Jayadeva birth controversy

Until recently, the origins of the great twelfth century poet Jayadeva had been somewhat obscure, with the two neighboring states of Orissa and Bengal in Eastern India staking a claim to Jayadeva's origins. This had led to a bitter feud between people on both sides, that lasted for over a century. [cite web|url=http://orissamatters.com/news/index.php/2001/12/11/bengalis-had-a-jayadeva-too/
title=Bengalis has a Jayadeva too]

The Bengali view

A few earlier accounts by Bengali writers had linked Jayadeva to a certain king "Lakshmanasena" of Birbhum, Bengal. [cite web|url=http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/gita_govinda
title=The Gita Govinda: A Journey Into Realms Of Delight ] These views originated from a single Bengali book, "Jayadeva Charita" authored by someone called "Banamali Das", then subsequently disseminated by Bengali historians. The book was written in 1803 when little was known about the poet's life. Since this was the only published source of information then, it eventually came to be accepted that Jayadeva may have been born in Bengal. This idea was further propagated in 1906 through an article by a certain M. M. Chakrobarty where he mentioned that the great poet belonged to Bengal in the "Asiatic Society of Bengal". [cite web|url=http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20070602222030&Page=Q&Title=ORISSA&Topic=0
title=Poet Jaydev belonged to Orissa: Bengal scholar
date=6-3-2007] Since Jayadeva mentions the village of "Kendubilva" as his birthplace, a location in Birbhum, where a traditional Baul festival is held each year, was identified to have been the original "Kenduli" village of Jayadeva. Under the assumption that the illustrious poet was born there, that festival too became associated with Jayadeva. A nearby village acquired the sobriquet of "Jayadeva Kenduli" and became a tourist attraction, and the Baul festival was renamed as "Jayadeva Mela" [cite web|url=http://www.hindubooks.org/temples/bengal/birbhum/page2.htm
title=The temples of Birbhum] in spite of having originated centuries later during the time of Chaitanya. [cite web|url=http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/03nov14/national.htm#1
title=Scholars provide new twist to Jayadev birth controversy ]

Since Jayadeva's composition, including the Gita Govinda clearly were composed in Puri in Orissa, Bengali historians who supported the idea that Jayadeva must have been from that state, went on to explain that the poet eventually settled in Puri in that state where he began composing poetry.

Recent reports suggest that this erstwhile claim has now been rejected by experts on Jayadeva. A few of the scholars have begun to describe this distortion variously as a "forgery" and a "humbug". [cite web|url=http://www.tathya.in/story.asp?sno=932
title=Its KBC fault not SRK]

The Oriya view

Protagonists of the Oriya viewpoint point out that all of Jayadeva's composition took place when the poet was in Puri, supporting the idea that he must have lived in Puri for most, if not all of his life. [cite web|url=http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Journal/journalvol3/pdf/68-77.pdf
title=Sanskrit Poets and Scholars Flourished During the Suryavamsi Gajapati Period in Orissa
year=2004|format=PDF] Archaeological discoveries in Orissa establish Jayadeva's extended presence in Orissa. In addition, there also exists a village called "Kenduli Sasan" in Orissa where the Hindu deity Krishna, who was also the main theme in Jayadeva's works, has traditionally been worshipped as the main god. Coincidentally, the inhabitants of that village also worship Jayadeva. A "Sasan" is a name for villages that traditionally were centers of brahmin scholarly activity in Orissa, and Jayadeva himself was a brahmin.

