Bhaja Govindam [Praise/Seek Govinda (Krishna)] also known as Moha Mudgara (Hammer [to shatter] illusion) is a popular 8th century Hindu devotional composition in Sanskrit attributed to Adi Shankara. This work of Adi Shankara underscores the view that devotion (Bhakti) to God, Govinda, is a vastly important part of general spirituality, as emphasised by Bhakti Yoga and the Bhakti movement. This work is generally considered a summary of Adi Shankaras Advaita Vedanta philosophy. his composition is a reminder that the author, Adi Shankara, who is often regarded as a stalwart advocate of the Jnana Marga (Jnana Yoga) or the Path of Knowledge to attain Mukti, yielded to none in appreciating, indeed enjoining the Bhakti Marga (Bhakti Yoga) or the Path of Faith/Devotion to the same goal, and as C. Rajagopalachari put in his commentary, 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. In this prayer, Adi Shankara 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 Shankara wrote: The refrain Bhaja Govindam which defines the composition and gives it its name invokes the almighty in the aspect of Vishnu; it is therefore very popular not only with Sri Adi Shankaracharyas immediate followers, the Smarthas, but also with Vaishnavas and others. Legend There is a story attached to the composition of this Hymn. It is said that Adi Shankara, accompanied by his disciples, was walking along a street in Varanasi one day when he came across an aged scholar teaching the rules of Sanskrit grammar to his students by rote. 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. The hymn Bhaja Govindam is said to have been composed on this occasion. The composition consists of twenty-seven verses. Besides the refrain of the song beginning with the words Bhaja Govindam, Shankara is said to have sung twelve other verses. Hence, the hymn bears the title Dvadasamanjarika-Stotra (A hymn which is a bunch of twelve verse-blossoms). The fourteen disciples who were with the Master on that occasion are believed to have added one verse each. These fourteen verses are together called Chaturdasa-manjarika-Stotra (a hymn consisting of fourteen verse-blossoms). https://youtube/watch?v=xMR279qN5Wk
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 11:54:20 +0000
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