"Bhaja Govindam" (Sanskrit: भज गोविन्दं, meaning "Praise/Seek Govinda"), also known as "Moha Mudgara" ("Destroyer of illusion"), is a popular Hindu devotional poem in Sanskrit composed by Adi Shankara. This work of Adi Shankara underscores the view that bhakti (devotion) is also important along with jñāna (knowledge), as emphasised by the bhakti movement.[1]
bhaja govindaṁ bhaja govindaṁ govindaṁ bhaja mūḍha-mate | samprāpte sannihite kāle nahi nahi rakṣati ḍukr̥ṅkaraṇe ||
Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, oh deluded mind! At the time of your death, Rules of grammar will not save you.
Storyedit
There is a story related to the composition of this Hymn. It is said that Shri Adi Shankaracharya, accompanied by his disciples, was walking along a street in Varanasi one day when he came across an old aged scholar reciting the rules of Sanskrit grammar of Panini repeatedly on the street. Taking pity on him, Adi Shankara went up to the scholar and advised him not to waste his time on grammar at his age but to turn his mind to God in worship and adoration, which would only save him from this vicious cycle of life and death. The hymn "Bhaja Govindam" is said to have been composed on this occasion.[3]
Significanceedit
This composition is a reminder that Adi Shankaracharya, who is often regarded as reviver of Hinduism Jnana Marga (Jnana Yoga) or the "Path of Knowledge" to attain Mukti, also was a proponent of Bhakti Marga (Bhakti Yoga) to attain the same goal,[4] and as C. Rajagopalachari put in his commentary, "When intelligence (jnana) matures and lodges securely in the heart, it becomes wisdom (vignyana). When that wisdom (vignyana) is integrated with life and issues out in action, it becomes devotion (bhakti). Knowledge (jnana) which has become mature is spoken of as devotion (bhakti). If it does not get transformed into devotion (bhakti), such knowledge (jnana) is useless tinsel."[5]
In this prayer, Adi Shankaracharya emphasizes the importance of devotion for God as a means to spiritual development and to liberation from the cycle of birth and death. The prayer leaves one in no doubt that the renunciation of our egotistical differences and surrender to God makes for salvation. Many scholars hold that this composition encapsulates with both brevity and simplicity the substance of all Vedantic thought found in whatever other works that Adi Shankaracharya wrote:
The refrain "Bhaja Govindam" which defines the composition and gives it its name invokes the almighty in the aspect of supreme god Shree Krishna; it is therefore very popular not only with Sri Adi Shankaracharya's immediate followers, the Smarthas, but also with Vaishnavas and others.
The metre is moraic (मात्राछन्दस्). Apart from the first verse, all other verses have 16 matras, which tend to fit the description of the padakulakam variety of matrasamaka [मात्रासमक] in vrtta-ratnakara.
Referencesedit
^Bhaja Govindam, by Sankarācārya, Chinmayananda, Translated by Brahmacharini Sharada. Published by Chinmaya Publications Trust, 1967. Page5-7.
^"Bhaja Govindam". Sanskrit Documents Site. Translated by Giridhar, M. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
^The Hymns of Sankaracharya, by Śankaracarya, Telliyavaram Mahadevan Ponnambalam Mahadevan, Totakācārya, Sureśvarācārya. Published by Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 2002. ISBN81-208-0097-4. Page 33.
^Bhaja Govindam 6 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine Ancient Wisdom, Yogalife, Fall 2003 Issue. Sivananda.
^Commentary on Bhaja Govindam by C. Srinivas Kuchibhotla.
