Bhajagovindam - Lyrics With Meaning 4u726p

BhajaGovindam – An Introduction By Ramakantha Rao Chakalakonda

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

I pray Lord Vishnu, who has four arms and who is dressed in white clothes and having a pleasant face, to remove all obstacles from my path, I also pray Lord Ganesh, and my spiritual Gurus.

ii

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

An Appeal Dear Friends, Jagath Guru Sri Adi Shankaracharya composed Bhaja Govindam, which is one of the major musical compositions, teaches us that NaamaSmarana and refuge in the Lotus feet of the Lotus eyed Lord is the only tool available with us to cross the ocean of Samsara. Swami Sri Vidyaprakasanda, the great Guru from Sukabramhasram, Sri Kalahasti, gave an excellent commentary on Bhajagovindam. Based on these works, I have written a book on Bhajagovindam in Telugu, and this is an extract from my work in Telugu, explaining the meaning of each verse. The copies of this book are available in Cincinnati and Dayton Temples, can be procured with a small donation of 2$’s to the temple. The Telugu Text is being published in Vedanta Bheri, a monthly magazine from Suka Brahma Ashram, you can procure the e-Text from me for a small donation to SukaBrahma Ashram, me through my email below. I gave the full rights on this book to publish and sell to Sukabramhasram, Sri Kalahasti. The book is being published in their monthly magazine “Vedantha Bheri”. But for the benefit of those away from India, I made an e-copy of this book. You can procure this e-copy by seeding me an email. Please down load and read. If you like this work and found it useful, kindly send not less than 5 $’s to Sukabhramha Ashram to the following address, towards cost of this e-Book. Sukabhramha Ashram is doing excellent service to our community: The Manager,Sukabrahmasramam Sukabrahmasramam PO- 517 640 , Sri Kalahasti, Chittor dt, AP, India

Or you can send your contribution using PayPal , ID # [email protected]

If you are generous enough, kindly send what ever you like to Sri Vyasasramam, which is doing a lot of service not only religiously, but also to poor children in giving shelter, food and education. The Manager,Sri Vyasasramam, Yerpedu – 287528,Chittor Dt, AP, India May God bless you. Ramakntha Rao Chakalkonda, Sri Venkataramaniyamu Welfare Society, Email: [email protected]

iii

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

Lord Sri Venkatswara

Venkatadri samam sthanam brahmande nasthi kinchana, Venkatesa samo devo na bhuto na bhavishyathi. "There is a wonderful uniqueness associated with Lord Venkateswara, and His abode, Venkatadri."

iv

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

Shri Shankaracharya

Shruti Smruti PurANAnAM AlayaM KaruNAlayaM NamAmi BhagavatpAdaM ShankaraM Loka ShankaraM

Srimachhankara bhagavadpAda sadgurubhyo namaH

vandE taM sacchidAnandaM yativaryaM mahAmatiM vEdavEdAnta sArajnaM sadguruM praNatOsmyahaM SadAhaM saMpradAyajnaM saMyamIndraM sadAshrayaM

v

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

Visweswara Oh! Venkata Nayaka Viswadhara Vishnu Swarupa Vimala Gnanamu Vibudula Kosagedi Govindam Na Kantamu Nimmma! Hey Lord Sri Venkatswara! The Kali Avatar of Lord Vishnu, you are the basis for the whole Universe. Kindly give me the power to explain Bhajagovindam which leads us to the path of Knowledge.

Lambodara, Oh ! Amba Tanaya, Gangadhara suta Gnana Ganesha Modaka Hasta, Mangala dayaka Sankara Geyamu sagaga Nimma Hey Ganesh! Son of Amba and beloved son of Siva, please remove all obstacles in my path to explain the meaning of the Song of Sankara to every one.

Chaduvula Talli, Champaka valli! Mrdu Ni Karamu, Mapi Mopave! Aytam ganamu Avgathamavaga Deevena Lichhi Dayalau Joopave! Hey Mother of Education, You are as soft as a flower. Please keep your soft hand on my on my head and bless me so that I get self realization. Please show kindness on me.

vi

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

Dear Friends, It is my great please to put forward you, Bhajagovindam, one of the Great works of THE GREAT SAINT ADI SANKARA. I thought this kind of work is necessary, so that the meaning of the great saint’s song in Sanskrit can be understood by everybody. The original work of mine is in Telugu in a very simple language so that every body can understand and sing for them selves and follow the great Saints teaching in their daily walks of live. This is an extract from my Telugu book. Jagadguru Sri Adi Sankaracharya was the greatest exponent of the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta and a savior of Vedic Dharma. The existence of Vedic Dharma in India today is due to Sankara. The forces opposed to Vedic religion were more numerous and powerful at the time of Sankara than they are today. Still, single-handed, within a very short time, Sankara overpowered them all and restored the Vedic Dharma and Advaita Vedanta to its pristine purity in the land pure knowledge and spirituality. Sankaracharya occupies a very important position in the history of Indian philosophy. It can be affirmed, without any fear of contradiction, that Bharata Varsha would have ceased to be Bharata Varsha several centuries ago and would never have survived the murderous sword, the devastating fire and the religious intolerance of the successive invaders, if Sankara had not lived the life he lived and taught the lessons he taught. Adi Shankaracharya is one of immortals of India’s cultural history. As the propounder of Advaitavada in Vedanta philosophy, his contribution to Indian philosophy is without any parallel.

Shankara was born in Kalady, a small village in Kerala, India, to a Namboothiri brahmin couple, Shivaguru and Aryamba. Shivaguru died while Shankara was very young. The child

vii

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction showed remarkable scholarship, and is said to have mastered the four Vedas by the age of eight. Following the common practice of that era, Shankara lived and studied at the home of his teacher. It was customary for students and men of learning to receive Bhiksha or alms from the laity; on one occasion, while accepting Bhiksha, Shankara came upon a woman who had nothing to eat in her house except a single dried amlaka fruit. Rather than consume this last bit of food herself, the pious lady gave away the fruit to Sankara as Bhiksha. Moved by her piety, Shankara composed the Kanakadhara Stotram on the spot. Legend has it that on completion of the stotram, golden amlaka fruits were showered upon the woman by the goddess Lakshmi. In due course, Shankara left Kerala and traveled throughout India. When he reached the banks of the river Narmada, he met Govinda Bhagavatpada, the disciple of the Advaitin Gaudapada. Shankara was initiated as his disciple. Shankara traveled extensively, while writing commentaries on the Upanishads, Vishnu sahasranama, Brahma Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita. He engaged in a series of debates with Buddhist scholars, and with scholars of the Purva Mimamsa school, which helped in cementing his spiritual ascendancy. One of the most famous of these debates was with the famed ritualist Mandana Mishra. Once he was saved by Sri Narasimha from being sacrificed to goddess Kali by a Kapalika. He then composed the Laksmi-Nrsimha stotra. Another famous composition of Sri Adi Shankara is his Bhaja Govindam, in praise of Vishnu. It is a traditional belief that Adi Sankara installed at Srirangam a yantra called janakarshana to attract pilgrims to this sacred temple, just as at Tirupati he installed the dhanakarshana yantra. Indeed, Srirangam is the most visited Hindu temple in the world, and Tirupati is the richest. Shankara is believed to have visited the Sarvajnapitha in Kashmir before he withdrew to Kedarnath and attained samadhi. The Kanchi followers believe he achieved the same in Kanchi. He died only at thirty-two years of age. At the time of Shankara's life, Hinduism had lost some of its appeal because of the influence of Buddhism and Jainism. Shankara stressed the importance of the Vedas, and his work helped Hinduism regain strength and popularity. Although he did not live long, he had traveled on foot to various parts of India to restore the study of the Vedas. His philosophy is known as Advaita Vedanta. Adi Shankara has authored many works of stotras, and bhashyas, many of these are debated and questioned but below is a list of books certainly written by Adi Shankara:

