Bhaja Govindam Part 4

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Part four of the Bhaja govindam

This was sent to us by Gopi Krishna......

 

 

" Sri Sankara crossed the ocean of Maya as easily as one steps over a small

irrigation channel in the field. He wrote a number of Vedantic works for

imparting the knowledge of the Self. He composed a number of hymns to foster

the sense of devotion in the hearts of men and this I consider to be his

greatest service. One of these hymns is the famous Bhaja Govindam.

 

Some immature critics of Indian philosophy believe and say that the way of

devotion is different from the way of knowledge. The learned employ this

distinction to emphasise a particular thesis on which they discourse in

different contexts. We should not get confused by this and fail to

understand the truth. When intelligence matures and lodges securely in the

heart, it becomes wisdom.

 

When that wisdom is integrated with life and issues out in action, it

becomes devotion. Knowledge which has become mature is spoken of as

devotion. If it does not get transformed into devotion, such knowledge is

useless tinsel. To hold and to say that Jnana and Bhakti, knowledge and

devotion, are as different from each other as gold is from baser metal is to

expose one's ignorance. "

 

Govinda means the One who could be known through Vedas. Go or Gobhih means

(Vedic) words, statements or declarations of Upanishads. It has various

other meanings such as sky, earth, voice, senses and so on. Govinda leads us

from darkness to light, ignorance to knowledge and despair to aspiration.

Bhaja Govindam means, always sing the glory of the Lord, who is the knower

of Jivatman or the destiny of beings. The Knowing One never goes wrong in

handling things and events.

 

Bhaja Govindam Stotram is a bouquet of 31 Stanza-freshly bloomed flowers. It

is full of nectar for the students who are capable of entering the bottom of

Vedanta. By delving deeper into the philosophical implications of these

verses, a sincere seeker will get the rare gems of knowledge in this simple

composition of Jagatguru Sri Adi Sankaracharya. While reciting, it sounds

like a prayer or devotional song rather than a group of few sanskrit slokas

and expounds the art of realisation with a deeper diagnosis for human

unhappiness.