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{{Short description|Birth controversy}}
The birthplace of the twelfth-century Sanskrit poet [[Jayadeva]], author of the [[Gita Govinda|Gitagovinda]], has been disputed, with the neighboring states of [[Odisha]], [[West Bengal]] and the region of [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]] in the state of [[Bihar]] staking a claim.<ref name=":3" /> This had led to a bitter feud between people on both sides that lasted for over a century.<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://orissamatters.com/news/index.php/2001/12/11/bengalis-had-a-jayadeva-too/
|title=Bengalis had a Jayadeva too
|date=11 December 2001
}}</ref> The issue is still debated by scholars.<ref>{{cite book|last=Reddy|first=William|title=Longing and Sexuality in Europe, South Asia, and Japan, 900-1200 CE|year=2012|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=9780226706283|page=257|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qrKScdZ8M8kC&q=Jayadeva+bengal&pg=PA257}}</ref>

==Bengali view==
A few earlier accounts by Bengali writers had linked Jayadeva to the famous king of Bengal [[Lakshman Sen|Lakshmana Sena]], the fourth ruler of the [[Sena dynasty]] and the last [[Hindu]] ruler of unified [[Bengal]].
These views originated from a single Bengali book, ''Jayadeva Charita'' authored by ''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. Chakraborty where he mentioned that the great poet belonged to Bengal in [[The Asiatic Society]].<ref name=":4">{{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 March 2007 |access-date=3 June 2007 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004927/http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20070602222030&Page=Q&Title=ORISSA&Topic=0 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since Jayadeva mentions the village of ''Kindubilva'' 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". Jayadeva lived for a long time in Navadwip during the reign of the king of Bengal, Lakshman Sen, making his home not far from the king's palace. At that time, the king's chief scholar was Govardhan Acharya. According to [[Ashutosh Deb]]'s Bengali dictionary, Jayadeva was Lakshman Sen's court poet.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023|reason=No source cited for Jayadeva's stay in Nabadwip. Govardhana Acharya's being in the Sena court is disputed. A particular scholar can be cited instead of giving the appearance that this is the prevalent consensus.}}

Shrila [[Bhaktivinoda Thakur]] writes in his ''Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya'' that Lakshman Sen was delighted when he heard Jayadeva's hymn to the ten incarnations, the Dasavatara-stotra. When Govardhan Acharya notified the king that it was Jayadeva who had composed the hymn, he became desirous to meet the poet. He went incognito to Jayadeva's house and when he saw him, he noticed that Jayadeva possessed all the characteristics of a great and powerful spiritual personality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindubooks.org/temples/bengal/birbhum/page2.htm |title=The temples of Birbhum |access-date=2007-05-15 |archive-date=2016-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415232316/http://www.hindubooks.org/temples/bengal/birbhum/page2.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In spite of having originated centuries later during the time of [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu|Chaitanya]]. Also The Krishna worshipping was prevailing in Bengal from long time before Sri Chaitanya. In the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana, it is stated that Jayadeva found his Radha Madhava Deities in this river's waters. It is also stated there that he used to rest and worship at the Temple of Shiva known as Kusheshwar, which is also on the banks of the Ajaya River.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/03nov14/national.htm#1 |title=Scholars provide new twist to Jayadev birth controversy |access-date=2007-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201547/http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/03nov14/national.htm#1 |archive-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Since Jayadeva's composition, including the Gita Govinda clearly were composed in Puri in Odisha, 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.