• • • • • • • • •

Viveka Chudamani, one of his most famous works, which summarizes his ideas of nondual Vedanta The commentary Bhashya on the Brahma Sutra The commentary on the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad The commentary on the Taittiriya Upanishad The Thousand Teachings or Upadesasahasri Bhaja Govindam Shivanandalahari and Saundaryalahari respectively Commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama The commentary on Gaudapada's Karika to the Mandukya Upanishad

viii

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction •

The commentary on the Bhagavad Gita,

Shankara is said to have founded four mathas (a matha is a monastery or religious order), which are important to this day, to guide the Hindu religion in the future. These are at Sringeri in Karnataka, in the south, Dwaraka in Gujarat in the west, Puri in Orissa in the east, and Jyotirmath (Joshimath) in Uttaranchal in the north. The tradition states that he put in charge of these mathas his four main disciples: Sureshwaracharya, Hastamalaka, Papada, and Trotakacharya respectively. The heads of the mathas trace their authority back to them. Each of the heads of these four mathas takes the title of Shankaracharya (the learned Shankara) after the first Shankara. However, there is no concrete evidence for the existence of these mathas before the 14th century. The matha at Kanchipuram or Kanchi in Tamil Nadu claims that it was also founded by Shankara. According to this matha, it was where he settled in his last days and attained mahāsamādhi (i.e., left his body), but there are other, s which claim that he attained mahāsamādhi at Kedarnath. Due to a small incident, happened recently I was terribly upset for a few days, as words are more powerful weapons than swords to inflict injuries. I was praying Lord Sri Venkataswara to give me peace of mind, and Swami Sri Venkataswara bestowed me the boon, HE gave me Bhajagovindam into my hands. It worked like a peace medicine for my heart, to heal the mental injury. Bhajagovindam explains us the very truth of Human life, its vanity and emptiness, at the same time it stresses the need for Human beings to best utilize their time, while living in the material world. It tells us that we should lead the life in such a way, just like a water drop on a lotus leaf, just look attached, but always mentally detached to the worldly things, and always lead a spiritual live. As lawyers, doctors, professionals, rulers and ruled, teachers, professors, occupying much bigger positions, we feel that we are very great, and tend to forget so many important things. The reason is all our education, intelligence, knowledge gets covered by Maya and we fall in the worldly affairs so deep that we forget our very existence and origin. Adding fuel to fire, the mental weaknesses like pride, anger, jealous, intolerance, short temper, make us behave like animals, forgetting our identity. Sri Sankara wrote a number of Vedaantic works for imparting the knowledge of the Self. He composed a number of hymns to foster the sense of devotion in the hearts of men and this One of these hymns is the famous "Bhaja Govindam". Pre-eminent Hindu scholar, C. Raja Gopalachari has written a commentary on Bhaja Govindam. The following is excerpted from his introduction to Bhaja Govindam

Sri Sankara has packed into the "Bhaja Govindam" song the substance of all the Vedantic works that he wrote and he has set the truth of the union of devotion and knowledge to melodious music which delights the ear. Some critics of Indian philosophy believe and say that

ix

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction the way of devotion is different from the way of knowledge. 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. To hold and to say that jnaana and bhakti, knowledge and devotion, are as different from each other as gold is from baser metal is to expose one's ignorance. Sri Sankara has packed into the "Bhaja Govindam" song the substance of all the Vedantic works that he wrote and he has set the truth of the union of devotion and knowledge to melodious music which delights the ear. Bhajagovindam shows a mirror to human frailties and provides a safe age through life with the advice contained within. Primarily aimed at those who wish to take to a monk’s life there are many verses that are useful for others. Bhajagovindam aids in understanding life’s real purpose from the Vedantic viewpoint and thus improve the quality of living the lifedivine. Bhajagovindam is that beckon of light that can show us the way, to over come our weaknesses. I must thank that Great person, who indirectly was responsible, to take up this small work of mine. I pray all GOD’s to help me to complete this work, successfully. I request all readers to excuse me for any of my mistakes I committed in this. Ramakantha Rao Chakalakonda

x

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

Swami Vidya Prakashanada

It is a great pleasure and opportunity for me to write a few words about Swami Sri Vidya Prakashananda. Born on April 13, 1914 AnandaMohan completed his graduation from Andhara University, Vizag, and “Kovid” exam from “Kasi Vidya Peetha” from Banaras. While he was taking bath in Ganges in RushiKesh, a garland of flowers, with Kumkum and Bhagavat Gita in Sanskrit reached his hand. He then assumed that that was a signal from GOD to take a spiritual path in life. At the age of 13 on May 17, 1936 he became a disciple of Sri Sadguru Maharshi Malayala Swami ( Sri Asanganandagiri swami) of VyaAshram,. He spent 12 years in penance eating only uncooked food and 1 year full of Mouna Vratha. On July 3, 1947 he took Sanyasam and took the name Sri Vidya Prakashanada Giri Swami and started Suka Brahma Ashram on January 20, 1950. at Kalahasti. He performed several Gita Yagna’s, wrote so many books explaining the secrets of Vedanta, Gita and several Hindu religious books. He started n 1963 a monthly magazine “Vedantha Bheri” spreading the meaning of Vedas in simple language for easy understanding of common man. His commentaries on Bhagavat Gita, Bhaja Govindam, and Vedantha Dimdhimam speak about his depth of knowledge. The 100th Gita Yagna was performed in Hyderabad in 1981 under the istration of Tirupathi Tirumala Devastanam, He wrote more than 40 books on Gita, Vedantha and other religious matters. His Holiness attained Maha Samadhi on April 10, 1998.

xi

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

Introduction Swami Sri Vidyaprakasanda, the great Guru from Sukabramhasram, Sri Kalahasti, gave an excellent commentary on Bhajagovindam. Based on his work, I wrote my work in Telugu, explaining the meaning in small verses, which are suitable for singing, in a plain simple Telugu language. For the benefit of those does not know Telugu, I am presenting the last few pages of my work, very briefly here. Great guru Swami Sri Vidyaprakasanda needs no introduction. But for completion, I like to give brief information about swami. To make the sole to fly to heavenly heights, it needs two divine wings - devotion and knowledge. Both are equally important for a smooth flight. That is why Sri Adi Sankara, though did volumes of work in the field of Knowledge ( GNANA), had written so many devotional Slokas. He stressed the need of Bhakati, for the sole, to reach the Almighty. Bhajagovindam stresses the need for Bhakati and prayer, and equally well on importance of GNANA. Human life is some thing very rare and very holy. It gives us an opportunity to rise to heavenly heights, with our GNANA, prayer and devotion. All living things on earth, may it be animals, birds, wild creatures, that are living in forests, water or on the earth or under the earth, or in a sophisticated human society, they all do the same things, like eating, drinking, sleeping, enjoyment, reproduction. If all the living things, including man, do the same thing, without any difference, through out the life, then what is the difference between a human life and life of an animal ? At least animals look to be better than humans in some respects. They do not kill others, except for food or when threatened. But human being has degraded several steps below the animals and other creatures. With his selfishness, false prestige, greed, ambition for power, position and money, he always does so many bad things, which even animals don’t do. If we see the pages of human history, to achieve what he wanted, he has done, doing so many crimes on all other creatures including on his fellow human beings. The objective of Bhajagovindam is to explain the vanity of life and make the human life more sacred by cleaning the mind from the dirt of bad habits, and thoughts. One day Sri Adi Sankara was walking on the streets of Kasi, asking for Bhiksha. They found near a home, one old Brahmin, so old that he may die at any time, was studying a Sanskrit grammar book called DUKRUNKARINI, and trying to mug it up. Seeing the situation HE was shocked and got pity on the old man, he wanted to correct him and

xii

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction put him on the right spiritual path and gave a lesson in the form of BHAJAGOVINDAM, he told a few verses to teach him and his students ( we call them Sisya’s hence forth) a few more verses to the old man. He says “ Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam, Govindam Bhaja, Mudha Mate, Samprapte Sannhite kale, Nahi Nahi Rakshate, Dukrunkarini” Hey! Old man Listen to me, Pray God Sri Vishnu, that is GOVINDA, don’t waste your time like a fool, when you are in your last few days of your life, just when death about to invade you, this Grammar book DUKRUNKARINI is not going to help you from the jaws of death. For persons, of this modern life, like us, this teaching equally applies. So friends, understand the meaning of the great ACHARYA’s teaching and it always, what ever you are doing, and follow what he said. Make your life spiritual, peaceful, successful, and pave the way to attain MOKSHA, the ultimate abode of spirituality.. I humbly take the responsibility of all the mistakes that are there in this small work, they are all mine, please pardon me for my ignorance, and what ever great things you find here, they are due to the great saints, SRI ADI SANKARA, and SRI VIDYA PRAKASA. What ever little I understood, what ever little I know, and what ever I could write, ( though there is so much to write), that much only, I have written, please accept this with your kind heart. The references or examples given here are totally impersonal and does not directly or indirectly refer to any individual or group. With high regards, Ramakantha Rao Chakalakonda Dated : June 24, 2005

