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{{short description|2011 poem by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya}}
{{infobox book
| name = गीतरामायणम्
| title_orig = Gītarāmāyaṇam
| translator =
| image = Ramabhadracharya Works - Gitaramayanam (2011).jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption= Cover page of Gītarāmāyaṇam, first edition
| author = [[Rambhadracharya|Jagadguru Rambhadracharya]]
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = India
| language = Sanskrit
| series =
| subject =
| genre = Epic Poetry
| publisher = Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University
| pub_date = January 14, 2011
| media_type = Print (hardcover)
| pages = 998 pp ''(first edition)''
| isbn =
| oclc =
| congress =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
}}
{{Rambhadracharya sidebar}}
'''''Gītarāmāyaṇam''''' ({{langx|sa|गीतरामायणम्}}) (2011), literally ''The Rāmāyaṇa in songs'', is a Sanskrit [[Epic poetry|epic poem]] ([[Mahākāvya]]) of the Gītakāvya (lyrical poetry) genre, composed by [[Rambhadracharya|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 [[Raga|Rāga]]s found in the [[Indian folk music|folk music]] and [[Indian classical music|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, [[Chitrakoot district|Chitrakuta]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The book was released by the Sanskrit poet [[Abhiraj Rajendra Mishra|Abhirāja Rājendra Miśra]] at Chitarkuta on the [[Makara Sankranti|Makara Saṅkrānti]] day of January 14, 2011.<ref name="stps-gr">{{cite journal | first=Sushil | last=Sharma | title=Gītarāmāyaṇapraśastiḥ |trans-title=Praise of Gītarāmāyaṇam | volume=14 | issue=9 | journal=Śrītulasīpīṭha Saurabha | publisher=Shri Tulsi Peeth Seva Nyas | language=Hindi | place=Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India | date=February 2011 | page=14}}</ref>

