Bhaja Govindam

Bhaja Govindam is a prakarana-grantha authored by Sri Adi Sankaracharya. Though sung as a stotra, it contains the essence of Vedanta and implores each and every one to think of the purpose of one’s life.

The background of Bhaja Govindam is worth examining. During his stay in Kashi, Sri Adi Sankara noticed a very old man memorising Panini’s rules of Sanskrit. Touched with pity at the sight of the old man spending his final years for mere intellectual accomplishments, while he would be better off praying and spending time to control his mind, Sri Adi Sankara burst forth with this composition, a sort of rebuke to a foolish way of living. He urges the man to turn towards God and sing His glories.

A censure is implied when the Acharya calls the man a fool – mūdhamate. It may be added here that the tone of Bhaja Govindam is not at all soft, but somewhat striking. This is no wonder, because such a treatment is required to wake a man from his slumber. In 31 verses, Sri Adi Sankara explains one’s fallacies and wrong outlook for life, and dispels one’s ignorance and delusion. Thus Bhaja Govindam is also known as ‘moha-mudgara’, a hammer on delusion.

This album contains discourses by Swami Advayananda, President, CIF, recorded during the Vedanta Course held at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya Mumbai in 2011-13.