Bhaja Govindaṁ - An Introduction

Composed by the great saint Sri Adi Shankaracharya, Bhaja Govindam is one of the most lucid yet insightful works of Vedanta. The truths of the Bhagavad Gita, and the truths which Shankaracharya expounds in his beautiful lyric Dvadashamanjarika — popularly known as Bhaja Govindam — are not different from each other. But the style in which it is given and the way in which it is expounded to the layman are different. Bhagavad Gita, Brahma-Sutra and the Upanishads are for a Sanskrit scholar, who has already got some background of philosophy; but for Bhaja Govindam no such background is necessary, because it tells you what you already know. It tells you home truths within the range of your own bitter and sweet experiences of this world of human nature and of the state of things that prevail in human society.

Shankara’s works are classified into 3 main categories:

• Bhashya: Commentaries on the scriptures such as the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and the Brahmasutras.

• Stotras: Devotional compositions like the Dakshinamoorthy stotras.

• Prakarana Granthas: Introductory manuals for spiritual studies.

The Bhaja Govindam belongs to the class of stotras. However, as the verses contain deep Vedantic thought it is often included as a prakarana, introductory text. Although small, it is a prominent composition of Shankara’s that teaches the fundamentals of Vedanta. Its style is simple and its melody makes it appealing to people of all ages. Each one of its 31 verses is a pearl of wisdom that is relevant to our lives.

Another name for this text is Moha Mudgara. The word moha, in Sanskrit, means ‘delusion’ while mudgara means ‘hammer’. Together, Moha Mudgara means the remover or destroyer of delusion. It is called so because it deals a body blow to the excessive value we place on this samsara that is the world.

Origin: 

It was on one of those days when Shankara and his disciples were travelling that they passed through Benaras, a holy city of India. Along the way, Shankara overheard an old pundit, scholar, memorising Panini’s grammar rules. He observed how the pundit memorised the grammar rules but missed the message of what he was studying and this inspired a masterful oration by Shankara that we call the Bhaja Govindam or Moha Mudgara.

Structure: 

The Bhaja Govindam comprises 31 verses. The opening stanza is taken to be the chorus that is chanted at the end of every other verse. Tradition has it that the 12 verses following the chorus were spoken by the great master himself. These 12 verses form the first part of the Bhaja Govindam and are called the Dvadashamanjarika Stotram, a bouquet of 12 stanza-flowers. Just as a bouquet of fresh flowers can be appreciated even by looking at them from afar, the Bhaja Govindam too can be appreciated merely by listening to the melodious chanting of the verses. Those who come near the flower experience the fragrance emanating from the flower. Similarly, those who understand the meaning of the verses gain useful instructions on life. However, the ones that truly enjoy the flowers are the bees that enter deep into the flower to draw out their nectar. Similarly, those who truly enjoy the Bhaja Govindam are those who absorb its message. Those who analyse and reflect upon the matter in the verses. Those who live the philosophy and use it to rise spiritually.

So inspiring was Shankara’s oration that each of his 14 disciples travelling with him added a verse each. These 14 verses form the Chaturdasha Manjarika Stotram. After listening to his students, Shankara blesses the true seekers of all times in the last 4 verses.

Thus together, the chorus, Dvadashamanjarika Stotram, Chaturdasha Manjarika Stotram and Shankara’s blessings form the 31 verses of the Bhaja Govindam. The last two verses (32 and 33) in this version is not found in all editions.

Bhaja Govindam:

• Verse 1: Chorus
• Verses 2 – 13: Dvadashamanjarika Stotram
• Verses 14 – 27: Chaturdasha Manjarika Stotram
• Verses 27 – 31: Shankara’s Blessing

Twin motivations

The Bhaja Govindam deals with our twin motivations in life; kanchana, acquisition of wealth, and kamini, enjoyment of it. By the first, we accumulate wealth for dukha nivrutti, security against sorrow. And by the second motivation, we indulge in sukha prapti, the enjoyment of the accumulated wealth. Shankara, in the Bhaja Govindam, brings the futility of worldly pursuit to our attention and says no matter how much we seek whatever we seek outside, the truth is, it will always be within.

The spirit of the Bhaja Govindam

As we begin our study of the Bhaja Govindam, it is important we understand the spirit of Shankara’s message. There may be times during the study when we feel his admonishments of human nature are a bit harsh. But it is imperative that we feel the love that comes through his words. Like a parent to a child. He does not mean to belittle us but is merely trying to shake us out of our slumber. Urging us to get over our obsession with the trivialities and get on to our real business in life, to begin our search for that Divine Self within. To remind us that we are not human beings going through a spiritual experience but that very Spirit going through a human experience. So together, we must work towards lifting ourselves out of our delusion, our moha to greater heights of awareness.

"எளிமையான மொழியில் நான்கு நான்கு வரிகளாக எழுதப்பட்டது 'பஜ கோவிந்தம்.'  சித்தர்கள் பாடிய தத்துவ ஞானம் போன்றதே இதுவும்.

வடமொழி அறியாத நான், ஆதிசங்கரரின் பஜ கோவிந்தத்துக்கு பல பேர் எழுதிய பாஷ்யங்களை பார்த்து, 'ஆசை வயப்பட்டு' இந்த செய்யுள்களை இயற்றியுள்ளேன்.

'காசில் கொற்றத்து ராமன் கதையை ஆசைபற்றி அறியலுற்றேன்' என்றான் கம்பநாடன்.   நானும் ஆசையினாலேயே இதனை எழுதியுள்ளேன்.

இந்த ஆசை ஈஸ்வர ஆசை.  ஆகையால் லௌகிக ஆசையில் உள்ள துயரம் இதில் இல்லை.  மாறாக, இது நிரந்தர நிம்மதியை வழங்கும் ஆசை.  எந்த அளவு இதனை நான் சரிவரச் செய்திருக்கிறேன் எனபது, ஆதிசங்கரரின் ஆன்மாவுக்கும், ஈஸ்வரனுக்கும் மட்டுமே புரியக்கூடிய ஒன்று. இதனை எழுதும்படி என்னைத் தூண்டியது இறைவன் ஏற்படுத்திக் கொடுத்த ஒரு சிறு சந்தர்ப்பமே.

மலையாள மொழியில் எடுக்கப்படும் 'ஆதிசங்கரர்' என்ற படத்திற்கு பாடல் எழுதுவதற்காக என்னை அழைத்தபோது இந்த பஜ கோவிந்தம் பாடல்களை அந்தப் படத்தில் நான் கேட்டேன்.  இந்தப் பாடல்களைப் பதிவு செய்து அல்லும் பகலும் கேட்டுக்கொண்டே இருந்தேன்.  விளைவு - இந்த நூல்.

- கவிஞர் கண்ணதாசன்

Forthcoming posts will be organised in trilingual viz. original verse in Devanagiri with transliteration and meaning in हिंदी (भावानुवाद), English and தமிழ் (கவிஞர் கண்ணதாசனின் விளக்கவுரை மற்றும்  கவிதையாக்கம்).

Courtesy: http://vedantavision.org, கண்ணதாசன் பதிப்பகம்