Hari Om!!. Salutations.
As we move into a new school year 2011-2012., we at CMTC adult study group class lead by Sri Keshavji started to attend a new class, Bhaja Govindam, after successfully completing Tattva Bodha under his guidance the previous year.It was a natural progression for most of our study group members to attend this class and this year the study group is also led by Sri Rabindra Gaanji.
This year we study Shri Adi Sankaracharya's Bahaja Govidam , a master piece in teaching the fundamentals of vedanta to the common man. In our class, to aid our study, we follow the book titled 'Aadi Sankaracharya's BHAJA GOVINDAM - Commentary by : Swami Chinmayananda', published by Central Chinmaya Mission Trust.
Also, it was decided that we start writing a blog each week about what we learn in class., I guess to keep it more engaging. Each week one member of the group will get to blog ( or brag or muse or rant).
BHAJA GOVINDAM
Sloka 1:
भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं
गोविन्दं भज मूढमते
संप्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले
न हि न हि रक्षति डुकृञ्करणे
Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam
Govindam Bhaja Mudhamate
Samprapte Sannihite Kale
Na hi Na hi Raksati Dukr~j Karane.
In Sanskrit Bhaja has meanings. Bhaja means worship, chant, recite, praise, sing in glory etc.
Govindam - Name of God Vishnu., also means Highest Reality, the Supreme Brahman.
Samprapte Sannihite Kale - When the time comes for the imminent death
Na hi Na hi Raksati Dukrn Karane - The grammar rules will not save you.
There goes a story that in those days when Sri Aadi Sankaracharya was walking along with his disciples., he overhears an old pundit reciting the rules of grammar to help him participate in an intellectual debate. This incident happens to be the backdrop of the reason behind the origin of Moha - Mudgara now known as Bhaja Govindam.
In the first two lines Sri Aadi Sankaracharya says that one has to worship God because when the death comes these grammar rules will not save you.
Worshipis only way to liberate yourself.
This brings the question of how worship will liberate you.
There are many examples in Hindu scriptures where it was mentioned that just by naama smarana., reciting the name of God, one can reach the Highest Reality.
Vishnu Purana:
ध्यायन करते यजन यज्ञैस
त्रेतायां द्वापरे र्चायन
यदाप्नोति तदाप्नोति
कलौ संकीर्त्य केसवं
Dhyayan krte yajan yajnais-
tretayam dvapare rcayan
yadapnoti tadapnoti
kalau samkirtaya kesavam
Which means:
"The supreme goal which was attained in Satya-yuga by years of prolonged meditation; in Treta-yuga by performing extensive yajnas; in Dvapara-yuga by opulent and scrupulous Deity worship; in Kali-yuga the same results are easily had simply by the chanting of the holy name."
(Internet Source: http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/spiritual-discussions/36369-verses-chanting-holy-names.html)
Bhagavad Gita:
ॐ इत्य एकाक्षरं ब्रह्म
व्यःअरान मम अनुस्मरन
यः प्रयत i तयजन देहं
स यति परमं गतिं
om ity ekaksharam brahma
vyaharan mam anusmaran
yah prayati tyajan deham
sa yati paramam gatim
"After being situated in this yoga practice and vibrating the sacred syllable om, the supreme combination of letters, if one thinks of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly reach the spiritual planets."
Bhagavad Gita 8.13
अनन्य -चेतः सततं
यो मम स्मरति नित्यशः
तस्याहं सुलभः पार्थ
नित्य -युक्तस्य योगिनः
ananya-cetah satatam
yo mam smarati nityasah
tasyaham sulabhah partha
nitya-yuktasya yoginah
"For one who always remembers Me without deviation, I am easy to obtain, O son of Pritha, because of his constant engagement in devotional service."
Bhagavad Gita 8.13
As Swami Chinmayananda says "Seeking out identity with the Lord" is true bhajan, true seva - "Service". True bhajan is a total subjective surrender, in love and devotion at the altar of the Lord as conceived by the devotee.
The process of self-liquidation at the feet of the Lord has been classified under nine types:
१) श्रवणं , २ ) कीर्तनं , ३ ) स्मरणं , ४ ) पादसेवनम् , ५ )अर्चनं , ६ ) वन्दनं , ७ ) दास्यं , ८ ) सख्यं ९ ) आत्म -निवेदनम्
1) Sravanam, 2) Kirtanam, 3) Smaranam, 4) padasevanam, 5)archanam, 6) vandanam, 7) dasyam, 8) sakhyam and 9) atma-nivedanam.
The first sloka can be summarized as.. seek your identity with Govinda, the Supreme and do not waste your time in mere grammar hunting and other unprofitable pursuits of secular knowledge of worldly possessions.
This sloka is to be sung in chorus and is generally repeated after every sloka in Bhaja Govindam.
