Adi Shankara/ Sankar(a) (ancient philosopher)
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Bhaj Govindam
Jaya Row, Shankara's Bhaja Govindam - Seek The Spirit, March 16, 2017: The Times of India
Composed by Adi Shankaracharya, Bhaja Govindam is one of the most lucid, insightful works of Vedanta.The first verse, which is the chorus, conveys its theme. Seek the higher, the Spirit.Do not get distracted by trivial attractions of the world as these will not stand by you while you face the greatest challenge of life, death. Through the text Shankara presents life from another perspective, pratipaksha bhavana, highlighting the futility of mundane enchantments.
Adi Shankara is credited with revival of Vedanta throughout India. His works are classified into three main categories.Bhashyas are commentaries on the Upanishads, Gita and Brahmasutras.Stotras are devotional compositions and Prakarana Granthas are introductory manuals for the Gita and other scriptures.
Bhaja Govindam belongs to the class of stotras. However, as the verses contain deep Vedantic thought, it is often included as a prakarana, introductory text. The style is simple and its melody appealing. Each of its 31verses is relevant to our lives. Another name for this text is Moha Mudgara, meaning, remover of delusion. Once, as Shankara and his disciples were travelling through Varanasi, he overheard an old pundit memorise Panini's grammar rules. This inspired a masterful oration by Shankara that we call the Bhaja Govindam.
The opening stanza is the chorus. Tradition has it that the next 12 verses were spoken by the great master himself. These are called Dvadashamanjarika Stotram, a bouquet of 12 stanza flowers. Just as a bouquet of fresh flowers can be appreciated even from afar, the Bhaja Govindam can be appreciated merely by listening to its melodious chant. Those who approach the flower enjoy its fragrance. Similarly , those who understand the meaning of the verses gain useful instructions on life. But only the bee that enters the flower gains the nectar. Similarly, those who absorb and live the philosophy of the Bhaja Govindam evolve spiritually. So inspiring was Shankara's oration that each of his 14 disciples added a verse each. These 14 verses form the Chaturdasha Manjarika Stotram. After listening to his students, Shankara blesses the seekers in the last four verses.
The Bhaja Govindam deals with our twin motivations in life kanchana, acquisition of wealth, and kamini, enjoyment of it. We accumulate wealth for duhkha nivrutti, security against sorrow. And by the second motivation, we indulge in sukha prapti, enjoyment of accumulated wealth. Shankara encourages us to seek happiness within. He asserts that whether one is in spiritual practice or engaged in sensual enjoyment, whether one finds pleasure in company or solitude is immaterial. What gives true happiness is keeping the mind anchored in Brahmn.
All you need to do for this is study the Gita just a little, develop gratitude for all that has been bestowed on you and become service-minded. If not, you will be subject to the endless cycle of birth and death.
Urging us to get over our obsession with the trivialities of the world Shankara asks us to begin the search for the Divine Self within. He reminds us that we are not human beings going through a spiritual experience but that very Spirit going through a human experience. So together, we must work towards lifting ourselves out of our delusion, moha, to greater heights of awareness.
The Saundarya Lahiri
The Times of India, Oct 17 2015
Radha Kumar
The Saundarya Lahiri of Adi Shankara
Navaratri is the festive period of nine sacred days when the divine Mother Goddess is venerated.The terracotta figurines of the goddess at Harappa reveal the fact that human beings adulated nature or prakriti in the form of a woman perhaps because she is the symbol of genesis, nurture and sustenance. The goddess as Shakti has always been invoked in Ugra, aggressive and in Shanta, peaceful forms. Adi Shankara, the advaita philosopher, was the first to integrate metaphysical deliberation of Shakti, as Saguna Tattva. The quintessential aspect of Shankara's Advaita is the doctrine of Maya. Hence his philosophy is also called, Shakti Advaitism. While at a macro level, the supreme cosmic, omnipotent and omniscient Brahmn when limited by Mayashakti, becomes Ishwara, at the micro level, the Atman becomes jiva.
Maya is anadi, beginning-less; bhavarupa, positive; material, unconscious; jada, indescribable and indefinable sadasadanirvachaniya, with a phenomenal and relative character. It is vyavaharikasatta, vivrata, only an appearance; adhyasa or superimposition. The compositions of Adi Shankara in the Saundarya Lahiri, evocatively capture in verse, the basic features of the philosophical deliberations of the Kaula and Samya traditions of Shakti Upsakas along with the very detailed descriptions of the Sri Yantra with aspects of tantra like the chakras and nadis.
The verses of the Saundarya Lahiri have deep metaphysical implications along with capturing the unimaginable glory of the Devi in this mysterious universe. Each verse is descriptive of the beauty , glory and the importance of Shakti. Nevertheless, it is interesting to read verse 51, which describes the look in the Mother's eye, which is beautifully significant of the navarasa. The composition thus highlights the poetic rendition and composition of the great seer, Shankara.
In this verse, Bhagavadpada Shankara, describing the rasas of the Devi says when the divine goddess looks at Shiva, it is shringara “Sive Srngarardra“.And with dislike when she sees others “Tad-itara-jane kutsana-para“; when she looks at Ganga it is with anger as Ganga is also Shiva's wife “Sarosa Gangaayam“, but that of wonder when she hears the stories of Shiva “Girisa carite vismayavati“.
When looking at the great serpents forming the orna ment of Shiva, her expression is that of dread “Har'abhiyo bhita“ but looks with light hearted sympathy and a patronising smile at the sight of Shiva's ganas “Sarasi ruha saubhagya janani“. She looks at devotees thus: “Sakhisu smera te mayi janani drstih sakurana“.
Shankaracharya, in this composition, captures beautifully the rasas of sringara, love; bibhatsa, disgust; raudra, anger; adbuta, wonder; bhayanaka, terror; vira, heroism; hasya, mirth; and karuna, compassion.
The 100 verses of the Saundarya Lahiri is the Shakta version of Advaita where Shakti changes into the world of multiplicity of jivas and jagat, without forfeiting its non-dual status as a being.“United with Shakti, Shiva is endowed to create; otherwise he is incapable of even movement,“ says the great seer, in his very first verse.
Here, Shakti personified as Devi Tripurasundari, is described in her ultimate beauty and splendour. Complete submission to the Devi is the way to surmount and redeem oneself from this maze of Maya and it is through her karuna, that one can break free from this complex web of the eternal cause and effect cycle.Hence, it was in Shakti Tattva or Devi that the Bhagvadpada saw the pathway to redemption.
