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Among the many temples spread all over India, the temple at Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath, is unique for many reasons. Lord Jagannath, his elder brother, Balabadra and younger sister, Subadra are the three deities worshipped here.\u00a0 The temple constructed by Indrayumna, King of Puri, is famous for its annual Rath Yatra which is a spectacular event witnessed by a vast number of devotees.\u00a0 \u00a0It was near this temple, in a quiet hamlet, Sri Jayadevar, the author of Ashtapadi was born. \u00a0Ashtapadi, \u00a0\u00a0also known as Gita Govindam is considered an inexhaustible treasure that enriches the devotees, enlightens them and endears them to Lord Jagannath.<\/p>\n
Around 12th<\/sup> century, a pious couple, Sri Narayana Sastri and Kamala Bhai were living in a quiet place called Dhunthu Bilvam.\u00a0 They found happiness in performing Puja, worshipping Lord Jagannath and adhering to the principles of Sanatana Dharma.\u00a0 As a result of their intense devotion towards Lord Jagannatha and as a result of good deeds done in the past, they were blessed with a divine child, whose face appeared like an effulgent moon.\u00a0 The parents believed that he symbolized victory (Jayam) and therefore named him Jayadevar.\u00a0 \u00a0Even in his childhood, he started composing songs.\u00a0 He visited temple regularly and joined others in singing bhajan. He exemplified devotion.\u00a0 \u00a0Puri is situated on the shore of ocean.\u00a0 The vast ocean is the confluence of water from three sources (Munneer); from rain, from river and from what is stored underground.\u00a0\u00a0 Similarly, devotion also springs from three sources. It comes out of God\u2019s grace, just as rainwater comes from above.\u00a0 It \u00a0comes from Guru like the water that is accessible from a river.\u00a0 \u00a0Devotion is implanted even while in the womb of a mother, as in the case of Prahlada, like the underground water. Devotion was deeply engraved in Jayadevar and it found expression in his early stage itself.\u00a0 He got initiated to Brahmacharya by means of Upanayanam ceremony, which opened up his inner eyes.\u00a0 He became an embodiment of Jnana.<\/p>\n Years rolled by and Jayadevar has grown up as a handsome youth. As he\u00a0 reached the marriageable age, his parents prayed for a suitable\u00a0 alliance for him.\u00a0 Almost at the same time, in another part of the town, a devout parent, namely Sri Deva Sharma and his wife were making similar prayer to Lord Jagannathar. Their daughter Padmavathi was endowed with all qualities like character, beauty, humbleness and devotion. \u00a0Her parents recalled that she was born after \u00a0intense prayers made to Lord Jagannatha.\u00a0 They had said if born, the child would even be offered to Jagannath.\u00a0 As Padmavathi reached the marriageable age now, they decided it was the\u00a0 time to honour their word \u00a0to God.\u00a0 They took her to temple, worshipped the Lord and decided to spend the day at the hall of the temple.\u00a0 That night, while the temple priest was asleep, he got a dream in which he saw the image of Sri Jayadevar garlanding Padmavati.\u00a0 The priest got the message.\u00a0 The next day, he met Sri Devasharma and later Sri Narayana Sastri and told them about his dream.\u00a0 He said it is the will of God that the marriage of Jayadevar should take place with Padmavati.\u00a0 He told Deva Sharma that Jayadevar has found unity with Lord Jagannath and therefore marrying his daughter to \u00a0Jayadevar was equal to marrying Lord Jagannath.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There was no second thought and the parents readily agreed.\u00a0 Soon, on an auspicious day, while Veda Mantras were being recited by Pundits, the marriage of Jayadevar and Padmavati was solemnized in a grand manner.\u00a0 \u00a0Jayadevar and Padmavati have found spiritual fulfillment by means of \u00a0Grahasthasrama (married life).<\/p>\n Jayadevar, was a serious poet by nature and having married Padmavati who symbolized love, Jayadevar became a romantic poet. The marriage with Padmavati happened to be the greatest blessing he got in his life.\u00a0 \u00a0Padmavati exemplified the qualities of service, humbleness and surrender \u00a0(Saranagati).\u00a0 As Jayadevar started composing, the blessings of the Lord became overwhelmingly evident.\u00a0\u00a0 It was like Lord Guruvayurappa who guided his devotee Bhattathiri in composing his Narayaneeyam. The inspiration came to Jayadevar without any effort from his side.\u00a0 \u00a0He named his works \u2018Geeta Govindam\u2019, songs that hail the glory of Govinda.\u00a0\u00a0 Singing the songs he used to dance in ecstasy and Padmavati would also joined him.\u00a0 The divine couple used to go to temple and sing before the idol of Lord Jagannatha, appreciated by all the assembled devotees.<\/p>\n Gita Govindam is the portrayal of the divine relation between\u00a0 Radha and Krishna; Radha representing pure love and devotion and Krishna representing the Lord of infinite beauty, compassion and knowledge.\u00a0 Ashtapadi which means eight-steps that lead to Krishna is based on the theme of divine romance (Sringara Rasa).\u00a0 It signifies the aspiration of the devotee to be united with God or the yearning of Jivatma to be merged with Paramatma, the eternal reality.\u00a0 \u00a0Ashtapadi, written in Sanskrit, is an exquisite form of devotional poetry and has no parallel anywhere.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A good part of Jayadevar\u2019s day and even night was spent by composing songs.\u00a0 \u00a0In his vision, Krishna appeared as a lover going after his beloved, Radha, adoring her and admiring her. The songs depicted the \u00a0divine love \u00a0between Krishna and Radha.