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

xiii

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

An extract from.chinnajeeyar.org website: We have heard several stories and legends about incarnations of God, Godman and Acharyas in the past. But very rarely can we come into the living presence of divinity like HH (His Holiness) Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Chinna Srimannarayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji. HH is a profound Sanskrit scholar, a realized soul, an epitome of learning & enlightenment and an embodiment of divine wealth. HH started the JET (Jeeyar Educational Trust) in 1982 at Sithanagaram, Guntur Dist. India with various units in Hyderabad India (1983), Narayankund Nepal (1985), Rajahmundry, India (1991), Chennai India (1993) and Illinois, USA (1995). "Vikasatharangini" a Youth Force, started by HH with hundreds of youth forming its core, has been instrumental in executing several Spiritual and Social projects. In 1984, HH started the Vedic University under Jeeyar Educational Trust (JET), which is one of its kinds to establish and propagate the Vedic Science. Under several extension programs, a similar school for young children to impart the Vedic Agama lore was started at Jaggaiapet in 1990. In addition to the above mentioned programs for the spread of the Vedic Dharma, HH also undertook unique programs to relieve the people of India from misery and calamity. HH, not being satisfied with the services he has rendered in India, has been visiting USA since 1994 spreading and teaching the principles of Universal Love, Peace and Fraternity. HiH's love for mankind is universal and HH is the mother and the benefactor of the entire mankind. The pride of a Nation depends on its civilization and historic values, intellectual excellence and creative self-sufficiency. These qualities instill self-confidence and inspire people to excel with moral pride. Such an initiative makes a Nation worthy and wealthy. The ageless Vedas are proven treasures of higher sciences and supreme knowledge. They are the sources for not only the latest modern technologies for advancement, but for the emanation of a whole new life in this wonderful universe. Fortunately, today, Vedic literature is available all around the world, well preserved in renowned Universities and world famous libraries. But, India is more fortunate. The spirit of Vedas is available in its live form in India. Vedic scholars and practitioners of Bharat, have it in their memory, which is more powerful than Super Computers. In spite of much greater Vedic wisdom that India has, lack of freedom and constant slavery through tyrannical invasions for over 20 centuries, has deprived the world of this Higher Vedic Wealth. At this crucial juncture, JEEYAR INTERNATIONAL VEDIC UNIVERSITY has come forward to play a proactive and responsible role, to make this a better world, by training and preparing great

xiv

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

xv

Vedic practitioners. This centre for Vedic research stands unique here, under the able guidance of traditional Vedic Gurus & bridging the original science of Nature and values of Real Life, to empower the present towards a golden future. This Yajna is for us - Let's all hands in this great Yajna for 'Harmonious Development'. Let's add twigs into this perennial fire of knowledge. Let us march ahead in unison from darkness to light. For More Details see the website : http://www.chinnajeeyar.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blessings Jeeyar Educational Trust, Sitanagaram – 522 501 Guntur District, AP

Dt. 23-09-05

Dear Sri Ramakantha Rao, Srimad Narayanaynamaha! Blessings to you. I have read the Bhajagovindam translation you have sent me. It is excellent, it is nice that you have given an English commentary also, not stopping with explanation in Telugu. It is only human being out of all the creatures in the universe that have thinking power. If one can use that properly, there is worth for human life. Men who can use their brain in the right way can make their life’s useful and can get appreciation from their family, society, universe in general and GOD also. To do this one requires one requires the warmth and energy both. The warmth is the soft feeling in the heart. One who has the softness in the heart gets moved with the sufferings of others, and tries to help them and can happily share with the comforts of others. The energy in the heart gives direction toward destination. We should never forget our goal. The one which creates both this soft feeling and the goal oriented energy is called intellect ( Gnanam) or Love or Bhakti. The bear Gnanam is just not enough, the one that is required is the Gnanam mixed with love, which is goal oriented. Pure Gnanam is like a green mango, when it gets mixed with love, it becomes a juicy fruity mango. That one only gives happiness to the person eating it. The one who enjoys the fruit is GOD himself. HE is none but GOVINDA who protects all of us. The Gnanam which transforms in to love juice is Bhajan.

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction With a heart full of love and kindness which have to bow before GOD and lead our lives, this is the substance of Veda’s. GOD him self gives the strength to overcome the hurdles on the way. What are those difficulties, how they come in our way, how can we get rid of those difficulties, how we have to dedicate our selves before Lord GOVINDA, how to keep our mind controlled in the right path, is well explained in the musical song Bhajagovindam, in easily understandable language, at the same time filled with rich philosophy to the intellectuals. The whole song in written in 32+1 =33 Stanzas, as if this is Brahma Vidya, by Swami Adi Sankara. Appreciating the meaning and philosophy and with the help of comments provided by elders, the Bhajagovindam you have written is excellent, and I am sure it will catch the eyes of so many learned people. Blessings to you. Jai Sriman Narayana. Chinna Jiyar Swami.

xvi

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

Blessings from Swami Vidya Swarupanada Sri sukabrahma Ashram, Suka Brahma Ashram PO, Sri kalahasti 517 640, AP India.

Dated: 9-9-2005

Sriman Chakalakonda Ramakantha Rao – Sriman Narayana. Dear holy sole! I received your book Bhajagovindam, which you have written with Bhakti and Sradha, is received. I have gone through that book. Your work is excellent with full of bhakti and it is really enjoyable to read it. The explanations in certain places is very beautiful, especially Stanzas 2, 7. 8, 9, 18 your translations and picturization is really good. In the 3rd Slokam starting with “Nari” , without losing the meaning of Sankara, explaining fully, you were cautious to use very decent and etiquette language. On the whole your work is really good, nice, meaningful, smooth, soft, musical and simple, easily understandable for everybody and it touches the heart Very happy to see this great work The Lord of seven hills may bless you with more and more thoughts to produce more this kind of works. May God, Great Gurus bless you. We like to print this book in our monthly magazine “Vedantha Bheri”. Swami Vidya Swarupanda.

xvii

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

1. bhajagovindaM bhajagovindaM govindaM bhajamuuDhamate . saMpraapte sannihite kaale nahi nahi rakshati DukRiJNkaraNe

Oh poor sole! old Brahmin ! don’t be foolish. Don’t waste your time in reading this grammar book, DUKRUNKARINI, when your life is going to be over, when death knock’s your door, this book what you are reading, is not going to help you Pray lord Sri GOVINDA, take HIS name and sing, that is going to help you through out your life, at the time of your death and after death. For that matter, not any worldly education is going to help us. That may be helpful to the extent of making our lively hood, but not beyond. Where as spiritual education is going to help you through out live and even in death. Spirituality makes a person, perfect, make him realize the importance of his life, how one should plan it, how he should live, what he should do, and what he should not. That is what is called GNANA, when one gets GNANA, his thinking towards live changes totally, he realizes the vanity of life, its emptiness. He realizes that the worldly comforts and pleasures are temporary and momentary, where as spiritual comforts are ever lasting. That makes him a perfect man, and such people become examples to others, One who acquires GNANA is well equipped with all the power, now if he prays LORD OF THE UNIVERSE, he obviously realizes that VISWA TATWA and easily attains the abode of happiness. So don’t waste time in the world matters and take spiritual education, pray LORD GOVINDA, once you surrender HE will help you, through life and death. Every body on this earth, who is born, must die, nobody can escape death, but that death becomes an easy task for us, when we attain BHAKTI and GNANA, We get mentally prepared for death, spirituality makes us bold to face death. Then death is not any more a devil, it is a relief, we can get rid of all kinds of problems, of body and mind, and we can attain MOKASHAM, (Birth-less-ness) once we fall on the lotus feat of GOVINDA. So dear friends, take the name of GOVINDA, the universal lord, and take his SARANAM ( Refuge), he will give us relief from all problems of BHAVASAGARAM, the day to day life related problems.