==Structure==

The work begins with four verses in the ''[[Mangalacharana|Maṅgalācaraṇa]]''. The poet invokes the blessings of [[Rama|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''.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto; text-align:center;" align="center"
|-
| scope="row" | Song(s)
! scope="col" | Singer
! scope="col" | Subject
|-
| 1–3,8,9–27,28,29
| Rāmabhadrācārya
| Praise of [[Sita|Sītā]] and Rāma
|-
| 4
| Rāmabhadrācārya
| ''Daśāvatārastutiḥ'', praise of the ten [[Avatar|Avatāra]]s of Rāma, similar to the Daśāvatārakīrtidhavalam in [[Gita Govinda|Gītagovindam]]
|-
| 5–7
| Rāmabhadrācārya
| Prayers to Rāma
|-
| 30–36
| Rāmabhadrācārya
| Praise of [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]], [[Lakshmana|Lakṣmaṇa]], Hanumān, [[Valmiki|Vālmīki]], [[Tulsidas|Tulasīdāsa]], [[Ayodhya|Ayodhyā]] and [[Chitrakoot Dham (Karwi)|Citrakūṭa]] respectively
|-
|}
'''Canto II. Gītarāghavāvirbhāvaḥ''' (Sanskrit: गीतराघवाविर्भावः), literally ''the canto with the songs of Rāma's manifestation''.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto; text-align:center;" align="center"
|-
| scope="row" | Song(s)
! scope="col" | Singer
! scope="col" | Subject
|-
| 1,4
| Rāmabhadrācārya
| Praise of Rāmāyaṇa and birth of Hanumān.
|-
| 2–3
| [[Devata|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 [[Dasharatha|Daśaratha]].
|-
| 6,10–17,19
| Rāmabhadrācārya
| The manifestation of Rāma, description of the infant and the festivities in Ayodhyā on the [[Ramanavami|Rāmanavamī]] day
|-
| 7–9
| [[Kausalya|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
| [[Sarasvati|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 [[Saṃskāra#Jatakarman|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''.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto; text-align:center;" align="center"
|-
| scope="row" | Song(s)
! scope="col" | Singer
! scope="col" | Subject
|-
| 1,3–8,11
| Rāmabhadrācārya
| The [[Saṃskāra#Namakarana|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 [[Saṃskāra#Nishkramana|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
| [[Kinnara]]s, Rāmabhadrācārya
| [[Kajari|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 [[Saṃskāra#Annaprashana|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''.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto; text-align:center;" align="center"
|-
| scope="row" | Song(s)
! scope="col" | Singer
! scope="col" | Subject
|-
|1,3–4
|Rāmabhadrācārya
|Rāma begins to walk, description of Rāma being given a bath and ornaments by the three mothers
|-
|2
|[[Kaikeyi|Kaikeyī]]
|Description of the four brothers playing
|-
|5
|[[Narada|Nārada]]
|Fortune of Daśaratha and the three queens
|-
|6–7
|Kausalyā, Rāma
|Rāma is amused on seeing the moon and asks for it
|-
|8–13
|Kausalyā, Kaikeyī, [[Sumitra|Sumitrā]]
|The mothers sing lullabies to make Rāma sleep. Kausalyā sings to wake up Rāma in the morning.
|-
|14,16–17,20
|Rāmabhadrācārya
|[[Arundhati (Hinduism)|Arundhatī]] marks a [[Tilak]]a on Rāma's forehead, description of Rāma playing and having a meal.
|-
|15,22
|Sakhī
|Rāma going out to play with his brothers
|-
|18
|Lakṣmaṇa
|Invites Rāma out to play
|-
|19,21
|Kaikeyī
|Requests Rāma not to go far, description of the brothers' play
|-
|23,25
|Vasiṣṭha
|[[Saṃskāra#Karnavedha|Karṇavedha]] and [[Saṃskāra#Chudakarana|Cūḍākaraṇa]] Saṃskāras of the four brothers
|-
|24,28
|Rāmabhadrācārya
|Description of Rāma after his Karṇavedha, Sarasvatī teaches Rāma the [[Shiva Sutra|Śiva Sūtras]]
|-
|26–27
|Kausalyā
|Runs after Rāma to catch hold of him
|-
|29
|Rāma
|Requests parents for the [[Upanayana|Yajñopavīta]]
|-
|30
|Kausalyā
|Pleads Daśaratha for the Yajñopavīta of Rāma
|-
|31–32
|Sarasvatī
|The [[Saṃskāra#Upanayana|Upanayana Saṃskāra]] of the four brothers
|-
|33
|Vasiṣṭha's disciples
|Welcome Rāma to the [[Ashram|Āśrama]] of Vasiṣṭha
|-
|34–35
|Rāmabhadrācārya
|Rāma and the brothers learn from Vasiṣṭha, being cared for by Arundhatī
|-
|36
|Vasiṣṭha
|Requests Rāma to return home after completion of his learning
|-
|}
'''Canto V. Gītasītāvirbhāvaḥ''' (Sanskrit: गीतसीताविर्भावः), literally ''the canto with the songs of Sītā's manifestation''.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto; text-align:center;" align="center"
|-
| scope="row" | Song(s)
! scope="col" | Singer
! scope="col" | Subject
|-
|1–4, 9–11
|Rāmabhadrācārya
|Praise of [[History of Mithila|Mithilā]], manifestation of Sītā on Sītānavami day, celebrations in Mithilā
|-
|5–8
|Nārada
|Praises Sītā and requests her to assume an infant's form, praise of [[Janaka]] and Mithilā
|-
|12
|Sakhī
|Sītā playing in Mithilā
|-
|13
|Sunayanā
|Description of the happiness in Mithilā since Sītā's manifestation
|-
|14
|[[Maitreyi|Maitreyī]]
|Praise of Sunayana's fortune and Sītā
|-
|15–16
|Rāmabhadrācārya
|Sītā's beauty and her care by Sunayanā
|-
|17
|Sunayanā
|Wishes Sītā to grow up soon
|-
|18–20
|Rāmabhadrācārya
|Sītā playing in Mithilā
|-
|21–28
|[[Yajnavalkya|Yājñavalkya]]
|Fortune of Janaka, Nāmakaraṇa of Sītāa, description of her virtues, and revelation that she is the [[Shakti|Ādi Śakti]]
|-
|29–30
|Sītā
|Sītā teaches two pet birds - a myna and a parrot
|-
|31
|Sītā
|Description of a vision of Rāma in her dream to Sunayanā
|-
|32
|Rāmabhadrācārya
|Sītā paints Rāma as she saw in her dream
|-
|33–34
|Sunayanā
|Wishes Rāma to be Sītā's groom, asks Sītā to worship [[Parvati|Pārvatī]]
|-
|35
|Rāmabhadrācārya
|Sītā's beauty
|-
|36
|Sītā
|Prayer to Rāma
|-
|}
'''Canto VI. Gītayugalakaiśorakaḥ''' (Sanskrit: गीतयुगलकैशोरकः), literally ''the canto with the songs of the youthful duo''.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto; text-align:center;" align="center"
|-
| scope="row" | Song(s)
! scope="col" | Singer
! scope="col" | Subject
|-
|1–5
|Rāmabhadrācārya
|Sītā longs to see Rāma in person
|-
|6
|Sītā
|Describes the qualities of her desired groom to Nārada
|-
|7
|Nārada
|Description of Rama's virtues
|-
|8–10
|Sītā
|Asks Nārada how she can meet Rama, and the concept of Avatāra of the [[Brahman]]
|-
|11–17
|Nārada
|Explains the notion of Avatāra of Brahman, [[Saguna Brahman|Saguṇa]] and [[Nirguna Brahman|Nirguṇa]] aspects, and Sītā being Rama's [[Bhakti]]. Prophesizes Rāma's arrival in Mithilā to break the bow of [[Shiva|Śiva]]
|-
|18–19
|Sītā
|Tells a companion about her desire to see Rāma
|-
|20
|Sītā
|Asks an astrologer, who is Śiva in disguise, about her future
|-
|21–28
|Sītā
|Sītā's letter to Rama, delivered by [[Śuka]]deva in the form of a parrot, requesting Rāma to come to Mithilā
|-
|29–36
|Rāma
|Rāma'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''.
{| class="wikitable" align="center" style="text-align:center;"
| scope="row" |Song(s)
! scope="col" |Singer
! scope="col" |Subject
|-
|1
|Sītā
|Question from Janaka regarding the Shiva Dhanusha
|-
|2
|Rāmabhadrācārya
|Image of Sita pulling Shiva Dhanusha
|-
|3
|Rāmabhadrācārya
|Sage Viśvāmitra's vision of four brothers playing on the banks of Saryu
|-
|4,6,7
|Viśvāmitra
|Rāma Prem, arrival of Rāma in the court, demanding Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa from Daśaratha
|-
|5
|[[Charan|Chāraṇa]]
|Song of glory of Rāma sitting in the court
|-
|8,9
|Daśaratha
|Refusing to give Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa to Viśvāmitra
|-
|10
|Vasiṣṭha, other Brāhmaṇas
|Farewell to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa
|-
|11,12
|[[Devata|Devatās]]
|Scene of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa walking away with Viśvāmitra, prayer to nature to bring joy to Rāma
|-
|13
|Rāmabhadrācārya
|Glory song of Rāma, the destroyer of Tāḍakā and Subāhu and the savior of the [[yajna]]
|-
|14,16
|Ahilyā
|Prayer to Rāma to return, then a Rāma Stuti
|-
|15
|Viśvāmitra
|Prayer to Rāma for the salvation of Gautam's wife Ahilyā
|-
|17
|People of Mithilā
|Praise of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa
|-
|18
|Rāmabhadrācārya
|Rāma Darshan by the people of Mithila
|-
|19-21
|Janaka, Viśvāmitra
|Inquiry about Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa from Viśvāmitra, Introduction by Viśvāmitra
|-
|22
|Janaka's ministers
|Praise of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa
|-
|23,24
|Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma
|Lakṣmaṇa's desire to see Janakpur to Rāma, Praise of Janakpur by Rāma
|-
|24,36
|Children of Mithilā
|Visit of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa to Mithila
|-
|26-34
|Sītā's eight friends
|Song the beauty and virtue of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, wishing for marriage of Sītā and Rāma, requesting Rāma to come to the flower garden
|-
|35
|Brāhmaṇa, Ministers
|Welcoming 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.<ref>Rambhadracharya 2011, p. 96.</ref>