Sikh encyclopedist [[Kahn Singh Nabha]] writes in his Encyclopedia [[Mahan Kosh]] (1926) that Jayadev was born in Kendooli, [[Birbhum district]], Bengal.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nabha, Kahan Singh Bhai.|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/650255395|title=Gurshabad ratnakar : mahan kosh.|date=1995|publisher=National Book Shop|oclc=650255395}}</ref>

[[Sahitya Akademi]]'s ''[[Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature|The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature]]'' describes Jayadeva as a "Brahman [sic] of Bengal", who lived between 1201–1245.''<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo, Volume 1 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1987 |isbn=9788126018031 |pages=79 |quote=}}</ref>''

==Odia view==
[[File:Ancient stone idol of poet Jayadeba at Akhandaleswara Temple, Prataparudrapura, Odisha.jpg|thumb|Ancient stone idol of Jayadeba at Akhandaleswara Temple, Prataparudrapura, Odisha]]
Proponents of the Odia view cite evidence from archaeological, epigraphical, literary and musicological sources, among others.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last1=Pathy |first1=Dinanath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CKL-lgEACAAJ |title=Gītagovinda and Odisha |last2=Rath |first2=Bijaya Kumar |date=2012 |publisher=Niyogi Books |isbn=978-93-81523-50-6 |language=en}}</ref> Archaeological discoveries establish Jayadeva's extended presence in Odisha. There also exists a village called ''Kenduli Sasana'' in Odisha 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 ''Sasana'' is a name for villages that traditionally were centers of [[Brahmin]] scholarly activity in Odisha, and Jayadeva himself was a Brahmin. The Gitagovinda is said to have been composed in the Dasavatara Matha on Badadanda, Puri.<ref name=":5" />

Furthermore, researchers opine that Jayadeva is among the central-most figures in Odia culture.<ref>
{{cite book|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}}
</ref><ref>
{{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}}
</ref> Jayadeva's works, they observe, have spread to southern India, but are rare in neighboring [[Bengal]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.sankeertanam.com/saints%20texts/Jayadeva%20%26%20Gita%20Govindam_2003_SK.pdf
|title=Musical Saints of India: Excerpts from a musical discourse on Bhakta Jayadeva and Gita Govindam
|year=2003
|access-date=2007-05-15
|archive-date=2017-12-15
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215100851/http://www.sankeertanam.com/saints%20texts/Jayadeva%20%26%20Gita%20Govindam_2003_SK.pdf
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> It has been pointed out that the Gita Govinda's influence outside Odisha is most felt in the southern states of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Kerala]] and [[Tamil Nadu]], where verses of the poet's work have been incorporated into the [[Kuchipudi]], [[Kathakali]] and [[Bharatanatyam]] classical dance forms respectively.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.sankeertanam.com/saints%20texts/Jayadeva%20%26%20Gita%20Govindam_2003_SK.pdf
|title=Saints of India Excerpts on a musician discourses on Bhakta Jayadeva and Gita Govindam
|year=2003
|access-date=2007-05-15
|archive-date=2017-12-15
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215100851/http://www.sankeertanam.com/saints%20texts/Jayadeva%20%26%20Gita%20Govindam_2003_SK.pdf
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> It is Jayadeva's ''ashtapadi''s that are sung in dance performances of [[Odissi]], the classical dance of Odisha.<ref>
{{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}}
</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Citaristi |first=Ileana |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b2J6EAAAQBAJ&dq=gitagovinda+odissi&pg=PT217 |title=Odissi and the Geeta Govinda |date=2022-10-06 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-78098-7 |language=en}}</ref> Traditional [[Odissi music|Odissi Music]] is based on [[raga]]s and [[Tala (music)|tala]]s specified by Jayadeva's hymns.<ref>
{{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 Odisha
|year=2004}}
</ref> Jayadeva was a devotee of Krishna, and Krishna in the form of [[Jagannath]] is the central deity of Odisha, whereas the female deity [[Durga]] is prominent in Bengal.<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/june2006/engpdf/158-163.pdf
|title=The lord and his land
|year=2006}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/july2003/englishchpter/The%20Cult%20of%20Jagannath.pdf
|title=The cult of Jagannath
|year=2003
|access-date=2007-05-17
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927211152/http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/july2003/englishchpter/The%20Cult%20of%20Jagannath.pdf
|archive-date=2007-09-27
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> The [[Gita Govinda]] composed by Jayadeva is one of the popular themes in the traditional ''[[pattachitra]]'' paintings of Odisha.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/orissaannualreference/ORA-2004/pdf/eminent_literacy_luminaries_of_orissa.pdf
|title=Eminent literary luminaries of Odisha
|year=2004
|access-date=2007-05-15
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927211059/http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/orissaannualreference/ORA-2004/pdf/eminent_literacy_luminaries_of_orissa.pdf
|archive-date=2007-09-27
|url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> Additionally, a highly Sanskritized and sophisticated classical culture had been firmly entrenched in Odisha during that period, while neighboring Bengal only had a folk based culture until recent times.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

