KOBI JAYDEV & BORU CHANDIDAS

JAYDEV & HIS "GITA GOVINDA":-

Kirtan is incomplete with Kobi Jaydev, as he was the main person beyond the composition of "Gita Govinda". Jaydev was a poet, singer,lyricist,composer and as well as a great devotee of Lord Krishna. He has born in 12th century in Kendubillo village which situated in Birbhum district. 

 Jaydev wrote "Gita Govinda", a collection of epic poems which he composed in 15th century. Gita Govinda was written in the Kenduli language which is the local language of his birth place.

From Gita Govinda we came to know that Jaydev's father name is Bhojdeb and mother's name is Bamadebi. Though many controversies arise when Jaydev composed Gita Govinda but later Pandit Harekrishna Mukherjee proved that Jaydev was the actual writer of Gita Govinda.

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Gita Govinda is organized into twelve chapters. Each chapter is further sub-divided into twenty - four divisions called Prabandhas. The Prabandhas contain couplets grouped into eight called Ashtapadis. It is mentioned that Radha is greater than Lord Krishna.The text also elaborates the eight moods of heroine Radha, the Ashta Nayika, which has been an inspiration for many compositions and choreographic works in Indian classical dances.Gita Govinda till date is considered as an important text in the Bhakti movement of Hinduism.Kirtan is sung on the basis of the composition of Gita Govinda. Thus, Jaydev act as an important person to popular Kirtan.

The first English translation of Gita Govinda was published by Sir William Jones, in 1792.Later on Gita Govinda has been translated to many languages throughout the world and is considered to be the finest example of Sanskrit poetry and folk songs.

BORU CHANDIDAS & HIS "SREEKRISHNA KIRTAN":-

Boru Chandidas is refered to as the medieval poet of Bengal in 14th century.He was contemporary to Kobi Jaydev. Boru Chandidas also born in a village in Birbhum district. His father's name was Ashokpati but mother's name was not found. Boru Chandidas wrote the famous lyrical drama "SreeKrishna Kirtan". Sreekrishna Kirtan is a pastoral Vaishnav drama verse which composed in 16th century.

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SreeKrishna Kirtan, as the name suggest narrates the story of Lord Krishna and Radha's love and friend relationship. Though the storyline based on the popular erotic folk songs known as the Dhamalis.However, Boru Chandidas managed to add substantial originality, making it a masterpiece of medieval Bengali Literature.He gives the yearning of Radha a distinctly Bengali rendition and in the process capturing much of the social conditions of the day.

SreeKrishna Kirtan consists of 417 Bengali Padas or verses and 133 Sanskrit shlokas.The extant works is divided into 13 Khandas or sections. Dialogues and counter-dialogues are written in Payar and Tripadi chanda which have added a dramatic quality of SreeKrishna Kirtan.Boru Chandidas and his composition of SreeKrishna Kirtan are still very much important for performing Kirtan songs and kathas.

References:

1) Banglar Kirtan o Kirtania - Dr. Hariprasad Mukherjee

2) Padabali Kirtaner Itihash - Swami Praganananda