10. Musical Estimate (g): The Talas used in the Gitagovinda

Tala refers to the musical time or measure and slapping the hands together. A raga does create a certain kind of feeling which as we feel, can be described as one of pathos, tranquillity or joy. This again depends not only on the notes used in the raga but also on the manner of rendering a raga, i.e. whether it is rendered in a slow medium or fast tempo (laya). It is a common experience that the same raga produces different effect due to difference in tempo. The nature of tala plays its own part. A serious tala produces an effect different from one produced by a light tala 169. The requirement of tala to create accurate emotion is proved and supported by the Sangitadamodara also ¹70. In the Sangitanarayana, the author quotes different opinions regarding tala¹71. King Kumbha or Kumbhakarna of Mewar wrote the commentary, Rasikapriya in 1433-1468 A.D. on the Gitagovinda In his commentary he mentioned the names of ragas and talas which are quite different from those mentioned by the poet Jayadeva. It may be due to the reason that, during the time of Kumbha the songs of Gitagovinda were being perhaps sung in those tunes and rhythms 172. Different manuscripts provide different talas used in the Gitagovinda One raga can be sung through more than one tala, but to create the emotion the tala should be perfect. 169. B. M. Rath, AStudy on Srikrishna lilamritam, p.190 170. talastalapratisthayamitidhatordhajismrtah gitavadyamtathanrtyamyatastalepratisthitam | 12, Sangita-ratnakara p. 356 171. Sangitanarayana, p.58 172. R. N. Panda, Odisha's Contribution to Sanskrit lyrics, p.122 82

A list of talas used by Jayadeva in the songs of Gitagovinda is given below: Contribution of Odisha to Sanskrit As mentioned by king Kumbha, in literature 173 1. Malavagauda his work Sangitaraja¹74 Rupaka 1. Malava Adi 2. Gujjari Nihsara 2. Lalita Adi 3. Vasanta Yati 3. Lalita Jhampa 4. Karnata Ekatali 4. Bhairava Yati 5. Desa-varadi Rupaka 5. Gandakri Pratimantha 6. Gundakari Rupaka 6. MalasriNihsara 7. Malava Yati 7. Kedara Nihsara 8. Bhairavi Yati 8. Malavagauda Adda 9. Desavaradi Astatali 9. Sthangauda Yati 10. Gujjari Yati 10. Megha Yati