Ashta Nayika
Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda is a celebrated example in Indian literature for thematic representation of Ashta Nayika , where Radha dons the roles of the various nayikas while with her nayaka, the god Krishna.
The Ashta-Nayika is a collective name for eight types of nayikas or heroines. This classification (nayika-bheda) first appears in Natya Shastra, a key Sanskrit treatise on Indian performing arts, authored by Bharata (dated between 2nd century BC and 2nd century AD).The eight nayikas represent eight different states (avastha) in relationship to her hero or nayaka.As archetypal states of the romantic heroine, it has been used as theme in Indian painting, literature, sculpture as well as Indian classical dance and music.
Archetypal states of the Romantic Heroine
Vasaksajja
The nayika dressed up for union with nayaka
Swadhinabhartrika
The nayika having her nayaka in subjection
Proshitabhartrika
The nayika with a sojourning nayaka
Khandita
The nayika enraged with her nayaka
Virahotkanthita
The nayika distressed by separation from nayaka
Kalahantarita
The nayika separated by quarrel with nayaka and repents later
Abhisarika
The nayika secretly going to meet her nayaka
Bipralabdha
The nayika deceived by her nayaka