Ålokam (ą¤¶्ą¤²ोą¤ą¤®्)
A metrical verse in Sanskrit.
Written according to strict rules of chandas (meter) like anuį¹£į¹ubh, triį¹£į¹ubh, jagatÄ«, ÅÄrdÅ«lavikrÄ«įøita etc.
Has rhythm, symmetry, and is easy to recite and memorize.
Most of the Vedas, ItihÄsas, PurÄį¹as, Bhagavad GÄ«tÄ, RÄmÄyaį¹a, MahÄbhÄrata are composed largely in Ålokas.
Example: “yadÄ yadÄ hi dharmasya…” (GÄ«tÄ 4.7)
Gadyam (ą¤ą¤¦्ą¤Æą¤®्)
Prose composition in Sanskrit.
Not bound by meter or rhythm, but still highly refined and ornamented.
Can be very elaborate, with long compounds (samÄsa), flowing expressions, and deep bhakti or philosophical content.
Famous examples: ÅrÄ« RÄmÄnuja’s three gadya-trayas (Åaraį¹Ägati Gadyam, ÅrÄ«raį¹ ga Gadyam, Vaikuį¹į¹ha Gadyam).
Gadyams are often used for prayers, philosophical prose, and emotional outpourings because they allow free expression without metrical restriction.
Ålokam → Verse form, rhythmic, structured like poetry.
Gadyam → Prose form, free-flowing, like elevated speech or prayer.
So, a Ålokam is like a song in rhythm, while a gadyam is like a prayerful speech.
Example
Example of a Ålokam (metrical verse)
From the Bhagavad GÄ«tÄ (2.47):
karmaį¹y-evÄdhikÄras te mÄ phaleį¹£u kadÄcana
mÄ karma-phala-hetur bhÅ«r mÄ te saį¹ go ’stv akarmaį¹i
This is in anuį¹£į¹ubh chandas (4 lines of 8 syllables each).
Has rhythm and balance.
Easy to chant musically.
Meaning (simple): “You have a right only to action, never to its fruits. Do not be attached to the fruits of actions, nor be attached to inaction.”
Example of a Gadyam (prose prayer)
From ÅrÄ« RÄmÄnuja’s Åaraį¹Ägati Gadyam:
akhila-bhuvana-janma-sthemaį¹ gati-niyati-anugraha-paripÄlana-sÄmarthyaika-nidhi
aparimita-ascharya-ananta-kalyÄį¹a-guį¹a-gaį¹augha-mahodadhi
ÅrÄ«mannÄrÄyaį¹a! Åaraį¹am aham prapadye
Long flowing sentence, not bound by meter.
Rich in samÄsa (compounds) and ornamentation.
Meaning (simple): “O ÅrÄ«man NÄrÄyaį¹a! You are the ocean of infinite wondrous and auspicious qualities, the sole treasure of the power to create, sustain, control, and bless all the worlds. To You I surrender.”
The Feel
Ålokam → short, measured, rhythmic like poetry.
Gadyam → long, flowing, emotional, like a heartfelt prayer or philosophical .
As a Åloka (in simple anuį¹£į¹ubh meter), and one as a gadyam (flowing prose) — on the theme of Åaraį¹Ägati (surrender to God).
Ålokam (metrical verse)
tvameva Åaraį¹aį¹ nÄtha dÄ«na-bandho dayÄnidhe ।
pÄhi mÄį¹ karuį¹Ä-sindho rakį¹£a rakį¹£a janÄrdana ॥
“You alone are my refuge, O Lord, friend of the helpless, treasure of compassion. Protect me, O ocean of mercy! Protect me, JanÄrdana.”
Gadyam (prose prayer)
anÄdi-kÄla-pravį¹tta-ananta-karma-bandhena baddho’ham, aÅaktaįø„ svÄtma-rakį¹£aį¹e, sarva-doį¹£a-bhÄjanaįø„, akį¹ta-kį¹tyaįø„, kį¹ta-niį¹£iddhaįø„, tvÄm eva dÄ«na-bandhum, dayÄnidhim, karuį¹Ä-sÄgaraį¹, Åaraį¹am prapadye ।
“Bound by the endless chain of karma from time without beginning, unable to protect myself, full of faults, failing in duties and doing what should not be done — I take refuge in You alone, O friend of the helpless, treasure of compassion, ocean of mercy.”
The Åloka is short, rhythmic, easy to sing.
The gadyam is long, detailed, pouring out helplessness and devotion.
How such Åloka-gadyam pairs were historically used by teachers like RÄmÄnuja — why sometimes he chose verse, and sometimes prose?
Ålokam in Tradition
Ålokas are metrical verses.
Purpose:
Easy to memorize and chant daily.
Suitable for public recitation in temples or gatherings.
Condensed teaching in a musical, rhythmic form.
RÄmÄnuja composed Gadyatrayam (prose), but his predecessors like Äįø»vÄrs poured their devotion in pÄsurams (metrical Tamil verses), which function like Ålokas in Sanskrit.
Even in ÅrÄ«bhÄį¹£ya, Ålokas from Upaniį¹£ads and GÄ«tÄ are quoted for authority.
Gadyam in Tradition
Gadya is free prose, without metrical rules.
Purpose:
Ideal for personal surrender and emotional outpouring.
Allows long compounds (samÄsa), bringing majesty and depth.
Used when the soul directly addresses God in a flood of bhakti.
Åaraį¹Ägati Gadyam: RÄmÄnuja stands before ÅrÄ« RanganÄtha and pours out his helplessness.
Vaikuį¹į¹ha Gadyam: Describes in prose the splendor of Vaikuį¹į¹ha in such detail that meter could not contain it.
Why Both Were Needed
Ålokam is like a song — sweet, brief, memorable.
Gadyam is like a speech or conversation — expansive, direct, overwhelming.
RÄmÄnuja chose gadyam at moments of total surrender, because the heart overflows and cannot be confined to the discipline of meter.
He left behind Ålokas (through tradition and citations) for structured teaching, but gadyas for personal, living prayer.
Simple Analogy
Ålokam = a hymn you can sing daily in a group.
Gadyam = a heartfelt confession spoken alone before God.
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