1

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

What ever money we have, what ever great assets we have, what kind of house or palace we live, and the amount of assets like currency, Gold, diamonds, etc, the power and position, the worldly knowledge, how many friends, servants, relatives, we have, none of these are going to help us in the last minutes of death, except surrender on the feet of LORD GOVINDA. So, soon take up the path of spirituality.

2. mUDha jahiihi dhanaagamatRishhNaaM kuru sadbuddhiM manasi vitRishhNaam. yallabhase nijakarmopaattaM vittaM tena vinodaya chittam.

Dear friend! Don’t waste your valuable time for earning money, what ever money you acquire, it is going to be waste, you are not going to carry with you even a single coin, when you die. Leave off the desire for accumulation of wealth; create in the mind thoughts about Reality, devoid of ion. Give up your thirst to amass wealth, devote your mind to thoughts to the Real. Be content with what comes through actions already performed in the past. Satisfy your mind with what you have achieved through your past deeds. The money you earn either with your hard work, or what ever way, good or bad means, is not going to be carried with you, after death. What you carry with you is the fruits of good works you do either for society, fellow humans or service to GOD. First of all where there is an end for earning money, the more you earn, the more you want it, so you must put an end to your desire, other wise your thrust of money is not going to stop. So get complacent, target your self to earn that much only, that is good enough to live, sufficient for your family, your self and to show charity. What happened to the richest fellows on earth lived so far, did not they die, did they carry any thing with them, after death is there anybody bothered about them ? People do not even their names, where as see those people, who sacrificed their lives for others, and serviced GOD. Their names are eternal on earth, as long as Sun and Moon shine on earth. The more the money, the more the problems, so be more intelligent, spend your time for service of GOD and in prayer, not for earning material assets. That is why Kabir Said:

2

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

God! Give me only that much, that is enough for me and for my family and for my guest. Give that much that is enough to feed my self and my guests. Don’t give me more or less. The more you want to acquire money, the more problems, fears and disturbance.

3. naariistanabhara naabhiideshaM dRishhTvaa maagaamohaavesham. etanmaaMsaavasaadi vikaaraM manasi vichintaya vaaraM vaaram.

Dear friend! When you see a beautiful women, don’t get attracted with her beauty and get mad and lusty. Seeing the female form, do not fall prey to frenzied delusion What ever you think that are very attractive, they are nothing but flesh, blood, fat and bones, covered under skin. Do not get drowned in delusion by going wild with ions. When age increases, deceases catch the body, all these become nothing but loosely hanging skin and broken bones. The body is made of the five elements, water, earthy, sky, air and fire. The body one day becomes useless and has to be mixed back in to these five elements. So understand the bodily pleasures are not ultimate, there is a divine please and happiness, please try to acquire that to be ever happy. Nityaanandam Parama Sukhadam Kevalam Gnana Murthim Dwandaathitam Gagana Sadrusham Tattwamasyadi Lakshyam Ekam Nityam Vimalam Achalam Sarvadee Saakshibhutham. The divine is always blissful, most happy, with absolute wisdom, without a second, beyond the pair of opposites, expansive and all pervasive like the sky, indicated by the feeling of being synonymous of the goal of the principle of oneness, eternal, pure, unchanging and the witness of all the functions of the intellect. As an individual, member of a society and citizen of a country, you should be very clear with one point that the womanly attraction is most dangerous, you would have seen the history, so many wars were fought and so much destruction was done to human society due to woman’s attraction. All this is not worth. Think well thus in your mind again and again. So concentrate your mind on divine things and keep your mind, body and soul away from these attractions.

3

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

4. naliniidalagata jalamatitaralaM tadvajjiivitamatishayachapalam . viddhi vyaadhyabhimaanagrastaM lokaM shokahataM cha samastam

Dear friend, life is very small, man may die at any time, because of age, decease or accident. It is like a water bubble which may explode any moment, it is like a water drop on lotus petal, which may skid any moment. The life of a man is as uncertain as rain drops trembling on a lotus leaf. The entire world is devoured by disease and conceit, and smitten with sorrow. The GOD of death, may catch our neck at any moment. The world is full of miseries, and to cross the ocean of life ( BHAVASAGARA) is very tedious. To make this journey very easy and simple, that there is only one solution, the lotus feet of GOD. So surrender to LORD and make your life’s journey easy towards heaven.

5. yaavadvittopaarjana saktaH staavannija parivaaro raktaH . pashchaajjiivati jarjara dehe vaartaaM ko.api na pRichchhati gehe

Dear friend! As long as you have earning power and earning money, everybody respects you, they will be attached to you.. Your wife, children and relatives show a lot of importance to you. But the moment you stop earning you lose all your respect, they just stop caring you, no one would even speak to you a word. On the contrary they may even show disrespect or they may even insult you. When you are in power and position, your subordinates, servants, colleagues respect you, for the fear of you that you may harm them, or to get benefits from you. Once you are down the power, nobody cares you. At the time you feel insulted, lost and horrified, at that time nobody will be on your side, except GOD, so think of GOD right now and pray him every moment, so that you are prepared mentally to take up any situation.

4

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

6. yaavatpavano nivasati dehe taavatpRichchhati kushalaM gehe . gatavati vaayau dehaapaaye bhaaryaa bibhyati tasminkaaye

Dear friend ! As long as you are alive, your relatives, friends, and wife and children, enquire you about your state, they show a lot of interest in you, but the moment you are dead, they weep once or a few days and then forget about you. Nobody even you latter. When your dead body is lying on floor, nobody wants to touch it, even your wife gets worried to approach the dead body, because of fear. The body is made of the five elements, earth, sky, water, fire and air. When dead it becomes so much decade that it starts smelling, so everybody wants to get rid of it as soon as possible, lest they should get any decease. So the body has to get mixed again with those five elements. So the physical body is useless and perishable, the only thing that is eternal is sole, so make your sole purified and try to achieve the lotus feet of GOD where there is perfect tranquility and eternity.

