Bhaja Govindam
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|| pÉeÉ aÉÉåÌuÉlSÇ || BHAJA GOVINDAM “Hammer TEXBlowsT 00 to Delusion” “THE SANDEEPANY EXPERIENCE” Reflections by TEXT SWAMI GURUBHAKTANANDA 04 Sandeepany’s Vedanta Course List of All the Course Texts in Chronological Sequence: Text TITLE OF TEXT Text TITLE OF TEXT No. No. 1 Sadhana Panchakam 24 Hanuman Chalisa 2 Tattwa Bodha 25 Vakya Vritti 3 Atma Bodha 26 Advaita Makaranda 4 Bhaja Govindam 27 Kaivalya Upanishad 5 Manisha Panchakam 28 Bhagavad Geeta (Discourse -- ) 6 Forgive Me 29 Mundaka Upanishad 7 Upadesha Sara 30 Amritabindu Upanishad 8 Prashna Upanishad 31 Mukunda Mala (Bhakti Text) 9 Dhanyashtakam 32 Tapovan Shatkam 10 Bodha Sara 33 The Mahavakyas, Panchadasi 5 11 Viveka Choodamani 34 Aitareya Upanishad 12 Jnana Sara 35 Narada Bhakti Sutras 13 Drig-Drishya Viveka 36 Taittiriya Upanishad 14 “Tat Twam Asi” – Chand Up 6 37 Jivan Sutrani (Tips for Happy Living) 15 Dhyana Swaroopam 38 Kena Upanishad 16 “Bhoomaiva Sukham” Chand Up 7 39 Aparoksha Anubhuti (Meditation) 17 Manah Shodhanam 40 108 Names of Pujya Gurudev 18 “Nataka Deepa” – Panchadasi 10 41 Mandukya Upanishad 19 Isavasya Upanishad 42 Dakshinamurty Ashtakam 20 Katha Upanishad 43 Shad Darshanaah 21 “Sara Sangrah” – Yoga Vasishtha 44 Brahma Sootras 22 Vedanta Sara 45 Jivanmuktananda Lahari 23 Mahabharata + Geeta Dhyanam 46 Chinmaya Pledge 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. – The Editor, 1st June 2017, Sannyasa Day of Sri Swami Sivananda Om Namah Shivaaya! Text 04 || pÉeÉ aÉÉåÌuÉlSÇ || 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 Adi Shankaracharya Swami Sivananda Swami Tapovanji Swami Chinmayananda SERVE LOVE GIVE PURIFY MEDITATE REALISE Copyright & Author’s Details Author: Swami Gurubhaktananda, ex Krishna Chaitanya, born Bipin R. Kapitan of Durban, South Africa. Residence: Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India. Email: [email protected] © 2017 All Rights Reserved. Copyright held by Chinmaya International Foundation, Kerala. About This Edition: Web Edition: 1st June 2017 Sannyasa Day of Sri Swami Sivananda Website: Chinmaya International Foundation: www.chinfo.org Series Title : The Sandeepany Experience Series Subject: Vedanta & supportive subsidiary texts. Declaration by the Author: The material in this series is under inspiration of the Sandeepany Vedanta Course, but largely consists of the Author’s reflections on the Course. He is deeply indebted to the Chinmaya Mission for its excellent presentation of the Course by their renowned and dedicated Acharyas. Personal Dedication 1. To my Parents, Smt Sharadaben & Sri Ratilalbhai Kapitan who inspired me to study in life, to stick to the path of Dharma and pursue the highest ideals; and swamped me with their abundant Love; 2. To Pujya Sri Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj the President of the Divine Life Society of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, who constantly encouraged and supported this effort; 3. To Pujya Sri Swami Tejomayanandaji (Guruji) for his boundless vision and inspiration to create a vibrant organisation; 4. To Sri Swami Advayanandaji and Sri Swami Sharadanandaji my Acharyaji and Upa-Acharyaji at Sandeepany, who imparted their bountiful knowledge and wisdom with rare selfless Divine Love, just as the Rishis of yore would wish to see them do. ***** || pÉeÉ aÉÉåÌuÉlSÇ || BHAJA GOVINDAM “Hammer Blows to Delusion” FOR SAMSKRIT TEXT WITH SANDHEES Guide to Splitting Sandhees Conventional Samskrit Format is used in the body of the book. Split-Sandhee Samskrit Format is given at the end of the book, for the benefit of beginners. Word-combinations (Sandhees) are highlighted in bold underline (as shown in the table below) to help indicate the splitting of words. This is an original feature. Purpose: To assist new students who are just finding their way in Samskrit to break up the words (Pada Chheda). It is not intended for those already proficient in Samskrit. How it Works: 1. Enables normal chanting. The bold underlined letters are Sandhees, not words, and are needed only to join words for correct chanting. 