Furthermore, researchers opine that Jayadeva is among the centralmost figures in Oriya culture. [ cite web|url=http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/3417472/used/Jayadeva%20and%20Gitagovinda%20in%20the%20Traditions%20of%20Orissa
title=Jayadeva and Gitagovinda in the Traditions of Orissa
year=1995] [ cite web|url=http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/Aug2006/engpdf/56-57.pdf
title=Influence of Gitagovinda on Orissa's Culture
year=2006|format=PDF] Jayadeva's works, they observe, have spread to southern India, but are rare in neighboring Bengal. [ cite web|url=http://www.sankeertanam.com/saints%20texts/Jayadeva%20&%20Gita%20Govindam_2003_SK.pdf
title=Musical Saints of India: Excerpts from a musical discourse on Bhakta Jayadeva and Gita Govindam
year=2003|format=PDF] It has been pointed out that the Gita Govinda's influence outside Orissa is most felt in the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where verses of the poet's work have been incorporated into the Kathakali and Bharatanatyam classical dance forms respectively. [cite web|url=http://www.sankeertanam.com/saints%20texts/Jayadeva%20&%20Gita%20Govindam_2003_SK.pdf
title=Saints of India Excerpts on a musician discourses on Bhakta Jayadeva and Gita Govindam
year=2003|format=PDF] It is Jayadeva's ashtapadis that are sung in dance performances of Odissi, the classical dance of Orissa. [cite web|url=http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/JSS/JSS-08-0-000-000-2004-Web/JSS-08-2-085-178-2004-Abst-PDF/JSS-08-2-113-127-2004-Hacker/JSS-08-2-113-127-2004-Hacker.pdf
title=Dressing Lord Jagannatha in Silk: Cloth, Clothes, and Status
year=2004|format=PDF] Oriya bhajans (devotional songs) are based on ragas and talas specified by Jayadeva's hymns. [cite web|url=http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/sept-oct2006/engpdf/37-40.pdf
title=Sri Jayadev's Music and Its Impact on the Culture of Odissa
year=2004|format=PDF] Jayadeva was a devotee of Krishna, and Krishna in the form of Jagannath is the central deity of Orissa, whereas the female deity Durga is prominent in Bengal. [cite web|url=http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/june2006/engpdf/158-163.pdf
title=The lord and his land
year=2006|format=PDF] [cite web|url=http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/july2003/englishchpter/The%20Cult%20of%20Jagannath.pdf
title=The cult of Jagannath
year=2003|format=PDF] The Gita Govinda composed by Jayadeva is one of the popular themes in the traditional "patachitra" paintings of Orissa. [cite web|url=http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/orissaannualreference/ORA-2004/pdf/eminent_literacy_luminaries_of_orissa.pdf
title=Eminent literary luminaries of Orissa
year=2004|format=PDF] In stark contrast, according to Thomas Donaldson, an American specialist on Indian art history, Jayadeva's ragas do not match the lyrical patterns of Bengal, which unlike Orissa, does not even possess a classical vocal tradition. [cite web|url=http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/june2006/engpdf/or-june-06.pdf
title=A Cult to Salvage Mankind
year=2006|format=PDF] [cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/8170183936/
title=Kamadeva's Pleasure Garden: Orissa
year=1987] The lack of correlation between Bengali traditional music and the compositions of Jayadeva were independently observed in Barbara Stoler Miller's book, Love Song of the Dark Lord. Additionally, a highly Sanskritized and sophisticated classical culture had been firmly entrenched in Orissa during that period, while neighboring Bengal only had a folk based culture until recent times.

ettlement in favor of the Oriya view

After decades of intense feuding between historians of the two states of Orissa and Bengal, recent studies have concluded in favor of the Oriya view, based on evidence gleaned from various sources, as outlined below.

Archaeological evidence

According to very recent media reports and scholarly publications, closer scrutiny of the archaeological records, including temple inscriptions, palm manuscripts and lithographs of that era have revealed the poet's Orissan origin. [cite web|url=http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/jan2004/englishpdf/chapter4.pdf
title=Historical Perspective of Saint Poet Sri Jayadev
year=2006|format=PDF] The worship of the Hindu deity, Krishna, in the form of Jagannath was widespread in Orissa during Jayadeva's birth. [cite web|url=http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Journal/jounalvol1/pdf/orhj-6.pdf
title=Panoramic palmleaf manuscripts of Orissa
year=2006|format=PDF] On the other hand, there is no archaeological evidence of such worship in Bengal until the arrival of "Chaitanya", which was over three centuries after the era of Jayadeva. [cite web|url=http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/july2003/englishchpter/Jagannatha%20Puri%20as%20a%20Centre%20of%20Culture.pdf
title=Jagannatha Puri as a Centre of Culture Through the Ages
year=2004|format=PDF] Inscription at the "Lingaraj" temple in Bhubaneswar tells us that Jayadeva had been a member of the teaching faculty of the school at "Srikurmapataka", near Puri in Orissa. The inscriptions, that refer to "Sadhu Pradhan Jayadeva" were carved by the Orissa monarch of that period. [cite web|url=http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/April2006/engpdf/sanskrit_scholars_of_orissa.pdf
title=Sanskrit Scholars of Orissa
year=2006|format=PDF] Later discoveries of inscriptions at the "Madhukeswar" and "Simhachal" temples, also in Orissa, establishes the linkage between Jayadeva and the dancing families of "Kurmapataka", who held sway during the reign of the Orissan monarch "Chodagangadeva". [cite web|url=http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/june2006/engpdf/58-61.pdf
title=Sri Jagannath Temple: The Nerve Centre of Orissan Culture
year=2006|format=PDF] The most conclusive evidence comes with the discovery of pottery and copper plates at Kenduli village in Orissa, that mention the existence of the great poet, Jayadeva. [cite web|url=http://international.zeenews.com/inner1.asp?aid=193868&sid=BUS
title=Archeologists trace Jayadev's birth place
year=2007] [cite web|url=http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may-2007/engpdf/Page24-27.pdf
title=Advent of Shri Jayadeva - An Archaeological Analysis
month=May | year=2007|format=PDF]

