Gīta Govinda: o amor como espontaneidade da existência no processo de eliminação do sofrimento existencial

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the poem Gīta Govinda (12th century) by Jayadeva through the dual lens of Indian aesthetics (rasa) and the philosophical foundations of Vedānta within the context of Vaiṣṇavism. Its central objective is to analyze how the narrative of love between Kṛṣṇa—as an avatāra of Viṣṇu—and Rādhā transcends the erotic dimension to constitute a soteriological method capable of leading the individual from ignorance (avidyā) to liberation (mokṣa). From this perspective, the amorous dynamic presented by Jayadeva reflects the human quest to recognize one's essential identity with the Absolute (Viṣṇu). The research’s originality lies in its proposal of a non-dual hermeneutic reading of the Gīta Govinda, a work traditionally associated with dualistic devotional schools. To this end, the poem is placed in dialogue with the thought of Madhusūdana Sarasvatī—a leading figure of Advaita Vedānta—and the aesthetics of Abhinavagupta, an exponent of Kashmir Shaivism. By drawing upon this array of Indian philosophical and aesthetic traditions, the study demonstrates that love can be understood not merely as a devotional or aesthetic category, but also as an ontological foundation for overcoming suffering, thereby integrating philosophy, aesthetics, and mysticism into a unified hermeneutic approach.