7. arthamanarthaM bhaavaya nityaM naastitataH sukhaleshaH satyam. putraadapi dhana bhaajaaM bhiitiH sarvatraishhaa vihiaa riitiH

Dear friend! see the irony of having more money, your life is in danger and becomes peace less. By legal or illegal means you earned lots of money, now the problem is protecting it, you have fear of thieves, rulers.. They may even kill you to steal the money. Bear in mind always that wealth could mean disaster. Why only dacoits, think of your own children, friends and relatives, there is even danger from them also.. As long as they have money interest with you, or as long as they believe that you are useful to them monetarily they respect you, once they feel you are useless to them they ditch you. So Wealth is no good, there is happiness even after acquiring wealth, this is the truth. Wealth is not welfare, truly there is no joy in it. GOD, he is with you all the time, whether you are poor or rich, you

5

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction get the acme of peace in his service, so pray GOD and achieve happiness, which the material comforts and people cannot give you. Sri Sankara here gives a sound advice good for householders and other sadhakas. Know that money will mean more misery than pleasure. The truth is, money cannot buy happiness; In money matters, man doesn’t trust even his offspring’s. Strange it may seem, but this is the way of the world. The Acharya, though not a man of the world, nevertheless understood its ways precisely. This is for the benefit of the disciples and devotees. Money often makes a man arrogant. There is no end to the greed for wealth. The man who gets a thousand will hope for ten thousand. The one who gets ten thousand will hope for a millions… No end to desire, no end to greed. Will more money ensure more pleasure and peace of mind? Chances are little. The more a man gets, the greedier he becomes; No one is satisfied with what he gets. He is jealous of those who have more; Dissatisfied mind is the breeding ground of crimes: at home, in society also. The rich man sometimes doesn’t trust even his children on monetary matters. He is doubtful on others and their intentions. Sleep is lost; Rivalries start; Quarrels ensue; Even murders result. All for money. Can a sadhaka live with this situation? No amount of money will satisfy us. We have to satisfy ourselves by what we legitimately earn by hard work. We should impress ourselves that it is a misconception that money brings happiness. There is nothing wrong if we work hard and earn money; we may use it for good purposes. But we shouldn’t become a slave of money. The earlier we understand the truth about the world and its ways, the better it is for us: To help say farewell to ignorant ways.

8. baalastaavatkriiDaasaktaH taruNastaavattaruNiisaktaH . vRiddhastaavachchintaasaktaH pare brahmaNi ko.api na saktaH

Dear friend! See the pity, how you are wasting your time, in all the four stages of your life cycle! When you are a child because of ignorance you were more attracted with play and time, so as a boy, you are attached to sport When young you are after woman, then after marriage you are after money and family matters, so as a youth, you are attached to young woman. Finally when you get old, your mind is preoccupied with the matters like, how to protect your money, your children’s feature etc. So when you are old, you are attached to anxiety; Also at that time your age and weakness, decease brings you more head aches. To the Supreme Brahman, no one, alas, is attached! Then also you do not think of

6

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction GOD, finally when death invades you, in that last moment you may be in a position of thinking of GOD or not, even if you think of HIM, there is no use, better start praying GOD right now, irrespective of age, what ever is your profession, caste, creed or community, what ever you are engaged in, always in your mind think of GOD and pray him, that is the only one that can save you.

9. kaate kaantaa kaste putraH saMsaaro.ayamatiiva vichitraH . kasya tvaM kaH kuta aayaataH tattvaM chintaya tadiha bhraataH

Dear friend! Think for a moment, who are you? Who is your wife? Who is your son? what are these relations, what is the relation between your wife and you before marriage, what relation you have with your children before birth, same logic applies to your parents, and others, it means these relations are temporary in the dimension of time, they hold good for some time, and cease to exist after a period. you? Whence have you come? Oh brother, think of that truth here. The Samsara (Universe ) is very Strange. Exceedingly wonderful, indeed, is this empirical process! Of whom are you? Who are. The whole world is a stage, we are actors, playing different roles, involved deeply in our action. Come out of this plane of MAYA ( Cloud of ignorance) and think, you will find that what ever role you are playing is false and untrue. So get rid of your mind with the cloud of MAYA ( the attracting power), then you are clear of facts and truth, that is the first step in acquiring divine Knowledge (GNANA) and one step toward the ALL MIGHTY! Your vision makes you call a man ‘father’, your daughter as ‘daughter.’ You give name to various relationships since the bodies are different. Actually, who is father, who is daughter? Maata Naasthi, Pita Naasthi Naasthi Bandhu, Naasthi Sahodara Artham Naasthi, Gruham Naasthi. Tasmat Jagratha, Jagratha, Jagratha. There is no mother, no father, Neither siblings nor relations, There is no wealth or dwelling, O! Be careful, be careful, be careful.

7

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction In essence, all are one and are the embodiments of God. In order to journey to this unity, the diversity should be renounced. The principle at the spirit (atma) is to visualize and experience the unity in diversity. The Atma is the regulator of unity amidst multiplicity. Though the bulbs are different, in size and luminosity, they glow by the same electricity that runs through them. So too visualization of the self is the understanding of the singularity in the plural world.

10. satsaNgatve nissN^gatvaM nissaNgatve nirmohatvam.h . nirmohatve nishchalatattvaM nishcalatattve jiivanmuktiH

Dear friend! From Satsangh (the company of the good) comes non-attachment, from nonattachment comes freedom from delusion, which leads to self-settledness. From selfsettledness (delusionlesness) comes Jeevan Mukti (liberation in life). Company plays a major role and it influences your mind and sole. If you are in bad company you acquire bad habits, if you are in good company good habits, you have to better choose good company for your own good. If you are in the company of HARI DASA’s (Servants of GOD), saints and good teachers (Guru’s), you can learn things very easily, you don’t have to re-invent the wheel, what ever they learnt, they will on this knowledge to you and you can easily acquire that. Especially the need of a good teacher is very important for spiritual matters. Dear friend acquire the friendship and company of devotional people and acquire spiritual knowledge, peace, good habits. If you are in a good company, the first benefit you get is, you get detached with the worldly matters, and you get attached to divine things, if you reach that stage then you are very close to GOD.

11. vayasigate kaH kaamavikaaraH shushhke niire kaH kaasaaraH . kshiiNevitte kaH parivaaraH GYaate tattve kaH saMsaaraH

Dear friend! When you are young, energetic then if you have control over mind and get detached to worldly things, then we can say you are like a saint, very strong minded, but

8

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction when you are old and have no energy, if you lose interest in worldly attractions, what is great! When there is full water, then only we call it a tank, but where there is no a drop of water, where is tank it self? When youth is spent, what lustful play is there? When the water has evaporated, what lake is there? When the money is gone, what dependents are there? When the Truth is known, what empirical process is there? So friend, get detached from the worldly things right from beginning. So get realization, when you have assets everybody comes to you to enjoy them, they all leave you alone, just like frogs leave the tank when it is dry. So with self realization, make self analysis, this makes you understand what bad things in you are, wash them off and become a pure sole, eligible for divine prayer.

12.maa

kuru dhana jana yauvana garvaM harati nimeshhaatkaalaH sarvam.h . maayaamayamidamakhilaM hitvaa brahmapadaM tvaM pravisha viditvaa

Dear friend! Those that have worldly knowledge, beauty, strength, money, power, position and mob behind them, get proud and head strong, they think that they are very great and insult others, they do so many atrocities on human society, but all these great assets what they have are temporary, one day they lose them. That one day can be any day, any time. Then they become Zero from Hero. Do not boast of wealth, friends, and youth. Free yourself from the illusion of the world of Maya and attain the timeless. So don’t get proud of them, the only strength that is real, eternal is GOD’s strength, acquire it with your spiritual knowledge. When you acquire that you will be sailing in the ocean of tranquility and happiness. 13.dinayaaminyau saayaM praataH

shishiravasantau punaraayaataH . kaalaH kriiDati gachchhatyaayuH tadapi na muJNcatyaashaavaayuH

Dear friend! Life is very short, don’t waste time. Start prayer right now, don’t post phone prayer, and never say that I will start from tomorrow, that tomorrow never comes. Time plays and life ebbs away. But the storm of desire never leaves. Day comes and day goes, night comes, and night goes. Like this days, months, years go waste, but that tomorrow

9

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction never comes, so start today it self, if you have to do some thing tomorrow, start today, if you have to do some thing today, do it right away, in one moment there could be total universal destruction, then you can not utter even once the name of GOD, so without waste of time, start your prayer right away. Time sports, life is fleeting; yet one does not leave the winds of desire. That is why Kabir Said:

Kaal Kare So Aaj Kar, Aaj Kare So Ub Pal Mein Pralaya Hoyegi, Bahuri Karoge Kub

Tomorrows work do today, today's work do right now, in one moment there could happen some big disaster, then you may not find even one moment also to pray. 14.dvaadashamaJNjarikaabhirasheshhaH

kathito vaiyaakaraNasyaishhaH . upadesho bhuudvidyaanipuNaiH shriimachchhankarabhagavachchharaNariH

Like this, Swami Sankara gave his divine lessons to the old Brahman in twelve verses, and in the end another three, rest of the lessons were preached by swami’s students (SISHYA’s). This bouquet of twelve verses was imparted to the grammarian by the allknowing Shankara, adored as the bhagavadpada. These twelve stanzas are good enough to clear the cloud of ignorance and MAYA from our minds, these are essence of all teachings in all the philosophical books. Those who understand, realize and practice the meaning of these twelve stanza’s will acquire Knowledge and can detach their mind from worldly things and can get self realization. That in turn generates peace, happiness and BRAMHANDAM and finally MOKSHAM.

