Ashtapadis or Ashtapadi refers to the Sanskrit hymns of the Gita Govinda, composed by Jayadeva in the 12th century. The ashtapadis, which describe the beauty of Lord Krishna and the love between Krishna and the gopis, are considered a masterpiece in esoteric spirituality and the theme of 'Divine romance'. The literal meaning of ashtapathi, 'eight-steps', refers to the fact that each hymn is made of eight couplets (eight sets of two lines). It is also the source of the word ashtāpada, an Indian board game, the forerunner of chess. Although the original tunes of the ashtapadis were lost in history, they remain popular and are widely sung in a variety of tunes, and used in classical dance performances, across India. Ashtapadis are regularly performed at Kerala temples in the accompaniment of an idakka; a genre of music called sopana sangeetham.
The lyrical poetry of the Gita Govinda is divided into twelve chapters, each of which is sub-divided into twenty four divisions called Prabandha. The Prabandhas contain couplets grouped into eights, called ashtapadis. Melody type Rasa (aesthetics) Works of Jayadeva
List of Ashtapadis Today, the ashtapadis are sung in a variety of tunes and the list below is just a sample of some of the raga scales used. The original tunes of the ashtapadis are unknown and likely lost in history.'South Indian Music', Prof.Sambamoorthy
1. pralaya payodhi jale (jaya jagadisha hare) - Sowrashtram 2. shrita kamalā kucha-mandala (jaya jaya deva hare) - Bhairavi 3. lalita lavanga-latā parishilana (viharati harir-iha) - Huseni / Vasantha 4. chandana charchita nila kalevara - Kamavardhini 5. sancharad-adhara sudhā madhura (rāse harim-iha) - Thodi 6. nibhruta nikunja gruham - Kambhoji 7. mām iyam chalitā vilokya - Bhupalam 8. nindati chandanam indu-kirañam (sā virahe tava dinā) - Sowrashtram/Dwijavanthi/Darbari Kanada 9. stana-vinihitam api hāram udāram - Bilahari 10. vahati malaya samire (tava virahe vanamāli) - Anandabhairavi 11. rati-sukha-sāre gatam abhisāre (dhira samire yamunā tire) - Kedaragowla or Pahadi 12. pashyati dishi dishi (nātha hare) - Sankarabharanam 13. kathita samayepi - Ahiri 14. smara-samaro-chita virachita veshā - Saranga 15. samudita madane ramañi vadane - Saveri 16. anila tarala kuvalaya nayanena - Punnagavarali/Vishwapriya/Shuddha Saranga 17. rajani janita guru-jāgara (yāhi mādhava yāhi keshava mā vada) - Arabhi 18. harir-abhisarati vahati - Yadukulakamboji 19. vadasi yadi kinchid-api (priye chārushile muncha) - Mukhaari 20. virachita chātu-vachana rachanam - Kalyani 21. manju-tara kunja tala keli sadane (vilasa) - Ghanta 22. rādhā vadana vilokana - Madhyamavati 23. kishalaya shayana tale - Nadhanamakriya 24. kuru yadu-nandana (nijagāda sā) - Surutti/Chakravakam
References
External links
www.odia.org Oriya (Odia) Gita Govinda http://www.sangeetasudha.org/jayadeva/index.html https://gitagovinda.wordpress.com/ lyrics of ashtapathi Jayadeva Ashtapathi/Geetha Govindam Lyrics in Carnatic/Bhajanais
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