There is an introduction to Bhaja Govindam given by C. Rajagopalachari. In his own words,
Adi Shankara wrote a number of Vedantic works for imparting knowledge of the Self and the Universal Spirit. He also composed a number of hymns to foster bhakti in the hearts of men. One of these hymns is the famous Bhaja Govindam. The way of devotion is not different from the way of knowledge or gnyaana. When intelligence matures and lodges securely in the mind, it becomes wisdom. When wisdom is integrated with life and issues out in action, it becomes bhakti. Knowledge, when it becomes fully mature, is bhakti. If it does not get transformed into bhakti, such knowledge is useless tinsel. To believe that gnyaana and bhakti, knowledge and devotion, are different from each other, is ignorance. If Sri Adi Shankara Himself, who drank the ocean of gyaana as easily as one sips water from the palm of one’s hand, sang in His later years hymns to develop devotion it is enough to show that gnyaana and bhakti are one and the same. Sri Sankara has packed into the Bhaja Govindam song, the substance of all Vedanta and set the oneness of gnyaana and bhakti to melodious music.
Fascinating.
arunshanbhag says:
I recently heard this little excerpt by Balaji on a MS Subbulakshmi CD. Certainly, thought provoking.
Interestingly, if he equates gyaana and bhakti, then he is championing that advaita and dvaita philosophies are also complimentary. 🙂
November 7, 2006 — 8:41 pm
Lakshmi says:
I have heard this excerpt by Rajaji. Who is Balaji?
November 7, 2006 — 8:45 pm
arunshanbhag says:
yikes, meant rajaji!
November 7, 2006 — 8:47 pm
iyer_the_gr8 says:
There is a story …
There is a story attached to the composition of this Hymn. It is said that Shankara was walking along a street in Varanasi one day, accompanied by his disciples. He heard an old scholar teaching his grammatical rules. Taking pity on him, he went up 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 to Govinda was composed on this occasion. Besides the refrain of the song beginning with the words “Bhaja Govindam”, Shankara is said to have sung twelve 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 then are believed to have added one verse each. These fourteen verses are together called “Chaturdasa-manjarika-Stotra” (A hymn which is a bunch of fourteen verse-blossoms).
bhajagovindam bhajagovindam
govindam bhajamuudhamate
sampraapte sannihite kaale
nahi nahi rakshati dukrijnkarane
Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda. Oh fool! Rules of Grammar will not save you at the time of your death.
November 8, 2006 — 1:31 am
Lakshmi says:
Re: There is a story …
*dukrijnkarane* – grammar?
November 8, 2006 — 7:07 pm
iamliberated says:
Re: There is a story …
When the disciple was chanting it as “Dukhinkarane”, the master was correcting it as “dukrijnkarane”, which was a grammar correction. Shankaracharya took the word itself and made this rendition spontaneously.
But, when it comes to Bhakti, the bhakti that was propounded by Shankaracharya was based on Vedantha or rather ‘fear’. It is like saying that if you don’t pray to god, you don’t have a saviour, so you better concede to him.
I feel “Meera”, “Chaitanya”, “Naamdev” and many suchlikes as true embodiments of Bhakti, who’re consumed by the Love they felt for the God and truly lived in there. And I feel that “Bhajagovindam” propagates more “Saranagathi” than “Bhakti”.
Thank you.
November 8, 2006 — 8:08 pm
Lakshmi says:
Re: There is a story …
I didn’t quite understand that spin on ‘dukrijnkarane’. What does the word mean?
November 8, 2006 — 8:18 pm
iamliberated says:
Re: There is a story …
It seems ‘dukrijkarane’ is a formulae in sankrit grammar text book. I don’t know what it exactly means. In this context he is using that word to refer to all the physical knowledge of the world.
November 8, 2006 — 9:13 pm
shortiyergirl says:
One of my all time favorite hymns
November 8, 2006 — 4:29 am
Lakshmi says:
Mine too! Should look up the meaning to all the stanzas.
November 8, 2006 — 7:04 pm
athiran says:
its also called mohamudgara.
i was lucky to hear it from a disciple of shankara (from shringeri) sitting in chitramoola, and looking at mookambi from so high above.
pure bliss.
i think i like yesudas singing it better than m.s.
November 8, 2006 — 10:16 am
Lakshmi says:
Lucky indeed! Have not heard Yesudas’ rendition yet – should look it up.
November 8, 2006 — 7:04 pm
Anonymous says:
I have heard this a gazillion times, every time the cassette was played, on countless mornings. Never got the whole thing, owing to his rather peculiar voice and the cassette being old.
So, what’s being said is that I need not have bothered with English Language all thise years? Damn! This should have been told to me when I was splitting hairs over a participle and a gerund!
Bharat
November 9, 2006 — 11:17 pm
Dr. B.R. Manjunath says:
Pl refer to the Vedic meaning of “go” in early sanskrit. Govinda, does not necessarily mean “Cow herd” or “lover of Cows”. Go, also means, EARTH, it also means “STARS in the sky”. It also means “KNOWLEDGE”. Apply these meanings when you recite Bhaja Govindam. You will arrive at what Shankara really meant. All other discussions are pedantic.
Dr. Manjunath
May 21, 2013 — 5:15 am
Lakshmi says:
Yes, I am aware that ‘Go’ has multiple meanings, some of which include motion and knowledge.
Thanks for commenting.
May 21, 2013 — 9:20 am
Chigurupati Sambasivarao says:
this is a verstile knowledge that embeded by jagadguru sankaracharya in a small stanzas with full of vendanta
August 24, 2018 — 5:50 am