Garga Samhita (Vaishnavite text)

Garga Samhita (Sanskrit: गर्ग संहिता, romanizedGarga-saṃhitā) is a Sanskrit-language Vaishnavite scripture based on the Hindu deities Radha and Krishna. Its authorship is attributed to the sage Garga, the head priest of Krishna's clan, Yadava.[1][2] It is the earliest text that associates Radha Krishna and the gopis with the Holi festival.[3]

Garga Samhita
Front cover of Garga Samhita published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur
Information
ReligionHinduism
AuthorGarga (attributed)
LanguageSanskrit
Chapters267
Verses12,000

Chapters

Garga Samhita[a] contains 11 khandas or parts:[4][1]

Garga-samhita contents
#Khanda (Book)Number of chaptersContent
1Goloka-khanda20Pastimes of Radha Krishna in Goloka, Structure of Goloka.
2Vrindavana-khanda26Krishna's pastimes with Radha, Gopis and Gopas (cowherds); identifies various places (including Vrindavan) in the Mathura mandala (region) as the sites of these events.
3Giriraja-khanda11Divinity of Govardhan Hill and its festivals
4Madhurya-khanda24Love life of Radha Krishna in Vrindavan, including descriptions of Radha Krishna, Gopis, and Yamuna
5Mathura-khanda25Krishna's return to Mathura, and his killing of Kamsa; conversation between Uddhava and Gopis
6Dvaraka-khanda22Foundation of the Dvārakā city, its description, and Krishna's pastimes there
7Vishvajit-khanda50Krishna's exploits and divinity, including his role in the Mahabharata War
8Balabhadra-khanda13Balarama's exploits and divinity
9Vijnana-khanda10Devotional instructions for deity worship
10Ashvamedha-khanda62Ugrasena's ashvamedha; Radha-Krishna's reunion in Vrindavan and departure to Goloka
11Garga-samhita Mahatmaya4Significance of Garga-samhita

See also

Notes

References

Further reading