Bhaja Govinda Stotram
Day 6, July 22
(note compiler: beginning missing in video)
Verse 21:
punarapi jananam punarapi maranam
punarapi jananeejathare sayanam
iha samsaare bahudustaare
kripayapaare paahi murare
We hear this often, and we remind ourselves of this statement often.
We are born again. And we die again. We enter the mother’s womb again and reside there for some time. We take birth again, only to die again. This cycle repeats.
In the Chandogya Upanishad, there is a story about Sanatkumara and his dream. He is a great Jnani, one among four brothers, Sanatkumara, Sanaka, Sanandana, and Sanatsujata. All great Jnanis.
In his dream, Sanatkumara was the army commander of the gods in the fiery battle that took place between gods and demons. He helped the gods to win.
It is said that great souls never get dreams. They go directly into deep rest, unlike us, who toss about and dream before going into deep sleep gradually. Great souls have transcended illusion. So, they require very little rest. They sleep only for a couple of hours. Having dreamless sleep is a good sign. Those who go through extreme physical or mental strain, get exhausted from their efforts and fall asleep quickly. But one should naturally fall asleep without effort. Deep dreamless sleep is possible through the practice of meditation.
Sanatkumara felt very troubled that he dreamed about a war and his involvement in the war. He had never entertained any thoughts about any battle. He was baffled that he should get such a dream.
At about the same time, in heaven/Deva Loka, a great disturbance was being caused by the demon Tarakasura. He had the boon that he could only be killed by a son of Siva. Siva begetting a son seemed like an impossible thing, and that is why he obtained such a boon.
Once, Parvati expressed a desire to go visit Sanatkumara. Sanatkumara and his brothers are ever young, like four-year-old boys. Their age always remains the same. How that is possible, is a different subject. We will discuss it later. We sometimes wish that our children don’t grow up, but remain as children. We also sometimes wish to become children again. We enjoyed our childhood.
Siva and Parvati had no children. Parvati was yearning to have a child, which is natural for a woman. She went and saw Sanatkumara, who greeted her reverentially. She told him that he should be born as her son. Sanatkumara said, Mother, I don’t know if you have given thought to what you are asking, or not. But, I do not wish to give you the inconvenience of bearing me in your womb.
When we reside in the mother’s womb, we give a lot of trouble to the mother. If we were to carry the weight of even half a kg for five hours in our hands, our hands will ache and get tired. A mother carries in her womb, a child for nine months. The child may weigh from 2 kg to 5 kg. Mother’s place is unique. None can equal her in the service she renders.
Sanatkumara said, I do not wish to incur the sin of being a burden to my mother.
We feel that pregnancy is a happy time, the child is happy and the mother is happy. But the mother goes through discomfort, regardless.
In his name, he dropped the first part, and as Kumara, he was born to Parvati, because the dream had to come true. He was Subrahmanya Swami, or Kumara Swami, and he became the Commander-in-chief to the gods, and killed Tarakasura. He was born to Parvati, without ever residing in her womb. He made it possible. It is all recorded in his history.
It is very difficult to cross this cycle of birth and death, to cross the ocean of worldliness. Without your compassion, which is like a ship, we cannot get to the other shore. Kripaya paare, please show mercy and ferry me across this ocean.
In the Bhagavad Gita Dhyana sloka, we see the description of this ocean, Bheeshma drona tataa …
The Kaurava warriors were all like the whales, sharks, whirlpools, strong currents, crocodiles, and so on in this battle-river. But, with Krishna as their boatman, the Pandavas were safely led ashore. When you have a reliable driver, or a pilot, you travel in comfort and confidence.
O Murari, pahi, protect us. You are our refuge.
To claim that there is nothing after the body is discarded, is atheistic philosophy. They argue, there is nothing after death, so take a loan and enjoy now. Be in debt, but eat rice with ghee. The children will be burdened with the loans and will curse the father when he is dead. It is very wrong. When funds are short, one must downscale one’s lifestyle.
Our Dharma, our spirituality rests on the strong foundation of belief in rebirth. I had a past life. Because of the merit earned then, I now have this good life, or because of my past sins, I have this miserable life now. Now I must do good deeds to ensure for myself a better life next time. This is the belief on which our lives are based. That is why we perform sadhana and follow Dharma. Otherwise, we would live very callously.
There is a serious debate whether this theory should be accepted or not. It has been decided that It must be accepted. Why? We see that people are all different. Each is leading a different type of life. What is the reason? The reason is their past life and past deeds. Therefore, what we do now, the culture we develop now, will dictate our future destiny. So, we must be alert, attentive, and careful. Then our future life will be good.
To understand this concept better, take this example. An employee was transferred to a different city. It is not retirement. It is not death. He goes elsewhere and continues to work. It is like the soul taking a different body and continuing its work. Retirement will occur later.
To avoid rebirth and the consequent re-death, one must praise God, O Fool! Therefore, Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam, Govindam Bhaja Moodhamate.