Evidence based on medieval manuscripts

Furthermore, scholars maintain that accounts by numerous medieval authors, such as "Chandra Dutta" of Mithila and "Navaji" of Gwalior supports Orissa as the poet's birthplace. The poet "Mahipati" of Maharashtra writes in his book "Bhakti Bijaya", that Jayadeva's native village was very close to Puri. [cite book
last=Abbott
first=Justin E.
coauthors=N.R. Godbole
title=Stories of Indian Saints: Translation of Mahipati's Marathi poem Bhakta-Vijaya
year=1999
publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
id=ISBN 81-208-0469-4] The Assamese text, "Sampradaya Kula Dipak" as well as the Telugu text, "Sanskruta Kabi Jivani", contain elaborate descriptions of the poet's birth taking place near the Jagannath Dham in Utkala (Orissa). Another book, "Vaishnava Leelamruta" by "Madhaba Patnaik" who lived in the sixteenth century and was contemporaneous to Chaitanya, clearly mentions that the poet was born near Puri.

Some further details about Jayadeva have been garnered from Madhaba Patnaik's book. It gives a clear account of Chaitanya's visit to Puri. He mentions that Chaitanya paid a visit to Kenduli Sasan near Puri to pay homage to Jayadeva and to chant passages from the Gita Govinda. The book mentions that Kenduli Sasan was in fact the birthplace of the illustrious poet. Madhava Patnaik's book also gives an account of Jayadeva's early life from the legends around Puri. It mentions Jayadeva as excelling in the "Shastras" and the "Puranas" (sacred Hindu texts) from early childhood.

Evidence from Jayadeva's own writings

Historians now suggest that some of the poet's own compositions in Oriya unequivocally support the idea that Jayadeva belonged to Puri, Orissa. [cite web|url=http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/july2003/englishchpter/Hymns%20to%20Jagannatha.pdf
title=Hymns to Jagannatha
year=2006|format=PDF] Jayadeva mentions his birthplace as "Kendubilva by the sea" ("Kendubilva Samudra Sambhava") in his 7th "Ashtapadi", and Birbhum, unlike Puri, does not abut on the sea. Jayadeva used to bathe each morning in the banks of a river, mentions the book "Bhaktamala". A. K. Tripathy, an eminent scholar on Jayadeva, and P. C. Tripathy point out that the poet could never have walked daily to the river "Ajeya" which is 36 miles away from the Bengali village, unlike the "Prachi" river upon whose banks is situated the Kenduli village near Puri. Jayadeva's hymns refer to the ocean using the Sanskrit word "Mahodadhi", which is a typical name given to the sea in Puri. [cite web|url=http://www.orissatourism.gov.in/new/shreksh_festival.htm
title=Shreekshetra Utsav: The Puri festival] [cite book
last=Tripathy
first=A. K.
coauthors=P. C. Tripathy
title=The Gita Govinda of Sri Jayadev
year=2006
id=ISBN 8123013132] None of Jayadeva's compositions remotely suggest that he ever served in the court of any monarch. Besides, Lakshmanasena ruled Birbhum between 1179 AD and 1185 AD, that was about a century after the birth of Jayadeva.

