Gitaramayanam


Gītarāmāyaṇam , literally The Rāmāyaṇa in songs, is a Sanskrit epic poem of the Gītakāvya genre, composed by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya in the years 2009 and 2010. It consists of 1008 songs in Sanskrit which are divided into seven Kāṇḍas, every Kāṇḍa being sub-divided into one or more Sargas. 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, literally the canto with Sītā and Rāma eulogized.

SongSingerSubject
1–3,8,9–27,28,29RāmabhadrācāryaPraise of Sītā and Rāma
4RāmabhadrācāryaDaśāvatārastutiḥ, praise of the ten Avatāras of Rāma, similar to the Daśāvatārakīrtidhavalam in Gītagovindam
5–7RāmabhadrācāryaPrayers to Rāma
30–36RāmabhadrācāryaPraise of Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa, Hanumān, Vālmīki, Tulasīdāsa, Ayodhyā and Citrakūṭa respectively


Canto II. Gītarāghavāvirbhāvaḥ, literally the canto with the songs of Rāma's manifestation.

SongSingerSubject
1,4RāmabhadrācāryaPraise of Rāmāyaṇa and birth of Hanumān.
2–3Devatās, RāmaDevatās request Rāma for an Avatāra, Rāma assures them about his Avatāra in the dynasty of Raghu
5AgniPresentation of the Pāyasa by Agni to Daśaratha.
6,10–17,19RāmabhadrācāryaThe manifestation of Rāma, description of the infant and the festivities in Ayodhyā on the Rāmanavamī day
7–9KausalyāAddress to and praise of the infant Rāma.
18Nāpitī The Nāpitī's demands Kasualyās bracelet as remuneration for cutting the nails of the infant Rāma
20VadhuA housewife of Ayodhyā tells her mother-in-law about the auspiciousness of Rāmanavamī
21–23,26–30,35–36RāmabhadrācāryaThe Rāmanavamī day, the Vardhāpana ceremony of Rāma, description of the infant
24–25SarasvatīSarasvatī, disguised as a midwife, performs the Vardhāpana of Rāma and demands Kausalyā's Sari as a reward
32–34Sākhī The Jātakarman Saṃskāra, Ṣaṣṭhī and Dvādaśī of the brothers


Canto III. Gītarāghavaśiśukeliḥ, literally the canto with the songs of infant Rāma's pastimes.

SongSingerSubject
1,3–8,11RāmabhadrācāryaThe Nāmakaraṇa Saṃskāra of the four brothers by Vasiṣṭha, and description of Rāma with Kausalyā
2VasiṣṭhaPrayer to Rāma.
9–10,16Kausalyā, SumitrāThe mothers wish Rāma to grow up soon.
12–13,23SakhīThe Bahirniṣkramaṇa saṃskāra of the four brothers, Rāma in the lap of Daśaratha
14–15, 30DaśarathaMonologue by Daśaratha about his great fortune
17–18Kinnaras, RāmabhadrācāryaKajjalī describing Rāma on a swing
19–20KausalyāRequest to her companions to move the swing slowly
21–22,24–26,31RāmabhadrācāryaRāma on the swing, in the courtyard of Daśaratha and in the care of Kausalyā
27–29,32KausalyāUrges Daśaratha to take a look at Rāma sitting in the courtyard, describes Rāma playing in the mud
33–35KausalyāKausalyā sees Rāma simultaneously at two places during his Annaprāśana Saṃskāra, surrenders to Rāma
36RāmaRāma reveals his form to Kausalyā and asks her not to fear – rather meditate on his form


Canto IV. Gītarāghavabālalīlaḥ, literally the canto with the songs of child Rāma's play.

SongSingerSubject
1,3–4RāmabhadrācāryaRāma begins to walk, description of Rāma being given a bath and ornaments by the three mothers
2KaikeyīDescription of the four brothers playing
5NāradaFortune of Daśaratha and the three queens
6–7Kausalyā, RāmaRāma is amused on seeing the moon and asks for it
8–13Kausalyā, 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 brothers
18LakṣmaṇaInvites Rāma out to play
19,21KaikeyīRequests Rāma not to go far, description of the brothers' play
23,25VasiṣṭhaKarṇavedha and Cūḍākaraṇa Saṃskāras of the four brothers
24,28RāmabhadrācāryaDescription of Rāma after his Karṇavedha, Sarasvatī teaches Rāma the Śiva Sūtras
26–27KausalyāRuns after Rāma to catch hold of him
29RāmaRequests parents for the Yajñopavīta
30KausalyāPleads Daśaratha for the Yajñopavīta of Rāma
31–32SarasvatīThe Upanayana Saṃskāra of the four brothers
33Vasiṣṭha's disciplesWelcome Rāma to the Āśrama of Vasiṣṭha
34–35RāmabhadrācāryaRāma and the brothers learn from Vasiṣṭha, being cared for by Arundhatī
36VasiṣṭhaRequests Rāma to return home after completion of his learning


Canto V. Gītasītāvirbhāvaḥ, literally the canto with the songs of Sītā's manifestation.