Verse 22: (karpata)
rathyaacharpata virachitakanthah
punyaapunyavivarjitapanthah
yogee yoganiyojitachitto
ramate baalonmattavadev
This is Upadesha is from Yogananda, a disciple. Yogis go wherever life takes them, eat whatever food is available, transcending the difference of merit and sin. We are approaching the end of the teaching here, in this Stotra. Now an Avadhoota is described. His mind is fully restrained. He is innocent as a child. In this world, there are fake yogis, and there are also genuine yogis. There are those who put on garbs to fool others, and there are also those who are pure in their hearts as babies.
Dattatreya Swami has ten names: Dattatreya Hare Krishna Unmatta Anandadayaka Digambara Mune Bala Pishacha Jnanasagara.
A baby laughs whether you approach it with a knife or an ice cream. The baby does not know the difference. It treats both as playthings. A yogi, similarly, sees no differences. To him, everything is Paramatma.
Un-matta has a special meaning. Ut means raised. Matta – absorbed. He is absorbed in his higher Self. Like a madman who is not even aware of his hunger, the yogi goes about. He is like a baby, or like a madman.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad gives an example how a yogi is absorbed in God. Just as a lover forgets himself in the embrace of his beloved, the yogi is in the embrace of God and loses awareness of himself. Lovers are always in their own world, unaware of surroundings. They are so absorbed in conversing or texting on their mobile phone, that they fall in a manhole that is in front of them. They do not see where they are going, or who is around them. They are lost in their world. The yogi is also lost in God.
Dattatreya Swamiji learned from a honey bee and a python. The bee collects honey and does not enjoy even a drop of it. A bear or a honey thief steals its collection of honey. It is not good to hoard. A python survives by whatever food comes to it on its own, without making any deliberate effort.
These are all examples given of the higher states of yoga.
Verse 23:
kastvam ko’ham kuta aayaatah
kaa me jananee ko me taatah
iti paribhaavaya sarvamasaaram
visvam tyaktvaa svapnavichaaram
Surendra Yogi’s composition.
Who are you? Who am I? What is our relationship? Who am I, who is speaking? Who are you, who are listening? How are we related? What has brought us together here? Is this a physical relationship, mental, or spiritual? Like different species of birds gather upon one tree, we are all gathered here. We have come from different backgrounds and are here. Why were we born? What is this earth? Since where has all this existed? What is Creation? When did this begin? When was I first born, before this birth? What was there before Creation? What are the five elements? Where did they come from? They came from the five Tanmatras, the perceptions. Where did they come from? They came from Paramatma. Where did he come from? He never came. He has no coming and going. He always is. He is eternal, imperishable and permanent. What happens during Pralaya, the great deluge, when everything perishes? It is said that 12 Suns surround the earth, and they each create such humongous clouds like Mount Everest, and they rain down so hard that everything gets drowned and only water remains on earth. All the five elements also vanish. What is the source of all this? Our source for everything is Paramatma. Without Him, nothing exists. We keep talking about it. Still, we see so many differences and feel, like and dislike. Why do we not see the oneness of all and treat everyone and everything as equal? Why do we refer as you and I? These are just words, just sounds. Entire Creation is based only on sound. You shape some dirt as a pot and give it the name of pot. Only then it becomes a pot. A seed becomes a plant, and then a tree. The word brings the picture into the mind. The sound, and the shape it represents, is what Creation is all about. Tvam and Aham, you and I, what is all this? When did this begin? Why have I limited myself to I? A king wants to expand his kingdom. Why do not I feel like expanding myself or my knowledge of myself? Why have we come here? Why are people not thinking of these things? Why are people only concerned about earning money and spending it on physical enjoyments? Is this what life is all about? Why don’t people think about God and how to return to our source? Who is my mother? Who is my father? We all get enveloped in Maya/illusion.
They say that the people who are your parents in this lifetime, were perhaps your children in the past birth, they were perhaps your grandchildren in a previous birth, perhaps one was your spouse in one lifetime. Perhaps siblings, or friends, who knows? Should we not think of these things? No. Don’t think of those things, some people say. It will cause confusion and you cannot function normally in the world. That is not true. If you think, and ponder, and find your answers, you will perform much better in this world. It is very important to think of these things and understand the underlying truth.
Because of the knowledge imparted to Arjuna by Krishna, Arjuna was able to fight so well in the battle. When he lacked that knowledge, what happened? Arjuna was unfit to fight. He dropped his weapons. What did Krishna teach Arjuna on the battlefield? Death is certain for those who are born. This body is visible only a part of the time, in between birth and death. Otherwise, the soul is invisible, when it is not occupying a body. So why do you weep? All these things he taught him.
If we know these truths, we will have the courage to deal with life better.
The only thing of value and taste in this world is the name of Rama. That is why Hanuman is praised that he possesses the nectar called Rama. He ever remains as the servant of Rama. His heart dwells upon Rama at all times.
We must think about our true self, and of God, our source. What is there of any essence in this world? Everything appears worthless. Keep seeing this world as if it were a dream. We see ourselves in our dream. It is very strange. The dream has no substance whatsoever. When we wake up the dream sequence vanishes. Where did that dream world come from? Where did it vanish into? It emerged from us. We felt it was all true, while the dream lasted. When the dream ended, we realized it had no reality whatsoever. We conversed with others in the dream. We felt happy. We felt sad. We had so many vivid experiences, Yet, it was all just a mental fabrication. We forget the dream soon afterward.