The current scholarly opinion

As far back as in 1910, R. Krishna Rao noted that Jayadeva could only have been born in Kenduli in Orissa. His article appeared in the 18th July, 1910 edition of the popular newspaper, "Amrita Bazar Patrika". Even earlier, the first English translation of the Gita Govinda, published by Sir William Jones in 1792, identified Kalinga (Orissa) as the saint poet's birthplace. Much more data has been garnered from historical records ever since by scholars such as Subas Pani, all pointing in the same direction. Currently, the overwhelming evidence in favor of Puri as the birthplace of Jayadeva has even prompted eminent Bengali scholars such as Asish Kumar Chakraborty and Satyakam Sengupta to acknowledge this as a fact. [cite web|url=http://www.orissadiary.com/personality/poet/jayadev.asp
title=Jayadeva
year=20056] Noted Bengali historian Sukumar Sen states: "The place where the Baul fair is held is vaguely called Kenduli and has no connection with any village". [cite web|url=http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/nov2005/engpdf/The_Cultural_%20and_Literary_from_the_Jayadeva's.pdf
title=The Cultural and Literary Form of Jayadeva's Gitagovinda
year=2005
accessdate=2005-11-01|format=PDF] The word "Kendu" itself, is an Oriya derivative of the Sanskrit word "Tenduka" (a kind of tree), which is not used in Bengal. [cite web|url=http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/dec-2006/engpdf/1-4.pdf
title=Birth Place of Jayadev - Forgeries, Interpolations and Fabrications
year=2006
accessdate=2006-12-01|format=PDF]

In view of the preponderance of evidence in this direction, historians have concluded that Gita Govinda's author, Jayadeva was a son of Orissa, not Bengal. [cite web|url=http://www.bharatadesam.com/people/biographies/poets_composers/jayadeva.php
title=Jayadev was from Orissa, Say Bengal Scholars
year=2007] [cite web|url=http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13731997
title=Poet Jayadeva's birthplace row settled
year=2005] [cite web|url=http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/asian-age-plus/books-plus/scholars-give-poet-jayadev-to-orissa.aspx
title=Scholars give poet Jayadev to Orissa
year=2007] The government of Orissa, through the Odissi Akademi, has initiated an annual "Jayadeva Utsav" (festival) in Bhubaneswar and New Delhi to commemorate the great poet's birth in Orissa, through classical music and dance. [cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070625/delhi.htm#14
title=‘Utsav’ to pay tribute to Jayadeva
year=2007] [cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/03/stories/2006050311140200.htm
title=Spotlight on legendary poet Jayadeva
year=2006]

The "Kaun Banega Crorepati" faux pas

In spite of Jayadeva's proven birthplace in Kenduli village, near Puri in Orissa, the April 16, 2007 episode of the popular Indian TV game show "Kaun Banega Crorepati" (KBC III) erroneously mentioned Jayadeva as the court poet of king Lakshmanasena of Bengal. This triggered an immediate volley of protests by the culture-aware people of Orissa. Shah Rukh Khan, the game show's host was denounced for spreading false information. The government of Orissa has also demanded an apology from "Kaun Banega Crorepati" as it claims that the game show "mutilated historical facts" and "hurt the feelings of the people of Orissa". [cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Orissa_wants_KBC_apology_for_wrong_info_on_poet/articleshow/1936184.cms |title=Orissa wants KBC apology for wrong info on poet
year=2007
accessdate=2007-04-22] The Jayadeva Foundation Trust launched a protest against the TV show. [cite web|url=http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B945D28F4-59FB-4A8C-AC52-39BA3207E753%7D&CATEGORYNAME=NATL
title=Orissa to file complaint against Star
year=2007 |accessdate=2007-04-20] [cite web|url=http://123india.santabanta.com/cinema.asp?pid=14487
title=KBC winds up with another governmental objection
year=2007] Some scholars have expressed concern over the false depiction of Jayadeva's origin by Kaun Banega Crorepati, which they call a "historical humbug". [cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/02/stories/2007050211580500.htm
title=Wrong depiction of poet in TV shows irks scholars
year=2007]

References