2. Indicates splitting of words. To determine the words on either side of the Sandhee, the following table may be used. [The table has been applied in the transliteration within the body of the book, where individual words are used.] Add to End Add to Front SANDHEE of Prior Word of Posterior Word A (a) -AÉ- (aa) A (a) C (i) -D- (ee) C (i) E (u) -F- (oo) E (u) elongated vowel -"x- short vowel short vowel -x"- elongated vowel elongated vowel -"x" - elongated vowel A (a) -L- (e) C (i) A (a) -Lå- (ai) L (e) A (a) -AÉå- (o) E (u) A (a) -AÉæ- (au) Lå (ai) AÈ (ah) -AÉå (o) unaffected C (i) -rÉç (y) unaffected E (u) -uÉç (v) unaffected È (h) -xÉç, -Uç, -zÉç unaffected ***** BHAJA GOVINDAM “Hammer Blows to Delusion” CONTENTS Introduction 3 PART I The Opening Refrain – “The Hammer Blows” 4 Verse 1 Seek God, O Fool! 4 PART II Dvadasha Manjarika Stotram – “Pitfalls to Beware Of” 6 (12 Verses by Shankaracharya) Verse 2: Kanchana: The Thirst for Wealth 6 Verse 3: Kamini: The Attraction for Woman 7 Verse 4: The Instability of Life 8 Verse 5: The Selfishness of Dependents 9 Verse 6: Only While There is Life 10 Verse 7: Attachment in Boyhood, Youth and Old Age 11 Verse 8: Start Questioning 12 Verse 9: Satsang Liberates us 13 Verse 10: Without Cause, No Effect 14 Verse 11: The Props of the Ego 15 Verse 12: The Stubborn Gusts of Desire 16 Verse 13: Surrendering Our Worries 17 PART III Chaturdasha Manjarika Stotram - “Where is Happiness?” 19 (14 Verses by the Disciples) Verse 14: The Abuse of Outward Symbols 19 Verse 15: Fooled by Desire 20 Verse 16: Fooled by Austerity 21 Verse 17: Fooled by Moderation 22 1 Verse 18: The Man of True Dispassion 23 Verse 19: The Source of Happiness 24 Verse 20: Taking the First Few Steps 25 Verse 21: What is Liberation? 26 Verse 22: The Path to Liberation 28 Verse 23: Enquiry into the Self 30 Verse 24: The All-Pervading Reality 31 Verse 25: Beyond All Sense of Difference 32 Verse 26: A World Without Anger Lust and Greed 33 Verse 27: The Path of Blessedness 35 PART IV Final Concluding Verses – “How to Plan One’s Liberation?” 37 (4 Verses by Sri Shankaracharyaji) Verse 28: Beware of Carnal Pleasures 37 Verse 29: Wealth is Calamitous 38 Verse 30: Take Great Care in Sadhana 40 Verse 31: Surrender to the Lotus Feet of One’s Guru 41 Who is the Guru? by Acharyaji (An Addendum) 42 Split-Sandhee Samskrit Version (for Beginners) 43 Split-Sandhee English Transliteration (for Beginners) 45 ***** 2 INTRODUCTION i) The Life of Sri Adi Shankaracharya. THE HISTORICAL PERIOD when Sri Shankaracharya appeared in this world was the 8th Century A.D. He was not a revolutionary, but a philosopher. One may say he came as a gentle breeze and refreshed the people of his times. He wrote in all styles to please all people. He could go to lofty heights of Vedanta, and yet come down to the level of the ordinary man. Some considered him to be an incarnation. Incarnation or not, he was indeed a great person. Humanity has a tendency to lift people and make them inaccessible. As much as admirers of him would want to do that, he himself always considered himself to be only the servant of the people of India. He was a sage and Rishi who loved his people, and a patriot who loved India. His career stretched from his 12th year till he left this world at the age of 32. Shankaracharya was a very refined person. He did not argue to defeat people, but just to enlighten them. He was not a dry intellectual; he used the intellect to its utmost capacity. He believed that the intellect could raise an individual to the brink of God- realisation. He taught the path of Jnana Yoga or Vedantic Enquiry, but was also deeply devotional at heart. This poem conveys some of his great love for the path of devotion. He left four main disciples – Padmapada, Thotakacharya, Hastamalaka and Sureshwaracharya – to continue the work he had set up to rejuvenate the spirit of Vedanta and install it in its rightful place as the prime philosophy by which man can attain liberation from the bondage of worldliness. ***** ii) The Poem, “Bhaja Govindam”. SRI SHANKARACHARYA ONCE encountered an old teacher who was busy with memorizing the rules of Samskrit grammar in order to teach them to a few small boys. The old Acharya was shivering and shaking due to the infirmity of age, yet he still carried on teaching. He was teaching the Dhatu Pada of Samskrit grammar. The sight drew out the poet in Shankaracharya. He spontaneously broke out into song.