________________
Krsnakridita of Raula Kanha
Aa Old Gujarati Krishnite Poem of the 15th cent.
edited for the first time from three Manusscripts
H. C. Bhayani
This is an important Old Gujarati poem not later than the 15th cent. A. D. and published here for the first time. The text is based on three MSS, the earliest of which is dated 1571 V.S (i. e. 1515 A, D.). The poem contains 108 stanzas, thc last nine of which are in Sanskrit, The Old Gujarati verses are in the Sārdūlavikridita metre and this fact is significant because Old Gujarati verse literature is mostly in Mätsä-metres and Desis that were sung in popular melodies.
The poem falls into three parts. The first part describes loye-sports of Krsna with Rādlia and Candrāyati. The second part relates to the Rāsa-lila and Vastra-haiaya-lılā. The third part is mainly an expression of the poet's fervent devotion The poein has considerable merit. It is also important for the pre-Vallabhaite period of the history of Vaiļņavism in Gujarat
