Jayadeva
12th century · Odisha / Bengal · Gīta Govinda
Jayadeva is the Sanskrit poet of the Gīta Govinda, the songs of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa’s love, separation and reunion. Its twenty-four aṣṭapadīs (eight-verse songs) have been sung for centuries in the Jagannātha temple at Purī and are central to Odissi dance and to devotional music across India. Its opening hymn on the ten avatāras is widely recited.
Both Odisha (Kenduli Sasan near Purī) and Bengal (Kenduli in Birbhum) claim him. Tradition names his wife Padmāvatī as a temple dancer who danced to his songs. Two of his hymns are in the Guru Granth Sahib.
Tradition says Jayadeva hesitated to write a verse in which Kṛṣṇa asks to place Rādhā’s foot on his head. He went to bathe, and on his return found the verse — “dehi pada-pallavam udāram” — already written in his own hand. Padmāvatī said that he himself had come back and written it; Jayadeva knew it was Kṛṣṇa.
Gīta Govinda · 24 aṣṭapadīs · Jagannātha temple, Purī