Gītarāmāyaṇam () (2011), literally The Rāmāyaṇa in songs, is a Sanskrit epic poem (Mahākāvya) of the Gītakāvya (lyrical poetry) genre, composed by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya (1950–) in the years 2009 and 2010. It consists of 1008 songs in Sanskrit which are divided into seven Kāṇḍas (books), every Kāṇḍa being sub-divided into one or more Sargas (cantos). There are 28 cantos in all, and each canto consists of 36 songs. The songs of the epic are based on rhythms and tunes or Rāgas found in the folk music and classical music of India. In the epic, each song in sung by one or more characters of the Rāmāyaṇa or by the poet. The songs progressively narrate the Rāmāyaṇa via monologues, dialogues and multilogues. There are occasional Sanskrit verses between the songs, which take the narrative forward.
A copy of the epic with a Hindi commentary by the poet was published by the Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University, Chitrakuta, Uttar Pradesh. The book was released by the Sanskrit poet Abhirāja Rājendra Miśra at Chitarkuta on the Makara Saṅkrānti day of January 14, 2011.
Structure
The work begins with four verses in the Maṅgalācaraṇa. The poet invokes the blessings of Rāma in the first two verses, and Hanumān in the third verse. In the final verse, the work Gītarāmāyaṇam is introduced.
Bālakāṇḍam
Canto I. Stutasītārāmacandraḥ (Sanskrit: स्तुतसीतारामचन्द्रः), literally the canto with Sītā and Rāma eulogized. Song(s) Singer Subject 1–3,8,9–27,28,29 Rāmabhadrācārya Praise of Sītā and Rāma 4 Rāmabhadrācārya Daśāvatārastutiḥ, praise of the ten Avatāras of Rāma, similar to the Daśāvatārakīrtidhavalam in Gītagovindam 5–7 Rāmabhadrācārya Prayers to Rāma 30–36 Rāmabhadrācārya Praise of Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa, Hanumān, Vālmīki, Tulasīdāsa, Ayodhyā and Citrakūṭa respectively Canto II. Gītarāghavāvirbhāvaḥ (Sanskrit: गीतराघवाविर्भावः), literally the canto with the songs of Rāma's manifestation.
Song(s) Singer Subject 1,4 Rāmabhadrācārya Praise of Rāmāyaṇa and birth of Hanumān. 2–3 Devatās, Rāma Devatās request Rāma for an Avatāra, Rāma assures them about his Avatāra in the dynasty of Raghu 5 Agni Presentation of the Pāyasa by Agni to Daśaratha. 6,10–17,19 Rāmabhadrācārya The manifestation of Rāma, description of the infant and the festivities in Ayodhyā on the Rāmanavamī day 7–9 Kausalyā Address to and praise of the infant Rāma. 18 Nāpitī (barber's woman) The Nāpitī's demands Kasualyās bracelet as remuneration for cutting the nails of the infant Rāma 20 Vadhu A housewife of Ayodhyā tells her mother-in-law about the auspiciousness of Rāmanavamī 21–23,26–30,35–36 Rāmabhadrācārya The Rāmanavamī day, the Vardhāpana ceremony (the cutting of the umbilical cord) of Rāma, description of the infant 24–25 Sarasvatī Sarasvatī, disguised as a midwife, performs the Vardhāpana of Rāma and demands Kausalyā's Sari as a reward 32–34 Sākhī (a maiden) The Jātakarman Saṃskāra, Ṣaṣṭhī (sixth day) and Dvādaśī (twelfth day) of the brothers Canto III. Gītarāghavaśiśukeliḥ (Sanskrit: गीतराघवशिशुकेलिः), literally the canto with the songs of infant Rāma's pastimes.
