Bhaja Govindam (part 2)

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Continuing with the commentary on Bhaja Govindam sent by

" Gopi Krishna "

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Bhaja Govindam is a small or minor composition of Jagatguru Sri Adi

Sankaracharya compared to His other monumental works such as " Bhasyas " , but

it contains the essence of Vedanta and awakens the man to think on such

questions as " What is the purpose of this life? " , " What is the Truth? " ,

" Where does one get peace of mind? " , etc. Such questions are many and may

appear simple but the answers are very difficult. Bhaja Govindam is known as

" Prakarana Grantham " , or introduction to spiritual studies or initiation.

 

There is a small but popular story, which describes the circumstances in

which this great poem burst forth from the lips of Sri Sankaracharya. Once

in Banaras (Kasi), as Sri Sankaracharya along with his disciples was going

to the Ganges for taking bath, He overheard a very old Pundit cramming

Panini's grammar rules. Sri Sankaracharya was touched and moved with pity at

the ignorance of the old Pundit, who was wasting away the most precious time

at that age for a mere intellectual accomplishment instead of enlightenment

and for release from the bondage of Samsara. Of course, it is the same state

of affairs with almost every one of us today. We all waste and while away

our lives in material pursuits, earthly attachments, relegating God to one

of the objects that we require for our physical comfort and convenience. We

think God can also be bought like T.V., Refrigerator, Air-conditioner, car,

flat, social status, etc. As we aspire for material objects so ALSO God, and

the attachment for Samsarik pleasures over-weigh our desire to have God

realisation. So, ultimately God becomes one of the material objects to be

acquired. But, we forget the truth due to our ignorance that if we succeed

in realising God, acquisition of all other material objects will turn out to

be so simple. God is the only goal to be achieved to get release from the

bondage of Samsara. Sri Sankaracharya, out of compassion for man's plight

and folly, bursts forth into these Bhaja Govinda stanzas. He preaches man to

spend his time in contemplation of the Lord rather than wasting away life in

futile pursuits of acquiring mundane pleasures and groveling in the mire of

earthly attachments, forgetting what is the purpose and goal of Manava

Janma.

 

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