===Archaeological evidence===
Supporters of Odisha as his birthplace, including the [[Government of Odisha|Odisha state government]], argue that the archaeological records, including temple inscriptions, [[Palm-leaf manuscript|palm leaf manuscripts]] and lithographs of that era have revealed the poet's Odia origin.<ref>
{{cite web
|url = http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/jan2004/englishpdf/chapter4.pdf
|title = Historical Perspective of Saint Poet Sri Jayadev
|year = 2006
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015045/http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/jan2004/englishpdf/chapter4.pdf
|archivedate = 2007-09-30
}}
</ref> The worship of the Hindu deity, Krishna, in the form of [[Jagannath]] was widespread in Odisha during Jayadeva's birth.<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Journal/jounalvol1/pdf/orhj-6.pdf
|title=Panoramic palmleaf manuscripts of Odisha
|year=2006}}
</ref> On the other hand, they argue that there is no archaeological evidence of such worship in Bengal until the arrival of [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu|Chaitanya]], which was over three centuries after the era of Jayadeva.<ref>
{{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}}
</ref> Inscription at the ''[[Lingaraja Temple|Lingaraja temple]]'' in [[Bhubaneswar]] tells us that Jayadeva had been a member of the teaching faculty of the school at ''Srikurmapataka''. The inscriptions, that refer to "Sadhu Pradhana Jayadeva" were carved by the Odisha monarch of that period.<ref>
{{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}}
</ref> Later discoveries of inscriptions at the ''[[Mukhalingam|Madhukeswara]]'' and ''[[Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam|Simhachala]]'' temples, temples erected by Odia monarchs, are believed to establish the linkage between Jayadeva and the dancing families of ''Kurmapataka'', who held sway during the reign of [[Chodaganga Deva]].<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/june2006/engpdf/58-61.pdf
|title=Sri Jagannath Temple: The Nerve Centre of Odishian Culture
|year=2006}}
</ref>

Thomas Donaldson, a scholar of architecture and sculpture of Odisha, remarks on the controversy:<blockquote>
"Many scholars identify this Kenduvilva with a site of the Ajaya river in the Birbhum district of Bengal. More convincing, however are arguments of Orissan scholars such as K. Mahapatra and B. Rath, who identify it with the village of Kenduli in the Puri district of Orissa, between the Prachi and Kusabhadra rivers."<ref name=":0">
{{cite book |last1=Donaldson |first1=Thomas E. |title=Kamadeva's Pleasure Garden: Orissa |year=1987 |isbn=8170183936 |pages=365–377|publisher=B.R. Publishing Corporation }}
</ref></blockquote>