Further readingedit
Sanskrit Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Bhajagovindam(Sanskrit Text)
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Bhaja Govindam
Bhaja Govindam Side by side translation in Hindi and English
bhaja, govindam, sanskrit, भज, meaning, praise, seek, govinda, also, known, moha, mudgara, destroyer, illusion, popular, hindu, devotional, poem, sanskrit, composed, shankara, this, work, shankara, underscores, view, that, bhakti, devotion, also, important, al. Bhaja Govindam Sanskrit भज ग व न द meaning Praise Seek Govinda also known as Moha Mudgara Destroyer of illusion is a popular Hindu devotional poem in Sanskrit composed by Adi Shankara This work of Adi Shankara underscores the view that bhakti devotion is also important along with jnana knowledge as emphasised by the bhakti movement 1 Adi Shankaracharya with his disciples Contents 1 Sanskrit Text 2 Story 3 Significance 4 Meter Chandas 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksSanskrit Text editThe first stanza of the composition featuring the eponymous line Bhaja Govindam reads as follows 2 Devanagari ISO 15919 Transliteration Translationभज ग व न द भज ग व न द ग व न द भज म ढमत सम प र प त सन न ह त क ल नह नह रक षत ड क ङ करण bhaja govindaṁ bhaja govindaṁ govindaṁ bhaja muḍha mate samprapte sannihite kale nahi nahi rakṣati ḍukr ṅkaraṇe Worship Govinda worship Govinda Worship Govinda oh deluded mind At the time of your death Rules of grammar will not save you Story editThere is a story related to the composition of this Hymn It is said that Shri Adi Shankaracharya accompanied by his disciples was walking along a street in Varanasi one day when he came across an old aged scholar reciting the rules of Sanskrit grammar of Panini repeatedly on the street Taking pity on him Adi Shankara went up to the scholar and advised him not to waste his time on grammar at his age but to turn his mind to God in worship and adoration which would only save him from this vicious cycle of life and death The hymn Bhaja Govindam is said to have been composed on this occasion 3 Significance editThis composition is a reminder that Adi Shankaracharya who is often regarded as reviver of Hinduism Jnana Marga Jnana Yoga or the Path of Knowledge to attain Mukti also was a proponent of Bhakti Marga Bhakti Yoga to attain the same goal 4 and as C Rajagopalachari put in his commentary When intelligence jnana matures and lodges securely in the heart it becomes wisdom vignyana When that wisdom vignyana is integrated with life and issues out in action it becomes devotion bhakti Knowledge jnana which has become mature is spoken of as devotion bhakti If it does not get transformed into devotion bhakti such knowledge jnana is useless tinsel 5 In this prayer Adi Shankaracharya emphasizes the importance of devotion for God as a means to spiritual development and to liberation from the cycle of birth and death The prayer leaves one in no doubt that the renunciation of our egotistical differences and surrender to God makes for salvation Many scholars hold that this composition encapsulates with both brevity and simplicity the substance of all Vedantic thought found in whatever other works that Adi Shankaracharya wrote The refrain Bhaja Govindam which defines the composition and gives it its name invokes the almighty in the aspect of supreme god Shree Krishna it is therefore very popular not only with Sri Adi Shankaracharya s immediate followers the Smarthas but also with Vaishnavas and others Meter Chandas editThe metre is moraic म त र छन दस Apart from the first verse all other verses have 16 matras which tend to fit the description of the padakulakam variety of matrasamaka म त र समक in vrtta ratnakara References edit Bhaja Govindam by Sankaracarya Chinmayananda Translated by Brahmacharini Sharada Published by Chinmaya Publications Trust 1967 Page5 7 Bhaja Govindam Sanskrit Documents Site Translated by Giridhar M 22 November 2016 Retrieved 30 December 2016 The Hymns of Sankaracharya by Sankaracarya Telliyavaram Mahadevan Ponnambalam Mahadevan Totakacarya Suresvaracarya Published by Motilal Banarsidass Publ 2002 ISBN 81 208 0097 4 Page 33 Bhaja Govindam Archived 6 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine Ancient Wisdom Yogalife Fall 2003 Issue Sivananda Commentary on Bhaja Govindam by C Srinivas Kuchibhotla Further reading edit nbsp Sanskrit Wikisource has original text related to this article Bhajagovindam Sanskrit Text nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam Side by side translation in Hindi and English Bhaja Govindam by C Rajagopalachari online book Bhaja Govindam by K P Rathnakara Bhatta online book Bhaja Govindam Follow Your Heart Archived 18 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine published by Vakils Feffer amp Simons Pvt Ltd Bhaja Govindam Essence of Vedanta for Peace and Happiness by Br Prasanna Swaroopa Bhaja Govindam at sanskritdocuments org Bhaja Govindam by Swami Chinmayananda Chinmaya Mission eshop chinmayamission comExternal links editComplete Works of Shankaracharya Bharatanatyam Rendition of Bhaja Govindam Talk by Rajaji at carnatic com Listen to Bhaja Govidam at Raaga Bhaja Govindam amp its meaning at Kamakoti org An insightful commentary on Bhaja Govindam in a six episode series by Om Swami 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bhaja Govindam amp oldid 1179277260, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
