Krsnagiti of Manaveda (Kalamulasastra Series 20)

Contents: Foreword. Introduction. 1. Incarnation (Avataram). 2. Suppression of Kaliya (Kaliyamardanam). 3. The divine dance of Rasa (Rasakrida). 4. The slaying of Kamsa (Kamsavadham). 5. Marriage (Svayamvaram). 6. Battle with Bana (Banayuddham). 7. The slaying of Vivida (Vividavadham). 8. Ascent to heaven (Svargarohanam).

"The Krsnagiti is a lyrical and devotional poem composed by Manaveda, Zamorin of Kozhikode (17 cent. A.D.). The poem composed in Sanskrit celebrates the life of Krsna from his incarnation (avatara) to his ascent to Heaven (svargarohana). Composed in eight parts and perhaps modelled on Jayadeva\'s Gitagovinda and written in the form of a monologue addressed to Krsna, the poem is suffused with the sentiment of spiritual devotion (bhakti). It enumerates the story of the Lord and eulogises His lilas on the earth. Moreover, it is the source-text for Krishnattam, the votive dance-drama affiliated to the Guruvayur Temple in Central Kerala.

The Krsnagiti makes a significant contribution of Kerala to the corpus of Sanskrit devotional literature in India. The sentiment of bhakti which pervades the entire poem assumes unique lyrical and dramatic power and invests Krishnattam with immense histrionic possibilities. The dual experience of the poem, as literary work and as a source text for a live performance tradition, makes it interesting for the reader and the spectator alike.

The edition published here presents the text of the Krsnagiti in Devanagari for the first time with a lucid English translation." (jacket)