<blockquote>
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
{{center|
[[Devanagari|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 ॥
}}
{{Col-break}}
{{center|
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 ॥
}}
{{col-end}}
{{Cquote| The protector of the three worlds, the child Rāma asks Kausalyā with great inquisitiveness, “Whence the darkness in the moon?” The mother says, “A [[blackbuck]] has entered the moon, afraid of your arrows.” Rāma says, “Not thus, mother. I slay only the deer in the disguise ([[Maricha|Mārīca]]) – whose delusion is renowned, and no other.” Kausalyā says, “[[Prithvi|Pṛthvī]] has gone into the moon out of the fear of Rāvaṇa, which is the darkness seen in the moon.” Rāma says, “How can the [[Chandra|Candra]], himself afraid of [[Rahu|Rāhu]] protect someone, surely Pṛthvī is not naive.” Kausalyā then says “You saw the moon to be similar to the face of your bride, hence you have entered the moon to kiss your wife, and hence the moon appears dark.” Rāma says, “No mother, its only your milk that I drink, so how is the moon dark?” On hearing this, the queen smiled and the speech of Giridhara was amazed. ॥ 1.3.6 ॥}}
</blockquote>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book | date=January 14, 2011 | language=Sanskrit | title=Gītarāmāyaṇam (Gītasītābhirāmaṃ Saṃskṛtagītamahākāvyam) | trans-title=Gītarāmāyaṇam (Epic Sanskrit Lyrical Poem with the Songs of the Delight of Sītā) | first=Svami | last=Rambhadracharya | author-link=Jagadguru Rambhadracharya | place=Chitrakuta, Uttar Pradesh, India | publisher=Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University | url=http://jagadgururambhadracharya.org/pdfs/JR2011Gitaramayanam.pdf | accessdate=August 1, 2011 | archive-date=January 22, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122045503/http://jagadgururambhadracharya.org/pdfs/JR2011Gitaramayanam.pdf | url-status=dead }}

[[Category:Epic poems in Sanskrit]]
[[Category:21st-century Sanskrit literature]]
[[Category:Sanskrit poetry]]
[[Category:Works by Rambhadracharya]]

Gitaramayanam - Revision history

BlissKetoSupplement at 08:33, 26 March 2026