Lecture by: Dr. Subas Pani, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Orissa

Chairperson: Prof. Kapil Kapoor, Centre for Sanskrit Studies,Jawaharlal Nehru University

Theme: Tradition & Spirituality: An Exploration of the Mantras in Gita Govinda

Date: August 25, 2005
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Conference Room III, India International Centre Annexe, 40, Max Muller Marg, New Delhi - 110003

Brief: Dr Subas Pani's lecture explored the historical context and spiritual atmosphere in Orissa at the time of the Gita Govinda. He chronicled the Krishna-isation of Jagannath in the 12th century and explained how Jayadeva and his Gita Govinda were an intrinsic part of this process, the text itself perhaps seeing its first enactment at the consecration of the Puri Jagannath Temple in 1142. This identification of the Vedic god (traditionally depicted as Chaturbhuj Vishnu) with Krishna as the lover and object of devotion of Radha was a part of this new process. According to Dr. Pani, the kernel of this new belief system was simple surrender and devotion. Though the Jagannath temple was run like a palace with elaborate ritual, the kernel was simple devotion. Hence, through the Gita Govinda, Jayadeva allows this new consciousness to pass through him and emerge in the form of powerful mantras and verses. This naturally lent itself to pictorial depiction and Dr. Pani greatly enriched the audience's experience through an visual exploration of the Orissa manuscripts and the rendition of the mantras of the Gita Govinda.

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