\u00a0 \u00a0When the emotion that springs from heart is bestowed on human, it is love and when bestowed on God it becomes devotion.\u00a0 The divine love is Bhakti.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0In other words, Bhakti is the soul\u2019s aspiration to seek unity with eternal reality.\u00a0 It symbolizes what Advaita Siddanta highlights as unity of Jivatma with Paramatma.<\/p>\n In the first Sargam (Pralayapayodhi), Jayadevar hails Krishna for \u00a0manifesting \u00a0in different forms like fish, tortoise, dwarf etc. to protect the devotees.\u00a0 \u00a0It addresses Krishna as one who brings victory to the world (Jaya Jaga Deesa Hare). Gita Govindam was a smooth journey for\u00a0 Jayadevar.\u00a0 Some divine \u00a0power was inspiring him, prompting him and enlightening him.\u00a0 But when he reached the 19th<\/sup> Sargam, he was stuck up.\u00a0 He imagines Radha as very possessive.\u00a0 She cannot remain separate from Krishna even for a while, \u00a0but Krishna is known to disappear suddenly and appear elsewhere.\u00a0 \u00a0Radha yearns for Krishna in his blue cloudy complexion, in his captivating eyes, colourful attire and enchanting smile.\u00a0 Jayadevar visualizes Radha\u2019s eyes as eagerly looking for Krishna.\u00a0 \u00a0Krishna too cannot be away from Radha for too long. He would reach his devotee at an appropriate time.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Now, as the sun is setting and the sounds of birds heard in the air, Radha hears the sweet\u00a0 melodious sound of flute music.\u00a0 Seeing Krishna in his charm and splendor, his face radiant like an effulgent moon, Radha is delighted.\u00a0 But she conceals her joy and acts as if she is furious.\u00a0 Krishna is willing to go to any length to please her.\u00a0 He says: \u201cOh Radha, just as you have been suffering the pangs of separation, I too am missing you.\u00a0 I am now perspiring.\u00a0 Come, place your foot over my head and let my head cool down by the touch of your foot.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When Jayadevar reached this scenario, he paused for a while.\u00a0 \u201cWhy this wrong imagination?\u201d he asks himself.\u00a0 \u00a0\u201cThe Lotus feet of Lord Krishna is sacred, sanctimonious and venerable.\u00a0 That is where many devotees aspire to place their head and surrender.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When the right place for devotee\u2019s head is the feet of the God, how can the devotee\u2019s feet be on the head of the God?\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0When Jayadevar was wondering how such a senseless idea had come to his mind, Padmavati came and reminded him that it was time for his bath.\u00a0 \u00a0Leaving the manuscript as it is, he applied oil on his head and went for bath.<\/p>\n When, after seeing off her husband, Padmavati went back to her room, she saw her husband again coming back and asking her to bring the manuscript and the writing instrument.\u00a0 As she did so, her husband made some corrections and went away.\u00a0 \u00a0On his return later, after the Puja and the lunch, Jayadevar got back the manuscript to resume his writing.\u00a0 He had decided not to write what had erroneously come to his mind, but on opening the manuscript, he was surprised to find specific mention of what he had decided to omit.\u00a0 \u00a0\u201cWho wrote these lines?\u201d he asked Padmavati.\u00a0 She said: \u201cYou returned midway\u00a0 and did the correction.\u201d\u00a0 When he denied having come, Padmavathi was very certain that she saw him coming and writing those lines.\u00a0 \u00a0it then dawned on him that in his absence Krishna Himself had come and added the lines to reiterate what Jayadevar had thought at first:<\/p>\n Smara-karala-Kandanam, mama sirasi mandanam \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0dehi pada-pallavam udaaram,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 jvalathi mayi thaaruno madhana kathnaanalo\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 harathu thathupaahitha vikaaram”\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Priye saaruseele (7)<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMy beloved! Offer the fresh buds of your enchanting feet as an ornament upon my head, so the devastating effect of heat may be alleviated, and the harsh fire of amorous desires may also be relieved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOh Jagannatha!\u201d, Jayadevar said, \u201chow compassionate you are.\u00a0\u00a0 You, who consider Radha\u2019s foot over your head as a privilege, has given us an indirect message that you hold your devotees also in full esteem.\u00a0 I have no words to describe your love, your generosity and many acts of your kindness.\u00a0 You have captured our heart.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0Turning towards his wife, Jayadevar said: \u201cOh Padmavati, how fortunate you are! Though Lord Krishna gave me the inspiration to write, it was you he has chosen to give his Darshan.\u00a0 Padmavati, in all my future songs, \u00a0I would make specific mention about your devotion and the service you are doing.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 As\u00a0 Jayadevar and Padmavati couple started rendering Ashtapadi in the precincts of Jaganathar temple, it reverberated throughout the temple and Ashtapadi became the prayer song at each and every house.\u00a0 \u00a0Since each song made of eight couplets, it came to be known as Ashtapadi which means eight steps that lead us to Krishna. Apart from rendering at Bhajan, the songs are ideal for dance performance also.