# Gitaramayanam

Gītarāmāyaṇam (Sanskrit: गीतरामायणम्) (2011), literally The Rāmāyaṇa in songs, is a Sanskrit epic poem (Mahākāvya) of the Gītakāvya (lyrical poetry) genre, composed by 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 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 (Sanskrit: स्तुतसीतारामचन्द्रः), literally the canto with Sītā and Rāma eulogized.
| Song(s) | Singer | Subject |
| 1–3,8,9–27,28,29 | Rāmabhadrācārya | Praise of Sītā and Rāma |
| 4 | Rāmabhadrācārya | Daśāvatārastutiḥ, praise of the ten Avatāras of Rāma, similar to the Daśāvatārakīrtidhavalam in Gītagovindam |
| 5–7 | Rāmabhadrācārya | Prayers to Rāma |
| 30–36 | Rāmabhadrācārya | Praise of Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa, Hanumān, Vālmīki, Tulasīdāsa, Ayodhyā and Citrakūṭa respectively |
Canto II. Gītarāghavāvirbhāvaḥ (Sanskrit: गीतराघवाविर्भावः), literally the canto with the songs of Rāma's manifestation.
| Song(s) | Singer | Subject |
| 1,4 | Rāmabhadrācārya | Praise of Rāmāyaṇa and birth of Hanumān. |
| 2–3 | 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 Daśaratha. |
| 6,10–17,19 | Rāmabhadrācārya | The manifestation of Rāma, description of the infant and the festivities in Ayodhyā on the Rāmanavamī day |
| 7–9 | 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 | 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 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.
| Song(s) | Singer | Subject |
| 1,3–8,11 | Rāmabhadrācārya | The 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 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 | Kinnaras, Rāmabhadrācārya | 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 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.
| Song(s) | Singer | Subject |
| 1,3–4 | Rāmabhadrācārya | Rāma begins to walk, description of Rāma being given a bath and ornaments by the three mothers |
| 2 | Kaikeyī | Description of the four brothers playing |
| 5 | 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, Sumitrā | The mothers sing lullabies to make Rāma sleep. Kausalyā sings to wake up Rāma in the morning. |
| 14,16–17,20 | Rāmabhadrācārya | Arundhatī marks a Tilaka 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 | Karṇavedha and Cūḍākaraṇa Saṃskāras of the four brothers |
| 24,28 | Rāmabhadrācārya | Description of Rāma after his Karṇavedha, Sarasvatī teaches Rāma the Śiva Sūtras |
| 26–27 | Kausalyā | Runs after Rāma to catch hold of him |
| 29 | Rāma | Requests parents for the Yajñopavīta |
| 30 | Kausalyā | Pleads Daśaratha for the Yajñopavīta of Rāma |
| 31–32 | Sarasvatī | The Upanayana Saṃskāra of the four brothers |
| 33 | Vasiṣṭha's disciples | Welcome Rāma to the 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.
| Song(s) | Singer | Subject |
| 1–4, 9–11 | Rāmabhadrācārya | Praise of 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 | 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 | Yājñavalkya | Fortune of Janaka, Nāmakaraṇa of Sītāa, description of her virtues, and revelation that she is the 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 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.
| Song(s) | Singer | 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, Saguṇa and Nirguṇa aspects, and Sītā being Rama’s Bhakti. Prophesizes Rāma’s arrival in Mithilā to break the bow of 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 Śukadeva 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.
| Song(s) | Singer | 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 | 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 | 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.