SongSingerSubject
1–4, 9–11RāmabhadrācāryaPraise of Mithilā, manifestation of Sītā on Sītānavami day, celebrations in Mithilā
5–8NāradaPraises Sītā and requests her to assume an infant's form, praise of Janaka and Mithilā
12SakhīSītā playing in Mithilā
13SunayanāDescription of the happiness in Mithilā since Sītā's manifestation
14MaitreyīPraise of Sunayana's fortune and Sītā
15–16RāmabhadrācāryaSītā's beauty and her care by Sunayanā
17SunayanāWishes Sītā to grow up soon
18–20RāmabhadrācāryaSītā playing in Mithilā
21–28YājñavalkyaFortune of Janaka, Nāmakaraṇa of Sītāa, description of her virtues, and revelation that she is the Ādi Śakti
29–30SītāSītā teaches two pet birds - a myna and a parrot
31SītāDescription of a vision of Rāma in her dream to Sunayanā
32RāmabhadrācāryaSītā paints Rāma as she saw in her dream
33–34SunayanāWishes Rāma to be Sītā's groom, asks Sītā to worship Pārvatī
35RāmabhadrācāryaSītā's beauty
36SītāPrayer to Rāma


Canto VI. Gītayugalakaiśorakaḥ, literally the canto with the songs of the youthful duo.

SongSingerSubject
1–5RāmabhadrācāryaSītā longs to see Rāma in person
6SītāDescribes the qualities of her desired groom to Nārada
7NāradaDescription of Rama’s virtues
8–10SītāAsks Nārada how she can meet Rama, and the concept of Avatāra of the Brahman
11–17NāradaExplains 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 Śiva
18–19SītāTells a companion about her desire to see Rāma
20SītāAsks an astrologer, who is Śiva in disguise, about her future
21–28SītāSītā’s letter to Rama, delivered by Śukadeva in the form of a parrot, requesting Rāma to come to Mithilā
29–36RāmaRāma’s reply to Sītā, assuring him of his arrival in Mithilā


Canto VII. Gītasītāsvayaṃvaropakramaḥ , literally the canto with the songs of the commencement of Sītā's Svayaṃvara.
Canto VIII. Gītasītānīketakaḥ, literally the canto with the songs of Sītā's consort.
Canto IX. Gītasītāsvayaṃvaraḥ, literally the canto with the songs of Sītā's Svayaṃvara.
Canto X. Gītasītārāmapariṇayaḥ, literally the canto with the songs of the Sītā's marriage with Rāma.
Canto XI. Gītasītārāmapratyudgamotsavaḥ, 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, the child Rāma asks Kausalyā why the moon appears dark.


Devanāgarī
शशाङ्के कुतः श्यामता जाता ।

पृच्छति जननीमतिकुतूहलाद्बालस्त्रिभुवनत्राता ॥

कृष्णमृगस्तव शरभयाद्विधुं यातो नैतन्मातः ।

कपटमृगं प्रणिहन्मि नापरं तस्य विमोहख्यातः ॥

दशमुखभयाद्भुवो याता या विधुं श्यामता दृष्टा ।

कथं राहुभीतोऽसौ पायान्मही मूढतास्पृष्टा ॥

त्वमथ वीक्ष्य चन्द्रमसं निजदयिताननरूपसमानम् ।

शशिनि गतो श्यामः किल दृष्टः कर्तुं तदधरपानम् ॥

नहि मातः पीये तव स्तनं श्रुत्वा मनुजेन्द्राणी ।

सस्मितमुखी विस्मिता जाता चकिता गिरिधरवाणी ॥



IAST
śaśāṅke kutaḥ śyāmatā jātā ।

pṛcchati jananīmatikutūhalādbālastribhuvanatrātā ॥

kṛṣṇamṛgastava śarabhayādvidhuṃ yāto naitanmātaḥ ।

kapaṭamṛgaṃ praṇihanmi nāparaṃ tasya vimohakhyātaḥ ॥

daśamukhabhayādbhuvo yātā yā vidhuṃ śyāmatā dṛṣṭā ।

kathaṃ rāhubhītoऽsau pāyānmahī mūḍhatāspṛṣṭā ॥

tvamatha vīkṣya candramasaṃ nijadayitānanarūpasamānam ।

śaśini gato śyāmaḥ kila dṛṣṭaḥ kartuṃ tadadharapānam ॥

nahi mātaḥ pīye tava stanaṃ śrutvā manujendrāṇī ।

sasmitamukhī vismitā jātā cakitā giridharavāṇī ॥