ॐ तत् सत
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As we move into a new school year 2011-2012., we at CMTC adult study group class lead by Sri Keshavji started to attend a new class, Bhaja Govindam, after successfully completing Tattva Bodha under his guidance the previous year.It was a natural progression for most of our study group members to attend this class and this year the study group is also led by Sri Rabindra Gaanji.
This year we study Shri Adi Sankaracharya's Bahaja Govidam , a master piece in teaching the fundamentals of vedanta to the common man. In our class, to aid our study, we follow the book titled 'Aadi Sankaracharya's BHAJA GOVINDAM - Commentary by : Swami Chinmayananda', published by Central Chinmaya Mission Trust.
Also, it was decided that we start writing a blog each week about what we learn in class., I guess to keep it more engaging. Each week one member of the group will get to blog ( or brag or muse or rant).
BHAJA GOVINDAM
Sloka 1:
भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं
गोविन्दं भज मूढमते
संप्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले
न हि न हि रक्षति डुकृञ्करणे
Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam
Govindam Bhaja Mudhamate
Samprapte Sannihite Kale
Na hi Na hi Raksati Dukr~j Karane.
In Sanskrit Bhaja has meanings. Bhaja means worship, chant, recite, praise, sing in glory etc.
Govindam - Name of God Vishnu., also means Highest Reality, the Supreme Brahman.
Samprapte Sannihite Kale - When the time comes for the imminent death
Na hi Na hi Raksati Dukrn Karane - The grammar rules will not save you.
There goes a story that in those days when Sri Aadi Sankaracharya was walking along with his disciples., he overhears an old pundit reciting the rules of grammar to help him participate in an intellectual debate. This incident happens to be the backdrop of the reason behind the origin of Moha - Mudgara now known as Bhaja Govindam.
In the first two lines Sri Aadi Sankaracharya says that one has to worship God because when the death comes these grammar rules will not save you.
Worshipis only way to liberate yourself.
This brings the question of how worship will liberate you.
There are many examples in Hindu scriptures where it was mentioned that just by naama smarana., reciting the name of God, one can reach the Highest Reality.
Vishnu Purana:
ध्यायन करते यजन यज्ञैस
त्रेतायां द्वापरे र्चायन
यदाप्नोति तदाप्नोति
कलौ संकीर्त्य केसवं
Dhyayan krte yajan yajnais-
tretayam dvapare rcayan
yadapnoti tadapnoti
kalau samkirtaya kesavam
Which means:
"The supreme goal which was attained in Satya-yuga by years of prolonged meditation; in Treta-yuga by performing extensive yajnas; in Dvapara-yuga by opulent and scrupulous Deity worship; in Kali-yuga the same results are easily had simply by the chanting of the holy name."
(Internet Source: http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/spiritual-discussions/36369-verses-chanting-holy-names.html)
Bhagavad Gita:
ॐ इत्य एकाक्षरं ब्रह्म
व्यःअरान मम अनुस्मरन
यः प्रयत i तयजन देहं
स यति परमं गतिं
om ity ekaksharam brahma
vyaharan mam anusmaran
yah prayati tyajan deham
sa yati paramam gatim
"After being situated in this yoga practice and vibrating the sacred syllable om, the supreme combination of letters, if one thinks of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly reach the spiritual planets."
Bhagavad Gita 8.13
अनन्य -चेतः सततं
यो मम स्मरति नित्यशः
तस्याहं सुलभः पार्थ
नित्य -युक्तस्य योगिनः
ananya-cetah satatam
yo mam smarati nityasah
tasyaham sulabhah partha
nitya-yuktasya yoginah
"For one who always remembers Me without deviation, I am easy to obtain, O son of Pritha, because of his constant engagement in devotional service."
Bhagavad Gita 8.13
As Swami Chinmayananda says "Seeking out identity with the Lord" is true bhajan, true seva - "Service". True bhajan is a total subjective surrender, in love and devotion at the altar of the Lord as conceived by the devotee.
The process of self-liquidation at the feet of the Lord has been classified under nine types:
१) श्रवणं , २ ) कीर्तनं , ३ ) स्मरणं , ४ ) पादसेवनम् , ५ )अर्चनं , ६ ) वन्दनं , ७ ) दास्यं , ८ ) सख्यं ९ ) आत्म -निवेदनम्
1) Sravanam, 2) Kirtanam, 3) Smaranam, 4) padasevanam, 5)archanam, 6) vandanam, 7) dasyam, 8) sakhyam and 9) atma-nivedanam.
The first sloka can be summarized as.. seek your identity with Govinda, the Supreme and do not waste your time in mere grammar hunting and other unprofitable pursuits of secular knowledge of worldly possessions.
This sloka is to be sung in chorus and is generally repeated after every sloka in Bhaja Govindam.
ॐ तत् सत
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