Govinda Jaya Jaya

"Govinda Jaya Jaya" is an Indian devotional chant or song. It is often sung in the Krishna Consciousness movement founded by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,^[1] and by various other schools of yoga, and by Hindus in general. Prabhupada's devotees Radha Krishna Temple (London) recorded the chant as "Govinda Jai Jai" for their eponymous album, produced by George Harrison and released on the Beatles' Apple record label in 1971. An edited version of this recording was first issued as the B-side of the devotees' 1970 single "Govinda".

In 1996, the English rock band Kula Shaker adapted "Govinda Jaya Jaya" into their hit song "Govinda". Their song remains the only British top-ten hit sung entirely in Sanskrit. Speaking in 2016, Alonza Bevan, the bass player of Kula Shaker, said that it was "nice to get an ancient Indian hymn [played] on Radio 1 in the UK".^[2]

Composition

The song's lyrics run:

"Govinda Jaya Jaya

Gopala Jaya Jaya

Radha Ramana Hari

Govinda Jaya Jaya"

Literal meaning:

Govinda (Krishna, the Divine Cowherd), Glory, Glory

Gopala (Krishna, Finder of cows), Glory, Glory

Radha Ramana (Krishna, Lover of Radha^[3]), Hari (Krishna or Vishnu)

Govinda, Victory, Victory

Recordings of the song have also been made by Prabhupada himself, and by Vishnujana Swami, Jai Uttal, Maki Asakawa, Alice Coltrane, and Donna De Lory.

References