=== Evidence based on medieval manuscripts ===
Historian Kedarnath Mahapatra refers to the evidence in manuscripts to observe historical opinions on the controversy,<ref>{{Cite book |title=A Descriptive Catalogue of Sanskrit Manuscripts of Orissa, in the Collection of the Orissa State Museum, Bhubaneswar |publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Orissa |editor-last=Mahapatra |editor-first=Kedarnath |volume=II |location=Bhubaneswar, Odisha}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Chatterji |first=Suniti Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aHV1AAAAIAAJ |title=Jayadeva |date=1973 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |pages= |language=en |chapter=Jayadeva - claimed by Bengal, Orissa and Mithila}}</ref> "There is little evidence, literary or archaeological, that the Gitagovinda was popular in Bengal prior to the advent of Chaitanya. In fact, Chaitanya first discovered the jewel of Gitagovinda when he visited Puri in AD 1590, and came to realize the religious significance of the work from Raya Ramananda on the banks of the Godavari when he went on pilgrimage to the south."<ref name=":0" /> Donaldson adds that "In Orissa, on the other hand, the popularity of the Gitagovinda was almost immediate and the two earliest commentaries on the poem were produced there, the ''Bhavavibhavini'' by Udayana Acharya (AD 1190) and the ''Sarvangasundari'' by Kaviraja Narayana Dasa."<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Śrī Jayadeva |first=Kaviraja |title=Śrī Gītagovindamahākāvyam (with Sarvāngasundarī and Śrutiranjanī commentaries) |publisher=Directorate of Culture, Odisha |year=1985 |editor-last=Panda |editor-first=Dr. Bhagaban |location=Bhubaneswar, Odisha}}</ref>[[File:Odissi_poet_Gopalakrusna's_handwritten_Gitagobinda_Pothi.jpg|thumb|345x345px|Handwritten palm leaf manuscript of Jayadeva's ''Gitagovinda'' by the medieval [[Odissi music|Odissi musician-poet]] Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka of [[Paralakhemundi]]]]
Furthermore, scholars maintain that accounts by numerous medieval authors, such as Chandra Dutta of [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]] and Navaji of [[Gwalior]] support Odisha as the poet's birthplace. The poet Mahipati of [[Maharashtra]] writes in his book ''Bhakti Vijaya'', that Jayadeva's native village was very close to Puri.<ref>
{{cite book
|last=Abbott
|first=Justin E.
|author2=N.R. Godbole
|title=Stories of Indian Saints: Translation of Mahipati's Marathi poem Bhakta-Vijaya
|year=1999
|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
|isbn=81-208-0469-4
}}
</ref> The Assamese text, ''Sampradaya Kula Dipak'' as well as the Telugu text, ''Sanskrita Kavi Jivani'', contain elaborate descriptions of the poet's birth taking place near the Jagannath Dham in Utkala. Another book, ''Vaishnava Lilamruta'' by Madhaba Patnaik, who lived in the sixteenth century and was contemporaneous to [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu|Chaitanya]], clearly mentions that the poet was born near Puri.<ref name=":3" />

Some further details about Jayadeva have been garnered from Madhaba Patnaik's book. It gives a clear account of Chaitanya's visit to Puri and mentions that Chaitanya paid a visit to Kenduli Sasan near Puri to pay homage to Jayadeva and to sing passages from the Gita Govinda. The book mentions that Kenduli Sasan was in fact the birthplace of the illustrious poet. It also gives an account of Jayadeva's early life based on the legends around Puri.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paṭṭanāyaka |first=Mādhaba |title=Baiṣṇaba Lilāmṛuta |publisher=Pradeep Publications |year=1986 |editor-last=Acharya |editor-first=Brundaban Chandra |location=Sambalpur |language=or |script-title=or:ବୈଷ୍ଣବ ଲୀଳାମୃତ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tripathy |first=Ajit Kumar |date=May 2012 |title=Madhav Patnaik on Jayadev |url=http://magazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/2012/May/engpdf/4-6.pdf |journal=Odisha Review}}</ref>

