Bhaja Govindam

[Guest guest]

Shri Shankara has packed into the "Bhaja Govindam" song the substance

of all the vedantic works that he wrote and he has set the truth of

the union of devotion and knowledge to melodius music which delights

the ear and our soul.

Shri Shankara composed a number of hymns to foster the sense of

devotion in the hearts of people and this is His greatest service.

Bhaja Govindam is one among His many works and in this short garland

of poens in praise of Lord (Krishna) Govinda, He dwells upon the

ephemeral nature of life upon the greatness of Guru, Bhakti, etc.

 

 

Through the company of the good, there arises non-attachment; through

non-attachment there arises freedom from delusion; Through

delusionlesness, there arises steadfastness; through steadfastness,

there arises liberation in life.

 

In these three worlds, it is only the association with good people

that can serve as the boat that can carry one across the sea of birth

(metempsychosis).

 

For him, who has studied the Bhagavadgita even a little, who has

drunk a drop of the Ganga water, and who has performed the worship of

the Destroyer of the demon Mura (viz. Shri Krishna) at least once,

there is no tiff with Yama (the Lord of Death).

 

The Bhagavadgita and the Sahasranama should be sung; the form of the

Lord of Lakshmi should be always meditated on; The mind should be led

to the company of the good; and wealth should be distributed amongst

the indulgent.

 

----- Extracted from: http://www.kamakoti.org/other/bhaja/bhaja.html

 

 

 

 

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The following are from Shankara's Atma-Bodhah by Swami Nikhilananda

--

>From Stanzas To Vishnu #3:

-----

Even when I am not duality's slave, O Lord,

The Truth is that I am Thine, and not that Thou art mine;

The waves may belong to the ocean,

But the ocean never belongs to the waves.

>From Hymn to Siva# 1,5:

------

Him do I cherish, the Lord of living creatures, the Almighty One, the

Slayer of sin,

Who is adored by all,

Within whose matted locks the Ganges wanders murmuring:

Him do I cherish--Siva, the Great God, the One without a second, the

Destroyer of lust.

 

Him do I Worship, the Paramatman, One and without a second,

Who is the cause of the universe,

The Primal Being, Spirit formless and actionless, who is

attained through the syllable Om:

Him do I worship-Siva, of whom the universe is born,

by whom it is sustained, in whom it merges.

 

Though digressing from the purpose of the above stanzas, I wondered

about the meaning of "Within whose matted locks the Ganges wanders

murmuring".

Still wondering like the wandering Ganges, entangled in matted locks

and have no clue yet. This arose another question: Is there a

significance of Ganges in Siva ? I have no clue either. Can anyone

help. The answer need not be 100% right, but opinion is interesting.

 

 

With Love and Regards,

Raghava