bhasyas. He has also critically edited and translated the Satapathabrahmana of the Kanva recension for IGNCA.

SUDHA GOPALAKRISHNAN obtained doctoral degree in comparative drama, the classical Indian and Western theories of comedy, with special reference to the plays of Bhasa and Shakespeare. She is at present, Coordinator of a research project called "Metaphors of Indian Arts" in IGNCA. Sudha Gopalakrishnan has done intensive research on the dance and drama traditions of Kerala, especially that of Kutiyattam, Krishnattam and Kathakali.



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