Song(s) Singer Subject 1,3–8,11 Rāmabhadrācārya The Nāmakaraṇa Saṃskāra (naming) of the four brothers by Vasiṣṭha, and description of Rāma with Kausalyā 2 Vasiṣṭha Prayer to Rāma. 9–10,16 Kausalyā, Sumitrā The mothers wish Rāma to grow up soon. 12–13,23 Sakhī The Bahirniṣkramaṇa saṃskāra of the four brothers, Rāma in the lap of Daśaratha 14–15, 30 Daśaratha Monologue by Daśaratha about his great fortune 17–18 Kinnaras, Rāmabhadrācārya Kajjalī describing Rāma on a swing 19–20 Kausalyā Request to her companions to move the swing slowly 21–22,24–26,31 Rāmabhadrācārya Rāma on the swing, in the courtyard of Daśaratha and in the care of Kausalyā 27–29,32 Kausalyā Urges Daśaratha to take a look at Rāma sitting in the courtyard, describes Rāma playing in the mud 33–35 Kausalyā Kausalyā sees Rāma simultaneously at two places during his Annaprāśana Saṃskāra, surrenders to Rāma 36 Rāma Rāma reveals his form to Kausalyā and asks her not to fear – rather meditate on his form Canto IV. Gītarāghavabālalīlaḥ (Sanskrit: गीतराघवबाललीलः), literally the canto with the songs of child Rāma's play. Song(s) Singer Subject1,3–4Rāmabhadrācārya Rāma begins to walk, description of Rāma being given a bath and ornaments by the three mothers2KaikeyīDescription of the four brothers playing5NāradaFortune of Daśaratha and the three queens6–7Kausalyā, RāmaRāma is amused on seeing the moon and asks for it8–13Kausalyā, Kaikeyī, SumitrāThe mothers sing lullabies to make Rāma sleep. Kausalyā sings to wake up Rāma in the morning.14,16–17,20RāmabhadrācāryaArundhatī marks a Tilaka on Rāma's forehead, description of Rāma playing and having a meal.15,22SakhīRāma going out to play with his brothers18LakṣmaṇaInvites Rāma out to play19,21KaikeyīRequests Rāma not to go far, description of the brothers' play23,25VasiṣṭhaKarṇavedha and Cūḍākaraṇa Saṃskāras of the four brothers24,28RāmabhadrācāryaDescription of Rāma after his Karṇavedha, Sarasvatī teaches Rāma the Śiva Sūtras26–27KausalyāRuns after Rāma to catch hold of him29RāmaRequests parents for the Yajñopavīta30KausalyāPleads Daśaratha for the Yajñopavīta of Rāma31–32SarasvatīThe Upanayana Saṃskāra of the four brothers33Vasiṣṭha's disciplesWelcome Rāma to the Āśrama of Vasiṣṭha34–35RāmabhadrācāryaRāma and the brothers learn from Vasiṣṭha, being cared for by Arundhatī36VasiṣṭhaRequests Rāma to return home after completion of his learning Canto V. Gītasītāvirbhāvaḥ (Sanskrit: गीतसीताविर्भावः), literally the canto with the songs of Sītā's manifestation. Song(s) Singer Subject1–4, 9–11Rāmabhadrācārya Praise of Mithilā, manifestation of Sītā on Sītānavami day, celebrations in Mithilā5–8NāradaPraises Sītā and requests her to assume an infant's form, praise of Janaka and Mithilā12SakhīSītā playing in Mithilā13SunayanāDescription of the happiness in Mithilā since Sītā's manifestation14MaitreyīPraise of Sunayana's fortune and Sītā15–16Rāmabhadrācārya Sītā's beauty and her care by Sunayanā17SunayanāWishes Sītā to grow up soon18–20Rāmabhadrācārya Sītā playing in Mithilā21–28YājñavalkyaFortune of Janaka, Nāmakaraṇa of Sītāa, description of her virtues, and revelation that she is the Ādi Śakti29–30SītāSītā teaches two pet birds - a myna and a parrot31SītāDescription of a vision of Rāma in her dream to Sunayanā32Rāmabhadrācārya Sītā paints Rāma as she saw in her dream33–34SunayanāWishes Rāma to be Sītā's groom, asks Sītā to worship Pārvatī35Rāmabhadrācārya Sītā's beauty36SītāPrayer to Rāma Canto VI. Gītayugalakaiśorakaḥ (Sanskrit: गीतयुगलकैशोरकः), literally the canto with the songs of the youthful duo. Song(s) Singer Subject1–5Rāmabhadrācārya Sītā longs to see Rāma in person6SītāDescribes the qualities of her desired groom to Nārada7NāradaDescription of Rama's virtues 8–10SītāAsks Nārada how she