10

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

15. kaate kaantaa dhana gatachintaa vaatula kiM tava naasti niyantaa . trijagati sajjanasaM gatiraikaa bhavati bhavaarNavataraNe naukaa

This lesson was taught by Sri Papadchrya. He said, dear friend! Why are you bothered about any worldly matters. GOD is very kind, HE created us and also created food for us, so HE will defiantly feed your family and you, don’t worry about them. Stop worrying and start praying. Worries about family, wealth, etc., are mere foolishness. Is there not for you the One who ordains? In three worlds, it is only the association with good people that can serve as the boat that can carry one across the sea of birth (metempsychosis). Oh mad man ! Why this engrossment in thoughts of worldly things ? There is GOD to guide us. There is only one thing in three worlds that can save you from the ocean from samsara. Get into that boat of satsangha quickly. So listen to Great Guru’s words and acquire peace, leave your worries to sky, and get self realization. Start praying GOD and that will sail you happily on the world of ocean.

16. jaTilo muNDii luJNchhitakeshaH kaashhaayaambarabahukRitaveshhaH . pashyannapi cana pashyati muuDhaH udaranimittaM bahukRitaveshhaH

This lesson was taught by Swami Totakacharya. He said, dear friend! For pure spirituality and Bhakti, what is required is a pure determined mind, not the dress or appearance. The outside dress of a person is not a measure of knowledge. The saffron colored dress of a saint, long hair, does not make an ignorant fool (AGNANI – a person who lacks divine knowledge) a knowledgeable, the realized person ( GNANI). If mind is not clear from the weaknesses, as anger, greed, ambition, envy , attraction towards worldly things, just wearing

11

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction a saint’s dress, does not make a person eligible for ultimate detachment and acquiring salvation ( MUKTI and MOKSHAM). Indeed, this varied disguise is for the sake of the belly. There are many who go with matted locks, many who have clean shaven heads, many whose hairs have been plucked out; some are clothed in saffron, yet others in various colors --- all just for a livelihood. Those kinds of makeup and dress may be helpful for him to deceive others and get some monitory benefits and livelihood but not useful for getting MOKSHAM. So Don’t give importance to the external appearance of a person, try to know him and give value to his Knowledge.

17. aNgaM galitaM palitaM muNDaM dashanavihiinaM jataM tuNDam. vRiddho yaati gRihiitvaa daNDaM tadapi na muJNcatyaashaapiNDam.

This lesson was taught by Sri Hastamalakacharya, he said, dear friend! The change should come mentally, not physically. If head is gray and body is old, then also, the mind will be immersed with worldly attractions, then what is the use ? Even though strength has left the man's body; the mass of desires does not go, then the attachment is strong and he clings firmly to fruitless desires. As long as ignorance (AGNANAMU) and attraction ( MOHAM) does not go away from mind, nobody can get peace of mind, stability and concentration, if you don’t have these, you cannot sit and pray even for a minute, so clear your mind of all wrong thoughts and attractions, then the way of practice ( Moksha Margamu) is very clear to you, you will know by your self, the way you have to proceed and way you have to do things, in the path of acquiring salvation. 18.agre vahniH pRishhThebhaanuH

raatrau chubukasamarpitajaanuH . karatalabhikshastarutalavaasaH tadapi na muJNcatyaashaapaashaH

12

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

The next lesson was taught by Sri Subhodacharya, he said, dear friend! The main secrete of acquiring salvation is getting detached with bad habits, thoughts and bad practices, not detaching worldly physical things. Even if you sit in a forest, if your mind is still not stable and gets attracted with the desires of human life, then what is the use. Whether you sit under a tree in forest, or in a comfortable chair in a palace, if your mind is not attached to any, that is what is most important, you should attach your self with the lotus feet of LORD, then only you can acquire things like, peace of mind, tranquility and salvation. If Japa Mala is moving in your hand, and your tongue is moving and chanting the name of LORD, and your mind is moving through out the world, with worldly thoughts, then what is the use, that is not a prayer at all, in Kabirs words:

With a concentrated mind, if you pray even one moment that is good enough. Desires are the enemies for us. As long as we are slaves to desires, as long as we have bondage of desires, where lead a life in jungle taking shade under a tree, getting warmth from sun, filling stomach with alums, there is no use. If we are a wretched puppet at the hands of ions, what ever we do is a waste. So control your desires which are the first step to acquire Moksha. 19.kurute

gaNgaasaagaragamanaM vrataparipaalanamathavaa daanam.h . GYaanavihinaH sarvamatena muktiM na bhajati janmashatena

The next lesson was from Sri Sureswaracharya, he said, dear friend! Even if you dip your self in river Ganges thousand times a day and routine spiritual activities like prayer, Bhajan, vratam, danam and mundane spiritual works, for hours together, it does not help,

13

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction until you acquire GNANAM ( self realization), it does not mean, they are useless, they help you once you acquire knowledge, they are only a means, not the ultimate goal. No routine prayers or practices help you, until that point, where your mind is clear from ignorance and MOHAM, the cloud of worldly desires. Once the cloud of MOHAM is cleared, your mind will shine like sun with knowledge, then you can see the right spiritual path. Pilgrimage, taking bath in Ganges, observing the religious vows with care; or offers gifts to God, giving away riches in charity, are definitely useful in the path of spirituality. But if he is devoid of knowledge, he does not gain release - according to all schools of thought- even in a hundred lives. What is important is Gnana, the enlightenment, once we acquire that then we will know the right path to take.

20. sura ma.ndira taru muula nivaasaH shayyaa bhuutala majinaM vaasaH . sarva parigraha bhoga tyaagaH kasya sukhaM na karoti viraagaH

The next lesson was taught by Sri NityanandaCharya, he said, dear Friend! With a fresh mind, away from thoughts and worldly attractions, and with concentration, if you pray Lord, and lead a simple life in divine thoughts, and detach your self from all the worldly things, then the ultimate stage of devotion, the MOKSHAM will be in your hands. You acquire the bliss of tranquility, the PARAMANDAM. Living in temples or at the foot of trees, sleeping on the ground wearing deer-skin, renouncing all possessions and their enjoyment - to whom will not dision bring happiness? Give up all attachments and renounce all comforts. Blessed with such Vairagya, could any fail to be content ?

21. yogarato vaabhogaratovaa saN^garato vaa saNgaviihinaH . yasya brahmaNi ramate chittaM nandati nandati nandatyeva

14

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction The next lesson was taught by Sri Aynandagiri Acharya, he said, hey friend! If your mind is filled with thoughts of Lord, and if you spend all your time in his prayers, what ever life you are leading, whether in mist of worldly pleasures, or in a jungle, weather you are a Yogi or not, whether you are in the company of saints or not, it does not matter. Your mind is then always happy, complacent and detached from sorrow and sadness. You will be smiling enjoying the thoughts of Lord in your mind. In such a condition, what ever physical life you lead, engaged in any activity, you will be leading a detached life. You will be sailing in the river of worldly matters, just like a wood will be sailing in the river, floating along with the waters, irrespective of what is there on the shore. Whether you practice concentration or let your self indulge in sense-enjoyment, or your find pleasure in company; or in solitude, you will be happy, happy, and verily happy, if your mind revels in Brahman. One may take delight in yoga or bhoga, may have attachment or detachment. But only he whose mind steadily delights in Brahman enjoys bliss, no one else. So what is important is what we do in our daily activities, what is important is with how much concentration and dedication, we think of Lord in Mind. Means keep in your mind the Lord irrespective of what you do in your dally walk of life, then you will be the most happiest man.

22.bhagavad.h giitaa kiJNchidadhiitaa

gaNgaa jalalava kaNikaapiitaa . sakRidapi yena muraari samarchaa kriyate tasya yamena na charchaa

The next lesson was taught by Sri Druda Bhakta Charya, he said, dear Friend! If you read a small verse in Bhagavat Geetha, and take a holy dip in river Ganges, and pray God at least once, then that is good enough to acquire MOKSHAM the salvation, provided you do that with sincerity, devotion, dedication and concentration and fully involved. Your mind, word and thought should coincide in doing that, then you got MOKSHAM. Those who study the Bhagavadgita even a little, who drink a drop of the Ganga water, and who has perform the worship of the Destroyer of the demon Mura (viz. Shri Krishna) at least once, they have no altercation with Yama. (the Lord of Death).

15

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

23. punarapi jananaM punarapi maraNaM punarapi jananii jaThare shayanam.h . iha saMsaare bahudustaare kRipayaa.apaare paahi muraare

The next lesson was taught by Sri Nityanada charya, he said, we are in a journey which is endless, this cycle is going for ever. We take birth, lead a life, fully involved in the worldly matters, eat, drink, work, reproduce, become old and deceased and die, without achieving anything spiritually, and again go back to birth. Like that how many times do you spend time in mother’s womb ? Repeated birth, repeated death, and repeated lying in the mother's womb- this transmigratory process is extensive and difficult to cross Is there any end ? If you want to come out of this vicious circle, there is only one way, immediately take the refuge in the lotus feet of Lord, then it will give you protection, HE will take you away from this to eternity. Hay LORD it is indeed hard to cross this boundless ocean of samsara. Oh Murari ! Redeem me through Thy mercy

24. rathyaa charpaTa virachita kanthaH puNyaapuNya vivarjita panthaH . yogii yoganiyojita chitto ramate baalonmattavadeva

16

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction The next lesson was taught by Sri YoganandaCharya. He said, dear Friend, a man who acquires self realization, is least bothered about the world. How he lives, and how he leads his life, what dress he wears, what food he eats, for the world he looks like a mad man, but he is in his own world, where he will be in the service and prayers of LORD, full of happiness and joy. He is not bothered at all how others look at him and what they think and say about him. He is in his blissful world of tranquility and eternal pleasure. He who wears a dress made of rags that lie about in the streets, he who walks the path that is beyond merit and demerit the Yogin whose mind is given up to Yoga revels (in Brahman) just as a child or as a mad-man. There is no shortage of clothing for a monk so long as there are rags cast off the road. Freed from vice and virtue, onward he wanders. One who lives in communion with God enjoys bliss, pure and uncontaminated, like a child and as someone intoxicated.

25.kastvaM ko.ahaM kuta aayaataH

kaa me jananii ko me taataH . iti paribhaavaya sarvamasaaram.h vishvaM tyaktvaa svapna vichaaram.h

The next lesson was taught by Surendracharya, he said, dear friend! Take life in the right sense. Who is your mother and who is your father? Who are brothers and sisters ? Who are you? Who am I? Whence have I come? Who are all these persons, what is your relation with them ? Thus enquire, leaving aside the entire world which is comparable to a dream, and is essence less. Look at everything as essence less and give up the world as an idle dream. We are all sprits (Atma), We should take our relationships with anybody as sprit to sprit. If you see them with the bodily relation, then you feel attracted back in to the cloud of MAYA. Then again it leads to sorrow, sadness and all those worldly problems. So understand your role and play your role sensibly, don’t get much involved,. Do your duty and leave things to Lord. The life is like a dream. What ever you do in a dream is not true. Similarly life is like a dream, don’t take it seriously. The one you have to take serious and get involved is the devotion and service to Lord.

17

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

26. tvayi mayi chaanyatraiko vishhNuH vyarthaM kupyasi mayyasahishhNuH . bhava samachittaH sarvatra tvaM vaaJNchhasyachiraadyadi vishhNutvam.h

The next lesson was taught by Sri Medha Thidi Acharya, he said, dear friend! The whole world is made of GOD, he is present in everything, right from a small ant, bacteria, to a big elephant, both mobile and immobile things, visible and invisible, both with senses and without senses, living in air, water and on earth in different forms as birds, fishes, amphibians, animals and humans. In every sprit, he is present as PARAMATMA ( The Supreme sole), all creatures are his forms. In that case, why do you harm and hurt with words and weapons other human beings, why do you inflict mental and physical injuries on others. Why do you have feelings of anger, envy on others, they are all forms of GOD, like you, so if you do any harm to others, it means you are doing it to your self. So don’t scold others, don’t hurt others, don’t do any damage to others, if you do any thing like that , it means your are still immature and incomplete in GNANA. It means you did not wash away all your bad habits. So get rid of such bad things and develop equality. Show equal behavior to everybody, love everybody, and treat them kindly, this is an excellent step you have taken in your spiritual path. Every body is images of Lord Vishnu, the Supreme God. Vainly you get angry with anybody, Don’t be impatient. In me, in you and in everything, none but the same Vishnu dwells. Your anger and impatience is meaningless. See the Self in all things, and leave off everywhere ignorance which is cause of difference. If you wish to attain the status of Vishnu soon, have samabhava always. As long as we are slaves to our feelings, tempers and weaknesses, whether we pray God 24 hours, we recite all kinds of Stotras and do Bhajans all the time it is useless. Be kind with others, show love and good behavior with others. Else even if you are a well learned man, all your virtues are useless as Kabir Says:

Kam Krodh Mad Lobh Ki, Jab Lag Man Me Than, Tab Lag Pandit Murkhu, Dovu Eke Saman.

18

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction He also says this world is of Love:

The Lord, the Great Guru is an Ocean of True Love and Purity. He is the Sole Mighty Magnet and attracts and draws with infinite force a true divine lover unto Him. True Love defies all description. No words can adequately portray this rare and unique experience. True Divine Love transcends all other sentiments and experiences. Prem Ras is a rare Divine Elixir, is a rare privilege of a rare blessed soul.

Sunhu Loka Main Prem Ras Paiya Durjan Maarey Vairi Sangharey Satgur Moko Harnam Diwaiya (Pause) Prathmey Tyagi Haumain Preet Dutiya Tyagi Loga Reet Sri Guru Granth Sahib (370)

Always speak using sweet language, don’t use harsh words. Aisee Vani Boliye, Mun Ka Aapa Khoye Apna Tan Sheetal Kare, Auran Ko Sukh Hoye

Speak such words, sans ego's ploy Body remains composed, giving the listener joy

19

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

27. kaamaM krodhaM lobhaM mohaM tyaktvaa.atmaanaM bhaavaya ko.aham.h . aatmaGYaana vihiinaa muuDhaaH te pachyante narakaniguuDhaaH

The next lesson was taught by Sri Bharati Vamsa Charyulu, he said, dear Friend, you don’t have any external enemies, and all your enemies are in your mind. There are six enemies to everybody, they are called with the team name Ayrishadvarga, their individual names are Kama ( desire), Krodha ( anger), Lobha ( greediness), Moha(mad attraction), Mada (recklessness), Matyarya (envy). These are all good friends and relatives, if you make friendship with one, others will become your friends automatically and then you will be in their trap. Once you are in their hold, you do all bad things, and you will become week enough that you lose control over them. The only way to come out of their influence, is by surrender to GOD, that will make you knowledgeable to control them, wash the mud of sins from your mind, with your spiritual hard work, then you are a pure sole, traveling in the path of spirituality. Make no effort to be either at war with, or in league with, enemy, friend, son, or relative. If you want to attain the status of Vishnu (Godhood) soon, be equal - minded towards all things. See yourself in everyone and give up all feelings of duality completely.

