BHAJA GOVINDAM : “Hammer Blows to Delusion” Composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharyaji - 1.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 “Hammer Blows to Delusion"
“THE SANDEEPANY EXPERIENCE” Reflections by SWAMI GURUBHAKTANANDA."
Sandeepany’s Vedanta Course

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A NOTE ABOUT SANDEEPANY :

Sandeepany Sadhanalaya is an institution run by the Chinmaya Mission in Powai, Mumbai, teaching a 2-year Vedanta Course. It has a very balanced daily programme of basic Samskrit, Vedic chanting, Vedanta study, Bhagavatam, Ramacharitmanas, Bhajans, meditation, sports and fitness exercises, team-building outings, games and drama, celebration of all Hindu festivals, weekly Gayatri Havan and Guru Paduka Pooja, and Karma Yoga activities.

This series is an effort to promote the learning of Vedanta; it does not replace Course, but hopes to inspire young people to spend two years of their life for an experience that is sure to make a far-reaching spiritual impact on their personal lives. Sandeepany is an all-round spiritual course that gives proper direction to the youth and to those approaching retirement. Hinduism is in dire need of a band of systematically trained teachers or Acharyas who can serve this Eternal Religion.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BHAJA GOVINDAM : “Hammer Blows to Delusion” Composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharyaji

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reflections by Swami Gurubhaktananda
on the 12 Lectures delivered by Swami Advayananda,
Acharyaji, 15th Batch Vedanta Course
AT SANDEEPANY SADHANALAYA, POWAI, MUMBAI
28th November, 2011 – 16th December, 2011

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SERVE  LOVE  GIVE  PURIFY  MEDITATE  REALISE

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Introduction 
PART I
The Opening Refrain – “The Hammer Blows” 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Song -1.  Seek God, O Fool!

"bhaja govindam, govindam bhaja mudhamate;

sampraapte sannihite kaale  na hi na hi rakshati dukrin karane

na hi na hi rakshati dukrin karane."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Translation :

"bhaja govindam, = bhaja govindam Seek Govind, seek Govind,

 govindam bhaja mudhamate; = seek Govind, O Fool!

 sampraapte sannihite kaale = When the appointed time comes (death),

 na hi na hi rakshati dukrin karane = grammar rules surely will not save you."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary :

 This line conveys the remedy for all our ills, whether physical, mental or spiritual. The line is a refrain sung at the end of each verse. It therefore underlines the central message of the entire poem. Bhaja “Worship!” says the poet. Worship whom? – Govinda, the Lord, of course.

 But the message may not have gone through to some still. So he repeats the instruction, this time switching the words around so that the emphasis is on God. We could easily worship mammon even while thinking we are worshipping God. Propaganda, show of wealth, emphasis on external modes of worship – all these lead us astray even in the name of God. So we are asked to make certain that He whom we worship is, indeed, God.

Moodhamate: 

If we are not turning towards God, then we are fools, says the poet. It is not time to be too polite. This is a wake up call to sleeping mankind. We are so immersed in forgetfulness of God that only a harsh means can turn our minds Godward.

In the language of Shankaracharya, Moodha has a Vedantic connotation. It does not mean “foolish” as we usually understand the word. It is referring to one who is spiritually ignorant. Even the most intelligent scientist, if he is a rank materialist, he would fall under the category of Moodhamata. The majority of mankind will be highly qualified for this category! Neglect of the spiritual aspect in life is being highlighted.

 Kaale, meaning “at the appointed time”,  :

also has an implied meaning. It stands for “death” or Lord Yama, the God of Death. At the time of our birth we have already made an appointment with Death. Death was our twin, born with us, but only always lagging behind a little. When it overtakes us, it is time to go!

A reminder of death is appropriate to the awakening call of the poet. Only death has the power to knock some sense into our deluded minds. It has a sobering effect on us to curb our unbridled romp with indulgence.

Dukrin : “grammar rules”. 

The word comes from the ‘Kru’ Dhatu and is the root for Karma or action. It is obviously symbolic – known as an Upa-Lakshana in Samskrit. It has to be taken to represent all secular forms of knowledge – i.e. Apara Vidya.

The difference between secular and spiritual knowledge will be taken up in greater detail when we study the Upanishads, but here it is enough to know that ‘Apara’ Vidya is knowledge that will assist us only in getting on in the world. The higher ‘Para’ Vidya deals with knowledge of Brahman or the Self, and is of a totally different nature and purpose from the former.

Not only that, but there is a suggestion that taking recourse solely to actions (from the root ‘Krn’, “to do”) will not help us spiritually; knowledge is what is needed. There is no escape from knowledge on the path to liberation. We may start with “doing”, but we have to end in our quest by “being.”.

End.

Next - Dvadasha Manjarika Stotram

PART II – Verses 2-13 (12 No.)

“Pitfalls to Beware of”

Song - 2: Kanchana: The Thirst for Wealth.

To be continued ....

=======================================================================