| Indian Music | |
|---|---|
| Indian classical music | |
| Carnatic music | |
| Hindustani music | |
| Core Concepts | |
| Shruti · Swara · Alankar · Rāga · Tāla |
Ashtapadis or Ashtapadi are Indian hymns where the music has eight lines (steps) within each composition. Each ashtapadi song is set in a special raga (an Indian musical mode) and tala. It is a rhyme of eternal love and supreme devotion. The literal meaning of "ashtapadi" is "eight steps." This word is also the source for the word ashtāpada, an Indian board game, the forerunner of chess.
Gita Govinda was composed in the 12th century by Indian poet Jayadeva from Orissa in Sanskrit language. Gita govindam is a lyrical poetry in twelve chapters, sub-divided into twenty four divisions called prabandha. The prabandhas contain couplets grouped into eights, called ashtapadis. The songs in Gita Govinda symbolize the eternal love of Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha.