Bhaja Govindam part 6

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Continuing with the Bhaja Govindam translation sent by Gopi Krishna

 

Continuing with the meaning of the first verse....

 

Bhaja does not mean monotonous and routine ritual with mechanical chanting

of some selected Namas or Mantras. It is rather much deeper than that. The

true Bhajan of Lord is to offer True Seva or Service to Lord with Love and

devotion and in that sense, every human being is a Lord. Bhagavan is Bhava

Graahi. He does not get enamoured or attracted by the pomp and show of the

devotee. He looks deep into the heart of the devotee to see how much sincere

one is while worshiping Him or serving the needy, treating them as the God

Himself (i.e., Manava sevahi Madhava seva).

 

There are Nine types of Service to be offered at the feet of Lord. A

devotee can adopt any one, according to one's choice and temperament. They

are (1) Sravanam (listening to the stories or glory of Lord), (2) Keertanam

(Singing the glory of the Lord), (3) Smaranam (Constantly thinking about the

nature and beauty, divine qualities and characteristics of the Lord, (4)

Paadasevaram (Adorning the sacred feet of Lord in a spirit of

self-obliteration), (5) Archanam (Worshiping the Lord with rituals, mantras

and with self-less love), (6) Vandanam (Salute or to pay obeisance to the

Lord), (7) Dassyam (Serving the Lord), (8) Sakhyam (Invoking an affectionate

friendship with Lord, and (9) Aatmanivedanam (To offer oneself with complete

dedication or total surrender to the Lord as a humble gift at His altar).

Every devotee has the liberty to choose a path that is convenient and

appealing to one to realise the God.

 

In all the above modes of worship, the spirit of Bhaja is visible. With

this bhava, the devotee has to worship the Govinda, who is the knower of

each atom of this universe. He is the very essence of all animate and

inanimate beings in this universe. So, Govinda is the Atman, Govinda is the

Brahman, Govinda is the Highest Reality and the very Essence of this

Universe. Each devotee should seek one's identity with that Spirit, Force,

Reality, Truth and Supreme Braman or God, instead of wasting one's time in

materialistic pursuits of secular knowledge for worldly possessions, name

and fame.

 

to be continued......