FIVE EVILS or five thieves or pancadokh or panj vikar as they are referred to in Sikh Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, are, according to Sikhism, the five major weaknesses of the human personality at variance with its spiritual essence. The common evils far exceed in number, but a group of five of them came to be identified because of the obstruction they are believed to cause in man's pursuit of the moral and spiritual path. The group of five evils comprises kam (Lust), krodh (Rage), lobh(Greed), moh (Attachment) and ahankar (ego). Unless one comes out of these weaknesses, acquiring peace is a dream. Get rid of these weaknesses, be of balanced mind, no anger or love, no rag or virag, just be balanced. Lead the life as a water drop on Lotus leaf, be detached while attached in the society. Every body in their inner hearts should make a self-enquiry, Leaving off egocentric desire, anger, greed and delusion, questions your self who am I ? They are fools who are without Selfknowledge: as captives in Hell, they are tortured. Give up lust, anger, infatuation, and

20

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction greed. Ponder over your real nature. Fools are they who are blind to the Self. Cast into hell they suffer there endlessly.

28. geyaM giitaa naama sahasraM dhyeyaM shriipati ruupamajasram . neyaM sajjana saNge chittaM deyaM diinajanaaya cha vittam.

The next lesson was taught by Sri Sumatha Charya, he said, dear friend! The essence of all Vedas, sastras, purana’s and all spiritual books is in one place, that is BHAGAVAT GITA. Similarly the essence of all Mantras, Tantras, spiritual and yogic practices is in the form of Vishnu Sahasra Namam, so read these verses regularly, three times daily, and keep their teachings always in mind. Don’t get attracted by worldly things, keep Lord’s image in your mind, pray him always. At the same time be kind to fellow human beings, serve poor, deceased and old and help depressed. Donate at least a small part of your wealth in charity to the poor and the needy While doing your daily duty, lead a spiritual life, then ultimately you will lead your self to Moksham. While you are at work, at play, at sleep, always mind should meditate the Lord. Meditate on Vishnu [thro' Vishnu sahasranama] in your heart, and chant His thousand glories. The mind should be led to the company of the good.

29.shatrau mitre putre bandhau

maa kuru yatnaM vigrahasandhau . sarvasminnapi pashyaatmaanaM sarvatrotsRija bhedaaGYaanam.h

The next lesson was taught by Swami Sri Sankara himself, he said, Hey Brahmin!! Be kind towards all, love everybody, treat your friend, enemy, brothers, servants, children, for that matter anybody with kindness, reverence, and love, don’t show enmity with anybody, as

21

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction everybody is mirror images of Lord, if you are angry with anybody, you are angry with your self.

30. sukhataH kriyate raamaabhogaH pashchaaddhanta shariire rogaH . yadyapi loke maraNaM sharaNaM tadapi na muJNchati paapaacharaNam.h

Rest of all the slokas follow, were taught by Sri Adi Sankara. Hey Brahmin! The worldly desires are unending, they come one after other in succession, if you satisfy one, the next one is ready waiting to be satisfied, so there is no point in satisfying worldly desires, except to control them. Desires all like snakes, they bite our life, they lead us to displeasure, decease, and unhappiness. The comforts and happiness from desires are limited and small and momentary. So control your desires. He who yields to lust for pleasure leaves his body a prey to disease. Though death brings an end to everything, man does not give up the sinful path. One easily takes to carnal enjoyment; afterwards, lo, there is disease of the body. Although, in the world, death is the refuge, even then one does not relinquish sinful ways.

31. praaNaayaamaM pratyaahaaraM nityaanitya vivekavichaaram. jaapyasameta samaadhividhaanaM kurvavadhaanaM mahadavadhaanam

Hey Brahmin! Control your mind, develop concentration and practice breath control (Pranayamam). The regulation of breath, the withdrawal of the senses (from their respective objects), the inquiry consisting in the discrimination between the eternal and the non-eternal, the method of mind-control associated with the muttering of mantrasperform these with great care. Regulate the pranas, remain unaffected by external

22

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction influences and discriminate between the real and the fleeting. Start AYSTANGA MARGAMU, the eight yogic practices, divert your mind from worldly things into spiritual things, then you acquire ultimate pleasure, happiness and comfort, it relieves all your mental, physical and worldly pains. Then with that tranquil mind you can acquire SAMADHI STITI, the ultimate yogic stage, where you can do your prayers undisturbed. Chant the holy name of God and silence the turbulent mind. Perform these with care, with extreme care.

32. gurucharaNaambuja nirbhara bhakataH saMsaaraadachiraadbhava muktaH . sendriyamaanasa niyamaadevaM drakshyasi nija hR^idayasthaM devam.

Dear Friend, life is very short, spiritual knowledge is like a ocean, one life is not enough to acquire it, so the best way to acquire knowledge as much as possible in a limited time, is taking the help of a good spiritual teacher, acquire the lotus feet of knowledgeable spiritual teacher, learn from him, he will lead you go GOVINDA. Being devoted completely to the lotus-feet of the Master, become released soon from the transmigratory process. Thus, through the discipline of sense and mind-control, you will behold the Deity that resides in your heart. Keep away from worldly pleasures, keep mind concentrated on Guru’s teachings, then you can reach the feet of LORD. Guru plays a major role in our life. If you are in the hands of a wrong Guru, you are wasting your time, and finally you cannot reach your goal. Your success depends on your Guru, his knowledge, good habits and spirituality. If he has all these good qualities, he will show you the right path. Everybody need not reinvent the wheel. It takes a hell of time to start learning from beginning. Take the experience and knowledge of Guru and taking his tips, you can fast reach your destination. That is why selection of right Guru leads to your success. Knowing the importance of Guru Kabir says:

Gur Govind Do vu Khare, Kaku Lagu Pai, Bali Hari Guru Aapne, Jin Govind Di Yo Batai.

23

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction When Lord and Guru stand side by Side, I will first fall on the feet of Guru, who showed me the path to Lord. He also Says: Gur Dhobi Sikh Kapda, Saboo Sirjan Har Surti Sila Pur Dhoiye, Nikse Jyoti Apaar

Guru the washer man, disciple is the cloth The name of God liken to the soap Wash the mind on foundation firm To realize the glow of Truth

So, be a devotee of the lotus feet of the Guru ! May thou be soon free from Samsara. Through disciplined senses and controlled mind, thou shalt come to experience the Indwelling Lord of your heart !

33. muuDhaH kashchana vaiyaakaraNo DukRiJNkaraNaadhyayana dhuriNaH . shriimachchhamkara bhagavachchhishhyai bodhita aasichchhodhitakaraNaH

Like this Sri Adi Sankara and his students taught the old brahmin, spiritual lessons, and the old man listened to their sayings, understood them and followed them in rest of his life, leading to spirituality and ultimately acquired salvation. We also should do this, and should make our lives useful, peaceful, joyful, thoughtful, meaningful and become example to others to build a great spiritual human Society. Thus was a silly grammarian lost in rules cleansed of his narrow vision and shown the Light by Shankara's apostles.

24

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

34.bhajagovindaM bhajagovindaM govindaM bhajamuuDhamate . naamasmaraNaadanyamupaayaM nahi pashyaamo bhavataraNe

Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, Oh fool ! Other than chanting the Lord's names, there is no other way to cross the life's ocean. Blessing to all of you from the two great saints ADI SANKARA and Swami Vidya Prakasha, whose lives were like roses, that attracted everybody and made the human garden smell with their essence of Viragya, Gnana, Bhakti and Prapatti. Let us all thank them and follow the path showed by them. Let peace and happiness prevail every where. SRIMAN NARAYANARPANAM!

********

25

Bhjagovindam – An Introduction

Sri Sankara Astotharam

26