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Confusions with respect to "Bhaja Govindam"

From the Bhakti List Archives

sreekanth • February 7, 2003 


Dear all
Bhaja Govindam written by [Sankara] acharyaswamikal is rich in
its adwaita aspect. It is classified as a Prakarana
grantha, a primer to the major works. Though sung as a
bhajan, it contains the essence of vedanta and awakens
the man to think, "Why am I here in this life ? Why am
I amassing wealth, family, but have no peace ? What is
the Truth ? What is the purpose of life ?" Man is thus
awakened and gets set on a path to the inner road back
to God. The background of Bhaja GovindaM is worth
examining. During Shankara's stay in Kashi, he noticed
a very old man engaged in the early hours studying the
rules of sanskrit by Panini. Shankara was touched with
pity seeing the plight of the old man spending his
years at a mere intellectual accomplishment while he
would be better off praying and spending time to
control his mind. Shankara understood that the
majority of the world was also engaged in mere
intellectual, sense pleasures and not in the divine
contemplation. Seeing this, he burst forth with the
verses of Bhaja govindaM. 
In 31 (some cite 33) verses, he, like no other,
explains our fallacies, our wrong outlook for life,
and dispells our ignorance and delusions. Thus bhaja
govindaM was originally known as Moha Mudgara, the
remover of delusions. 

but i dont think there is room for confusion, if you
know about the authors. if remember correct, 
Bhaja govindaM is divided into dvaadasa manjarika
stotram and chaturdasa manjarika stotram. At the end
of composing the first stanza, it is said that
Shankara burst forth with the next 12 stanzas of bhaja
govindam. Thus stanzas 1-12 are called dvaadas
manjarika stotram. Inspired by the extempore recital
by Shankara, each of his 14 disciples composed a verse
and the 14 verse compendium is called chaturdasa
manjarika stotram. Shankara added the finishing
touches by adding five of his own stanzas at the last
bring the total to 31. This edition shows 33 verses,
though the last 2 are not given in all versions. 
this multiple authorship itself is the reason for a
mingling of bhakthi, dwaitha and adwaitha in Bhaja
Govindam. and hence it is known as Prakarana grantha

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