can meet Rama, and the concept of Avatāra of the Brahman11–17NāradaExplains the notion of Avatāra of Brahman, Saguṇa and Nirguṇa aspects, and Sītā being Rama's Bhakti. Prophesizes Rāma's arrival in Mithilā to break the bow of Śiva18–19SītāTells a companion about her desire to see Rāma20SītāAsks an astrologer, who is Śiva in disguise, about her future21–28SītāSītā's letter to Rama, delivered by Śukadeva in the form of a parrot, requesting Rāma to come to Mithilā29–36RāmaRāma's reply to Sītā, assuring him of his arrival in Mithilā Canto VII. Gītasītāsvayaṃvaropakramaḥ (Sanskrit: गीतसीतास्वयंवरोपक्रमः), literally the canto with the songs of the commencement of Sītā's Svayaṃvara. Song(s)SingerSubject1SītāQuestion from Janaka regarding the Shiva Dhanusha2RāmabhadrācāryaImage of Sita pulling Shiva Dhanusha3RāmabhadrācāryaSage Viśvāmitra's vision of four brothers playing on the banks of Saryu4,6,7ViśvāmitraRāma Prem, arrival of Rāma in the court, demanding Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa from Daśaratha5ChāraṇaSong of glory of Rāma sitting in the court8,9DaśarathaRefusing to give Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa to Viśvāmitra10Vasiṣṭha, other BrāhmaṇasFarewell to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa11,12DevatāsScene of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa walking away with Viśvāmitra, prayer to nature to bring joy to Rāma 13RāmabhadrācāryaGlory song of Rāma, the destroyer of Tāḍakā and Subāhu and the savior of the yajna14,16AhilyāPrayer to Rāma to return, then a Rāma Stuti15ViśvāmitraPrayer to Rāma for the salvation of Gautam's wife Ahilyā17People of MithilāPraise of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa18RāmabhadrācāryaRāma Darshan by the people of Mithila19-21Janaka, ViśvāmitraInquiry about Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa from Viśvāmitra, Introduction by Viśvāmitra22Janaka's ministersPraise of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa23,24Lakṣmaṇa, RāmaLakṣmaṇa's desire to see Janakpur to Rāma, Praise of Janakpur by Rāma 24,36Children of MithilāVisit of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa to Mithila26-34Sītā's eight friendsSong the beauty and virtue of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, wishing for marriage of Sītā and Rāma, requesting Rāma to come to the flower garden35Brāhmaṇa, MinistersWelcoming Rāma in the Dhanuṣayajñaśālā Canto VIII. Gītasītānīketakaḥ (Sanskrit: गीतसीतानिकेतकः), literally the canto with the songs of Sītā's consort.
Canto IX. Gītasītāsvayaṃvaraḥ (Sanskrit: गीतसीतास्वयंवरः), literally the canto with the songs of Sītā's Svayaṃvara.
Canto X. Gītasītārāmapariṇayaḥ (Sanskrit: गीतसीतारामपरिणयः), literally the canto with the songs of the Sītā's marriage with Rāma.
Canto XI. Gītasītārāmapratyudgamotsavaḥ (Sanskrit: गीतसीतारामप्रत्युद्गमोत्सवः), literally the canto with the songs of the festivities at the return of Sītā and Rāma.
Ayodhyākāṇḍam
Canto XII. Śrīsītārāmavanavihāraḥ
Canto XIII. Śrīsītārāmaholīvihāraḥ
Canto XIV. Śrīsītārāmadolotsavaḥ
Canto XV. Gītaṣaḍṛtuvarṇanaḥ
Canto XVI. Gītarāṣṭradaivataḥ
Canto XVII. Gītarāghavavanavāsaḥ
Canto XVIII. Gītapathikābhīṣṭhaḥ
Canto XIX. Gītāyodhyakavirahālambanaḥ
Canto XX. Gītacitrakūṭamaṇḍanaḥ
Araṇyakāṇḍam
Canto XXI. Gītalalitanaralīlaḥ
Kiṣkindhākāṇḍam
Canto XXII. Gītamārutijayaḥ
Sundarakāṇḍam
Canto XXIII. Gītahanumatparākramaḥ
Canto XXIV. Gītaśaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ
Yuddhakāṇḍam
Canto XXV. Gītaraṇakarkaśaḥ
Canto XXVI. Gītarāvaṇāriḥ
Uttarakāṇḍam
Canto XXVII. Gītapaṭṭābhiṣekaḥ
Canto XXVIII. Gītarājādhirājaḥ
Example song
In the following song (1.4.6), the child Rāma asks Kausalyā why the moon appears dark.Rambhadracharya 2011, p. 96.
Notes
References