=== Evidence from Jayadeva's own writings ===
Some historians now suggest that some of the poet's own compositions in Odia unequivocally support the idea that Jayadeva belonged to Puri, Odisha.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/july2003/englishchpter/Hymns%20to%20Jagannatha.pdf
|title=Hymns to Jagannatha
|year=2006
|access-date=2007-05-15
|archive-date=2009-04-10
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410165755/http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/july2003/englishchpter/Hymns%20to%20Jagannatha.pdf
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> For example 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.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.orissatourism.gov.in/new/shreksh_festival.htm
|title=Shreekshetra Utsav: The Puri festival
|access-date=2006-10-28
|archive-date=2015-09-24
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924061723/http://www.orissatourism.gov.in/new/shreksh_festival.htm
|url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite book
|last=Tripathy
|first=A. K.
|author2=P. C. Tripathy
|title=The Gita Govinda of Sri Jayadev
|year=2006
|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India
|isbn=81-230-1313-2}}
</ref> It's also argued that one of Jayadeva's compositions remotely suggest that he ever served in the court of any monarch. Besides, Lakshmana Sena ruled Birbhum between 1179 AD and 1185 AD, that was just about a few years after birth of the poet. Bengali scholars, Dr. Satyakam Sengupta and Dr. Ashis Chakravarti have confirmed Jayadeva's birth in Kendubilva of Prachi valley of Orissa, based on their research findings.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |first= |title=Sri Jayadeva's Gita Govinda : with illustrations and commentary by Dhananjaya |collaboration=Ajit Kumar Tripathy, Thomas E. Donaldson |publisher=Odisha State Museum |year=2008 |editor-last=Malla |editor-first=Dr. Bhagyalipi |location=Bhubaneswar, Odisha |pages=12–19 |chapter=Introduction - Dr. Bhagyalipi Malla}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

=== Musicological evidence ===
Various scholars have analysed the ''ragas'' and ''talas'' employed by Jayadeva, considered to be the first lyric in Sanskrit where the parameters of classical music have been delineated by the author. The ragas and talas employed by Jayadeva are peculiar to the tradition of [[Odissi music]] and this has been independently observed by several scholars as an indication of the poet's Odia origin.<ref name=":3" /> Pt. [[Gopal Chandra Panda]], who has done extensive research on traditional Odissi music renditions of the Gitagovinda, writes :<blockquote>Jayadeva's Gitagovinda forms an inextricable part of Odissi classical music. The ragas used by Jayadeva such as ''Mangala Gujjari, Baradi, Desa Baradi'' are found only in Orissan ''kabya''s, ''kabita'', ''chhanda'' and ''chaupadi''; these ragas are not found to be in usage outside Odisha. Why only ragas, according to many early commentators the talas used by Jayadeva such as '''Astatali''<nowiki/>' are only found in Odisha, and are not found to be in use anywhere else. From these musicological points it is very clear that Jayadeva is Odia.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Panda |first=Gopal Chandra |title=Sri Gita Gobinda Swara Lipi |publisher=Smt. Bhagabati Panda |year=1995 |location=Bhubaneswar, Odisha |language=or |trans-title=Notations of the Gita Govinda |author-link=Gopal Chandra Panda}}</ref></blockquote>In contrast, according to Thomas Donaldson, "Jayadeva's ragas do not match the lyrical patterns of Bengal, which unlike Odisha, does not even possess a classical vocal tradition" "It is also noteworthy that all the musical notes (ragas) used in the Gitagovinda are fully utilized with greater dimensions by the old Oriya writers whereas these ragas are rarely met with in old Bengali literature".<ref name=":0" /><ref>
{{cite web |year=2006 |title=A Cult to Salvage Mankind |url=http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/june2006/engpdf/or-june-06.pdf}}
</ref> 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]]''.

