Jayadeva  ( flourished 12th century , , Bengal, IndiaIndian author of the celebrated Sanskrit poem Gītagovinda Gitagovinda (“Song of the Cowherd”), which helped to popularize devotional Hinduism.

Born in the village of Kenduli Sasan, Orissa, near the city of Puri, he was the son of Bhojadeva, a BrahminBrahman, and married to PadmāvatīPadmavati. He was attached to the court of King Lakṣmaṇasena (reigned c. 1178–c. 1205) at Navadvīpa.The Gītagovinda closely associated with the temple of Jagannatha (Krishna) at Puri, where recitation of his Gitagovinda was regularly performed by the maharis (temple dancers).

The Gitagovinda describes the love of Krishna, the divine cowherd, for RādhāRadha, his favourite among the gopī gopis (wives and daughters of the cowherds). The poem presents in dramatic form the lovers’ attraction, estrangement, yearning, and final reconciliation through the help of a sakhī sakhi (female confidant). The poem blends recitative stanzas with 24 short songs and leans heavily on alliteration, lyricism, and grace of image for its effect.

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