''Ashtapadis'' or ''Ashtapadi'' refers to the

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

hymns of the ''

Gita Govinda The ''Gita Govinda'' ( sa, गीत गोविन्दम्; ) is a work composed by the 12th-century Hindu poet, Jayadeva. It describes the relationship between Krishna, Radha and ''gopis'' (female cow herders) of Vrindavan. The ''Gita ...

'', composed by

Jayadeva Jayadeva (; born ), also spelt Jaideva, was a Sanskrit poet during the 12th century. He is most known for his epic poem '' Gita Govinda'' which concentrates on Krishna's love with the '' gopi'', Radha, in a rite of spring. This poem, which pres ...

in the 12th Century. The ''ashtapadis'', which describe the beauty of Lord

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...

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 Board games are tabletop games that typically use . These pieces are moved or placed on a pre-marked board (playing surface) and often include elements of table, card, role-playing, and miniatures games as well. Many board games feature a co ...

, the forerunner of

chess Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to dist ...

. 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 The ''idakka'' (), also spelt edaykka/edakka, is an hourglass-shaped drum from Kerala in south India. This handy percussion instrument is very similar to the pan-Indian damaru. While the damaru is played by rattling knotted cords against the res ...

;'' 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 Melody type or type-melody is a set of melodic formulas, figures, and patterns. Term and typical meanings "Melody type" is a fundamental notion for understanding a nature of Western and non-Western musical modes, according to Harold Powers' ...

Rasa (aesthetics) In Indian aesthetics, a rasa ( sa, रस) literally means "nectar, essence or taste".Monier Monier-Williams (1899)Rasa Sanskrit English Dictionary with Etymology, Motilal Banarsidass (Originally Published: Oxford) It connotes a concept in Indian ...

* 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 Bhairavi ( sa, भैरवी) is a Hindu goddess, described as one of the Mahāvidyas, the ten avatars of the mother goddess. She is the consort of Bhairava. Etymology The name ''Bhairavi'' means "terror" or "awe-inspiring". She is th ...

* 3. lalita lavanga-latā parishilana (viharati harir-iha) - Huseni / Vasantha * 4. chandana charchita nila kalevara - Panthuvarali * 5. sancharad-adhara sudhā madhura (rāse harim-iha) - Thodi * 6. nibhruta nikunja gruham -

Kambhoji Kambhoji or Kambodhi is a popular Raga in Carnatic Music. It is classified as a derived raga from 28th Melakartha, Harikambhoji. Scale The scale of Kambhoji is Ascending: S R2 G3 M1 P D2 S Descending: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S (N3 P D2 S) ...

* 7. mām iyam chalitā vilokya -

Bhupalam Bhupalam (pronounced ''bhūpalam'') is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a pentatonic scale (''audava'' rāgam or ''owdava'' rāgam). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale), as it does not have ...

* 8. nindati chandanam indu-kirañam (sā virahe tava dinā) - Sowrashtram (also Dwijavanthi) * 9. stana-vinihitam api hāram udāram -

Bilahari Bilahari is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale) from the 29th ''melakarta'' scale ''Sankarabharanam''. It is a ''janya'' scale, as it does not have all the seven ' ...

*10. vahati malaya samire (tava virahe vanamāli) -

Anandabhairavi Anandabhairavi or Ananda Bhairavi (pronounced ānandabhairavi) is a very old melodious rāgam (musical scale) of Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). This rāgam also used in Indian traditional and regional musics. ''Ānandam'' (San ...

*11. rati-sukha-sāre gatam abhisāre (dhira samire yamunā tire) -

Kedaragowla Kedaragaula (pronounced kēdāragaula) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale) from the 28th '' melakarta'' scale '' Harikambhoji'', and is sometimes spelled as Ke ...

or Pahadi *12. pashyati dishi dishi (nātha hare) - Sankarabharanam *13. kathita samayepi -

Ahiri Ahiri (pronounced āhiri) is a rāgam in Carnatic music. It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale), and associated with the 14th '' melakarta'' scale '' Vakulabharanam''.''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras''Ra ...

*14. smara-samaro-chita virachita veshā - Saranga *15. samudita madane ramañi vadane -

Saveri Saveri (pronounced sāvēri) is a Carnatic music ragam. This raga is a janya of the 15th Melakarta raga Mayamalavagowla. This raga brings out karuna rasa, i.e. it brings mood of compassion.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, ...

*16. anila tarala kuvalaya nayanena - Punnagavarali *17. rajani janita guru-jāgara (yāhi mādhava yāhi keshava mā vada) -

Arabhi Arabhi or Aarabhi (pronounced ārabhi) is a ragam (musical scale) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). It is a ''Janya'' raga (derived scale), whose ''Melakarta'' raga (parent scale, also known as ''janaka'') is '' Shankarabharan ...

*18. harir-abhisarati vahati -

Yadukulakamboji Yadukulakamboji or Yadukulakambodi (yadukulakāmbhōji) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale) from the 28th ''melakarta'' scale ''Harikambhoji'', and is sometimes ...

*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 Madhyamavati (madhyamāvati) is a rāga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an ''audava'' rāga (or ''owdava'' rāga, meaning pentatonic scale), as it does not have all the seven musical notes (''swaras''). ...

*23. kishalaya shayana tale - Nadhanamakriya *24. kuru yadu-nandana (nijagāda sā) - Suruti / Chakravaham

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
Carnatic music Jayadeva {{india-music-stub lt:Gitagovinda