Verse and Prose Poetry in the Gopālacampū
Keywords:
Jiva Gosvamin, Gopalacampu, Campu literature, Sanskrit poetry, Prose poetry, Devotional Rasa, Krishna, Anushtubh, Metrics, Sanskrit grammar, Literary criticism, Gaudilya VaishnavismAbstract
This abstract explores Jiva Gosvamin's Gopalacampu, a significant and lengthy Sanskrit literary work within the campu genre that uniquely blends prose and verse. Contrary to prior scholarship, which often criticized its style and theological explicitness, this article argues for the work's original stylistic features and aesthetic purpose. It highlights how Jiva Gosvamin, a revivalist of Sanskritic culture, consciously integrates diverse metrical forms and prose styles, including rare grammatical and lexical displays, to glorify Krishna and achieve devotional rasa.
The analysis delves into Jiva's innovative use of various meters, particularly Anushtubh, demonstrating its application for spiritual instruction, narrative summaries, aphorisms, and sophisticated wordplay. The article posits that Gopalacampu is a pivotal work that pushes the boundaries of the campu genre by foregrounding devotional aesthetics over strict theological exposition, inviting a reassessment of its literary and spiritual significance.
