Tyagaraja’s Nauka Caritram

A Play About Divine Love

Abstract

Tyagaraja's Telugu poetic drama Nauka Caritram ("Boat Story"), featuring twenty-one songs, offers a captivating portrayal of divine love through the playful interactions between the child Krishna and the Gopis (cowherd girls). This essay explores how Tyagaraja utilizes the archetypal image of the mischievous yet irresistible child Krishna and the soulful devotion of the Gopis to depict a dynamic relationship characterized by joy, equality, and eventual surrender. The narrative unfolds with the Gopis inviting the young Krishna for a boat ride on the Yamuna, which initially becomes a scene of festive merriment and expressions of their intimate connection with the divine. However, their swelling pride leads to a dramatic intervention by Krishna in the form of a fierce storm, highlighting the necessity of humility and dependence in the face of divine power. The pivotal moment of the Gopis' self-surrender, as they offer their garments to save the sinking boat, becomes a powerful metaphor for relinquishing ego and embracing divine grace. Through this engaging narrative, Tyagaraja reveals divine love not as a sentimental feeling but as a transformative force that necessitates humility, trust, and ultimately leads to a deeper understanding and reciprocation between the devotee and the divine. The essay further connects these themes to universal human experiences of vulnerability, the transformative potential of crises, and the soul's inherent yearning for divine connection.