Jayadeva  ( flourished 12th century , Bengal Kenduli Sasan, Orissa, IndiaIndian author of the celebrated Sanskrit poem Gita Govinda (“Song of the Cowherd”), which helped to popularize devotional Hinduism.

The son of Bhojadeva, a Brahman, he was born in the village of Kenduli Sasan, Orissa, near the city of Puri, and was married to Padmavati. Jayadeva was closely associated with the temple of Jagannatha (Krishna) at Puri, where recitation of his Gita Govinda was regularly performed by the maharis (temple dancers).


Jayadeva has for several centuries been honoured at an annual festival at his birthplace, during which his poem is recited. Songs from the Gita Govinda also continue to be sung in temples, during festivals, and at kirtanas (communal worship through song).