Musicologist Kirtan Narayan Parhi affirms this, with special reference to the ''tala''s referred to by Jayadeva :<blockquote>Jayadeva has composed this illustrious Gitagovinda as per the specifications of the ''Udramagadhi Pravrtti'', ''Ardhamagadhi padasrita Giti'', ''Bhinna Svarasrita Giti'' and ''Nava Talasrita Giti''. The songs of the Gitagovinda are set to talas such as Rupaka, Nihsara, Jati, Astatala and Ekatali which are included in ''navatala''s, commonly used in Odishi (music) till to-day. One has to acknowledge that the Gitagovinda was written in order to be sung before Lord Jagannatha and since then (12th century) the recital has been continued as a daily ritual in Srimandira to entertain the Lord.'''<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Parhi |first=Dr. Kirtan Narayan |title=The Classicality of Orissi Music |publisher=Maxcurious Publications Pvt. Ltd. |year=2017 |isbn=9788193215128 |location=India |pages=383 |author-link=Kirtan Narayan Parhi}}</ref>'''</blockquote>

==The ''Kaun Banega Crorepati'' faux pas==
The April 16, 2007 episode of the popular Indian TV game show ''[[Kaun Banega Crorepati]]'' (KBC III) mentioned Jayadeva as the court poet of king Lakshmanasena of Bengal. This triggered an immediate volley of protests by the culture-aware people of Odisha. Shah Rukh Khan, the game show's host was denounced for spreading false information. The government of Odisha 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 Odisha".<ref>
{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-04-22/india/27869954_1_kbc-poet-odisha-government |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131113183649/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-04-22/india/27869954_1_kbc-poet-odisha-government |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-11-13 |title=Odisha wants KBC apology for wrong info on poet
|accessdate=2007-04-22|first1=Sandeep|last1=Mishra|work=[[The Times of India]] |date=2007-04-22}}</ref> The Jayadeva Foundation Trust launched a protest against the TV show.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B945D28F4-59FB-4A8C-AC52-39BA3207E753%7D&CATEGORYNAME=NATL
|title=Odisha to file complaint against Star
|year=2007
|accessdate=2007-04-20
|archive-date=2007-10-07
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007155031/http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B945D28F4-59FB-4A8C-AC52-39BA3207E753%7D&CATEGORYNAME=NATL
|url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-04-22/india/27869954_1_kbc-poet-orissa-government
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016192942/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-04-22/india/27869954_1_kbc-poet-orissa-government
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2012-10-16
|work=[[The Times of India]]
|title=Orissa wants KBC apology for wrong info on poet
|year=2007}}</ref> Some scholars have expressed concern over the false depiction of Jayadeva's origin by Kaun Banega Crorepati, which they call a "historical humbug".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/02/stories/2007050211580500.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001062516/http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/02/stories/2007050211580500.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2007-10-01
|title=Wrong depiction of poet in TV shows irks scholars
| location=Chennai, India|work=[[The Hindu]]
|date=2007-05-02}}</ref>

==Postage stamps commemorating Jayadeva's birth ==
In July 2009, the government of India's Department of Posts has decided to release 11 stamps in Bhubaneswar to commemorate the birth of Jayadeva. One stamp depicts the poet himself, while the other ten show the 10 incarnations of [[Vishnu]], or [[Dasavatara]], that the poet popularized in his epic poem, the [[Gita Govinda]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/28/stories/2009072852830300.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616202305/http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/28/stories/2009072852830300.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2010-06-16
|title=Commemorative stamp on Jayadev released
| location=Chennai, India
|work=[[The Hindu]]
|date=2009-07-28}}</ref> Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled the stamps at a special function in Jayadev Bhawan. The stamps are in the denomination of Rs 5. A total of 800,000 stamps were released for sale in Odisha.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=13639
|title=Odisha CM releases postal stamp on poet Jaydev
|year=2009
|access-date=2009-07-28
|archive-date=2011-07-24
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724235444/http://orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=13639
|url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.tathya.in/2009/story.asp?sno=3133
|title=Postal stamp on Jayadev
|year=2009
}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Poetry
}}
* [[Kenduli Sasan]]
* [[Jaydev Kenduli]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|3}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jayadeva Birth Controversy}}
[[Category:Jayadeva]]
[[Category:Indian literature]]
[[Category:Controversies in India]]
[[Category:Birthplaces]]

Jayadeva birth controversy - Revision history

FinlayPulido6 at 10:21, 29 December 2025