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Navarasik
Chandidas and Rajokini
© Parvathy Baul & Ravi Gopalan Nair
Chandidas is considered one of the foremost devotional poets of Bengal.
His devotional fervour is unsurpassable.
Scholars date his works to the early 15th century.
His works include over one thousand devotional poems all centered around the love of Radha for her beloved Sri Krishna.
He was also one of the earliest Bengali language poets.
His relationship with Rajokini, who was considered to belong to a lower strata of the society, turned out to be a deep source of his inspiration and spiritual sadhana.
This woodcut depicts the story of Chandidas sitting near the pond and catching fish, where Rajokini used to wash the clothes.
They never spoke to each other all this while.
Twelve years passed thus and one fine day Rajokini asked Chandidas that he had been trying to catch a fish for twelve years, did he catch one ever?
Chandidas replied “Yes, today I have caught one.”
Chandidas is considered one of the foremost devotional poets of Bengal.
His devotional fervour is unsurpassable.
Scholars date his works to the early 15th century.
His works include over one thousand devotional poems all centered around the love of Radha for her beloved Sri Krishna.
He was also one of the earliest Bengali language poets.
His relationship with Rajokini, who was considered to belong to a lower strata of the society, turned out to be a deep source of his inspiration and spiritual sadhana.
This woodcut depicts the story of Chandidas sitting near the pond and catching fish, where Rajokini used to wash the clothes.
They never spoke to each other all this while.
Twelve years passed thus and one fine day Rajokini asked Chandidas that he had been trying to catch a fish for twelve years, did he catch one ever?
Chandidas replied “Yes, today I have caught one.”
Bilwamangal and Chintamoni
© Parvathy Baul & Ravi Gopalan Nair
Bilwamangala Swami, also known as Lila Suka, is the author of one of the seminal Vaishnava Bhakti works titled Sri Krishnakarnamrutam.
His place of origin is largely speculated. Some scholars consider his native origin to be in the southern part of India.
In his early life, he was deeply attracted to a woman by the name Chintamani.
There are various versions of this story, the essence of it being that Chintamani plays a pivotal role in making Bilwamangal realise the ephemeral nature of the mundane world filled with desires. Thus effecting a transformation of his mind to turn completely towards Krishna.
He pays homage to Chintamani for being his teacher in the very first verse of his master composition Sri Krishnakarnamritam.
Legend has it that even Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was deeply impacted by this work and set many disciples on the task of writing down this seminal work.
In this woodcut, Sri Bilwamangala’s final journey to Brindavan is being depicted where he was eventually led by Sri Krishna himself.
Sri Krishna tells Bilwamangala that Chintamani has already reached Brindavan and blind Bilwamangala Swami is approaching her holding Sri Krishna’s hand.
Bilwamangala Swami, also known as Lila Suka, is the author of one of the seminal Vaishnava Bhakti works titled Sri Krishnakarnamrutam.
His place of origin is largely speculated. Some scholars consider his native origin to be in the southern part of India.
In his early life, he was deeply attracted to a woman by the name Chintamani.
There are various versions of this story, the essence of it being that Chintamani plays a pivotal role in making Bilwamangal realise the ephemeral nature of the mundane world filled with desires. Thus effecting a transformation of his mind to turn completely towards Krishna.
He pays homage to Chintamani for being his teacher in the very first verse of his master composition Sri Krishnakarnamritam.
Legend has it that even Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was deeply impacted by this work and set many disciples on the task of writing down this seminal work.
In this woodcut, Sri Bilwamangala’s final journey to Brindavan is being depicted where he was eventually led by Sri Krishna himself.
Sri Krishna tells Bilwamangala that Chintamani has already reached Brindavan and blind Bilwamangala Swami is approaching her holding Sri Krishna’s hand.
Jayadeva and Padmavati
© Parvathy Baul & Ravi Gopalan Nair
Jayadeva is considered foremost among the Navarasik.
He immortalised the playful acts of devotion between Sri Radha and Sri Krishna in his epic poem Gita Govinda.
This work stands tall even after several centuries as it never fails to fuel the inspiration of the artists as well as spiritual practitioners.
There is a famous story associated with the composition of the Gita Govinda, where it is believed that when Jayadeva was stuck in completing the composition of a particular verse, Sri Krishna himself came and completed this composition.
Sri Jayadeva belonged to the 15th century and he married Padmavati who also stood by him as a spiritual companion.
In this woodcut they are seen sitting beside the river Ajay.
Jayadeva is seen reciting a poem while Padmavati is listening to him and fanning him with a hand fan.
Jayadeva is considered foremost among the Navarasik.
He immortalised the playful acts of devotion between Sri Radha and Sri Krishna in his epic poem Gita Govinda.
This work stands tall even after several centuries as it never fails to fuel the inspiration of the artists as well as spiritual practitioners.
There is a famous story associated with the composition of the Gita Govinda, where it is believed that when Jayadeva was stuck in completing the composition of a particular verse, Sri Krishna himself came and completed this composition.
Sri Jayadeva belonged to the 15th century and he married Padmavati who also stood by him as a spiritual companion.
In this woodcut they are seen sitting beside the river Ajay.
Jayadeva is seen reciting a poem while Padmavati is listening to him and fanning him with a hand fan.
Vidyapathi, Lachima and Shiva Simha
© Parvathy Baul & Ravi Gopalan Nair
Vidyapati was an erudite Sanskrit scholar belonging to the Northern part of India. Some scholars identify his origin to be in the ancient Mithila region.
As a royal poet he composed many works.
Among them the most popular ones are those that centre around Sri Krishna and Sri Radha’s devotional play.
He belonged to the fourteenth century. By then Sri Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda has achieved a great impact on the imagination of many scholars and poets.
Vidyapati’s compositions however dive deep into diverse moods of devotional intimacy. Many of these love songs were written in the court of Shiva Simha, grandson of Vidyapati’s first patron.
In this woodcut Vidyapati is reciting his poems in front of King Shiva Simha and queen Lacchima.
Vidyapati was an erudite Sanskrit scholar belonging to the Northern part of India. Some scholars identify his origin to be in the ancient Mithila region.
As a royal poet he composed many works.
Among them the most popular ones are those that centre around Sri Krishna and Sri Radha’s devotional play.
He belonged to the fourteenth century. By then Sri Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda has achieved a great impact on the imagination of many scholars and poets.
Vidyapati’s compositions however dive deep into diverse moods of devotional intimacy. Many of these love songs were written in the court of Shiva Simha, grandson of Vidyapati’s first patron.
In this woodcut Vidyapati is reciting his poems in front of King Shiva Simha and queen Lacchima.
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