<\/p>\n At that time, the sacred temple city of Puri was being ruled by a King in the name of Sathveekan.\u00a0 He too was deeply devoted to Lord Jagannath.\u00a0 He has composed many works of high poetic and literary value in praise of Lord Jagannath.\u00a0 However, when he found that Jayadevar\u2019s songs received more \u00a0acclaim, applause and appreciation,\u00a0 he felt disturbed.\u00a0 \u00a0One day, when he \u00a0came to the temple, he found devotees were singing only the songs of Jayadevar.\u00a0 At the end, when the devotees paid respect due to the king, \u00a0he said: \u201c I too have composed songs with great devotion and dedication but I found that you were singing only the songs of Jayadevar and not even a single song of mine.\u201d\u00a0 One of the devotees replied: \u201cWe respect you as King but when we sing Jayadevar\u2019s songs, we feel nearer to Lord Jagannath.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cDoes it mean\u201d, the king replied, \u201cthe songs I composed have no devotional value?\u201d\u00a0 When it was turning into a debate, they all came to an agreement.\u00a0 They will place both the songs of Jayadevar and of King before the idol of Lord Jagannath and leave the decision to God.\u00a0 After placing both set of songs at the sanctum sanctorum, they closed the door.\u00a0 When they opened it the next morning, they found Jayadevar\u2019s songs at the Lotus Feet of Jagannatha and the songs of King left on the side.\u00a0 Though the king accepted the verdict, \u00a0Jayadevar came to him later and said that he saw a dream where\u00a0 Lord Jagannath appeared and said that songs of Jayadevar and of King are equal to him.\u00a0 Jayadevar said that he appreciated the songs composed by the king which are highly devotional. A formula was then set that whenever Jayadevar\u2019s Ashtapadi is rendered, first the song composed by King will be rendered as the beginning hymn, the system which is still followed strictly.<\/p>\n As in other parts of the nation,\u00a0 Bhakthi movement became very powerful in South.\u00a0 The triads (Thrimurthis) Sri Bhodendra Swamigal, Sri Sridhara Ayyaval and Marudanallur Sri Venkatesa Sadguru Swamigal\u00a0 laid the foundation for Namasankeerthanam.\u00a0 With the blessings of these luminaries, a systematic and elaborate Bhajan formula (Sambradaya) was \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0established.\u00a0 \u00a0It is interesting to note how the practice of rendering Gita Govindam during Namasankeerthanam was started in South.\u00a0 While Marudanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal was going to Ayodhya he halted at a town called Taalapakkam where Pundits from all regions had assembled.\u00a0\u00a0 It became a confluence of devotional singers from all regions.\u00a0 Songs of Meera Bhai, songs of Namdev, songs of Chaitanya and songs of Ashtapadi\u00a0 were heard.\u00a0 Marudanallur Sadguru Swamigal was impressed by the\u00a0 devotional fervor contained in \u00a0Ashtapathi.\u00a0 He collected all the songs of Ashtapathi and after visiting Ayodhya returned to South and introduced the system of rendering Ashtapadi in the Bhajan Sambradaya in Tamil Nadu.\u00a0 In the temples \u00a0of Kerala too, Ashtapadi is sung by the singer standing by the side of the Sopanam (steps leading to the sanctum) accompanied by the beats of \u00a0Idakka, a small percussion instrument.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Guruvayur temple reverberates with the melodious song of Ashtapadi.\u00a0 \u00a0There is a song which says that Ashtapadi, the most favourite song of Lord Guruvayurappan is call made \u00a0\u00a0by Radha, the Jivatma for union with Paramatma.<\/p>\n Gita Govindam is unique not just for its Sringara Rasa, but also for the Advaita Siddanta it underlines, for the devotion it highlights, for the poetic beauty it contains, for its musical metres, for the human emotion it depicts for\u00a0 being the essence of Saastras and above all for giving us the vision of Krishna, the Supreme Lord, the Lord of infinite beauty, love, compassion and knowledge who ever resides in the heart of devotee.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Source:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n 1.Jayadevarum Ashtapathiyum\u201d by Sri Nagerkoil Krishnan\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.From Hari Katha by Smt. Poornima Srikanth. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Among the many temples spread all over India, the temple at Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath, is unique for many reasons. Lord Jagannath, his elder brother, Balabadra and younger sister, Subadra are the three deities worshipped here.\u00a0… Continue Reading →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thiruppugazh.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2814"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thiruppugazh.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thiruppugazh.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thiruppugazh.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thiruppugazh.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2814"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/www.thiruppugazh.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2814\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2819,"href":"http:\/\/www.thiruppugazh.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2814\/revisions\/2819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thiruppugazh.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thiruppugazh.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thiruppugazh.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}