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Book Review
Devotional classic
PREMAVUM BHAKTIYUM — Study: Guru Nityachaithanya Yati; Current Books, Round West, Thrissur-680001. Rs. 120.
THIS BOOK is a study of Jayadeva's Gitagovindam, the famous 12th century dramatic poetry of epic nature, with songs of devotion and of supreme love. It remains as one of the world's best love poems, which has influenced literature, music, performing arts and academic studies.
All major literatures of the country have a good number of analytical studies of the classic and so is the case in Malayalam. With the erudition of the author, the book stands far above any other that has come out on the subject. It probes into the classic from the psychological, philosophical, ethical, aesthetic and the theological angles. The Indian and western philosophies as well as artistic and cultural factors have also been handled by the author to make it an exhaustive study.
The book clearly brings out the varying elements of synthesis of devotion and of love that one finds in the work. Radha is the embodiment of womanhood and of nature and illusion; while Krishna is the ultimate Paramapurusha, as brought out by the author. He finds the Radha-Krishna faith is far superior to the animus theory of C.G. Jung.
The author also establishes that devotion, love and lust in the Gitagovindam have a universal dimension, transcending such traditions of parallel nature anywhere else in the world. The Radha-Krishna motif of the highest form of love and devotion has inspired many literary works and performing arts by the various options that the book of Jayadeva offers in its form and content.
The author analyses each of the 12 chapters of the work and in the end brings out how it is superior to the devotional love classics of the world that have stood the test of time.
K. KUNHIKRISHNAN
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