This Universe is also just a dream. It is not a drama. Vedanta calls it a dream. Who is dreaming? A Jnani had a dream. He saw a butterfly in his dream. Then he thought: am I dreaming of the butterfly, or is the butterfly having a dream about me thinking of it as a butterfly in a dream? Who knows? Think of it. Creation is like this. Know that this world and this worldly hassle is worthless. If we do not realize it, we will keep engaging in worthless activities, continuing in that same direction always. What is the disadvantage in doing so? We know what it is now. That is why, we must keep reminding ourselves all the time. That is what Guru does for us. He keeps reminding us.
It is very significant that during this Chaturmasya we are discussing this Vedanta. Towards the end of the Stotra, now Guru is leading us into deep Vedanta. It says reject the world as if it were a dream. If you keep holding on to the world-baggage, you cannot go toward Vedanta, or toward Liberation. When the boat is sinking, you are asked to throw all your belongings overboard into the water. You throw out everything. You are ready also to throw out the clothes you are wearing, to save your life.
We are traveling on this boat. We must reduce our luggage to make it a safe journey for ourselves.
Ko deergha rogaha? What is a chronic disease? Being born is itself a chronic disease. This we must get rid of. However, some people, unable to endure the pain of diseases try to kill themselves. That is very wrong. Why? When God has granted us a certain span of life, we must live that entire duration. If we cut it short prematurely, we incur horrendous sin as a huge burden upon ourselves. This is an opportunity given to us, when we are given this human birth. What medicine will prevent this disease from recurring? Only spiritual wisdom will prevent rebirth.
During the ferocious Mahabharata war, a heart-breaking incident occurred. Abhimanyu was a very brave young man, highly accomplished in warfare, no doubt, and extremely valiant. But he was very young. He got stuck in the maze formation and could not get out. Unable to kill him in any other manner, all the great enemy heroes pounced on him all together, and murdered him breaking all rules of warfare. Arjuna learned of this. He was so beside himself with grief at losing his son in such a ghastly and cowardly act, that it became doubtful whether he would be able to fight the following day. Losing a son gives unbearable grief. Krishna tried to console him.
Arjuna spoke from fear during the Arjuna Vishada Yoga. Now he spoke from the grief of bereavement. He lost all interest in fighting the war. He saw no purpose in winning the war. Krishna again urged him to complete the task that was begun. He had to teach Arjuna the entire Bhagavad Gita all over again. Still, Arjuna remained depressed. We also keep forgetting our lessons and Guru keeps reminding us.
The following day, Arjuna did not perform his best. Krishna noticed it. The power of Gita-teaching paled before the power of grief of losing a beloved son. Arjuna was in severe mental agony and was not receptive to Krishna’s advice and teaching. When one is in severe trauma, they tell the others, you will know my pain if you are in my position. Arjuna was in that position and wanted to be left alone.
Krishna told Arjuna that he had a remedy for his desperation. Arjuna became hopeful. He asked Krishna, are you going to bring back my son from the dead, the way you brought back the son of Sandeepani, your guru, from under the seas, as Guru Dakshina? You are famous for that miraculous, superhuman act. Krishna said, no, I have a better plan. I have the power to take you to heaven, where you will see your son Abhimanyu. He took Arjuna to heaven and Arjuna saw his son Abhimanyu seated there on a throne. When he saw Krishna, Abhimanyu recognized him as Paramatma and offered his prostrations. But he did not recognize Arjuna.
Arjuna was taken by surprise at this. Many children forget their parents once they go to college. Once they get a job, they completely lose their remembrance of mother and father. Arjuna patiently waited for Abhimanyu to regain his memory. But it did not happen. Then finally, at the end of the day, Arjuna approached Abhimanyu and introduced himself. He said, I am your father Arjuna. You used to always rush towards me to embrace and greet me. Now you show no recognition whatsoever. Abhimanyu begged forgiveness for not recognizing him. He said, I do not know you and am surprised that you call me son. How is it possible for me to be your son? I am not your son. Krishna intervened and told Abhimanyu to try to remember his past, and touched him on the head. Then, Abhimanyu had a flash of remembrance. He confessed, Arjuna, you were indeed my father, but that was a thousand lifetimes ago.
The timespans are so different between earth and heaven; what was one day for Arjuna on earth, was a thousand lifetimes for Abhimanyu in heaven. He had gone through the experiences of a thousand lifetimes in that duration.
Then, Krishna turns to Arjuna and asks, now tell me, how significant are these relationships of father and son? Arjuna said, let us leave this place at once. Take me back to earth immediately. My head is spinning with this realization.
In the story of Harishchandra, in a span of 12 minutes, his Guru gives him the experience of 12 lifetimes, in a dream. Our time scale and the time scale in different planes are so different. Inside our bodies, every 108 days, the blood cells go through a complete change. All the blood cells are so many living beings, with consciousness. The cells keep regenerating and changing. Their consciousness and our consciousness are related and influence each other.
Now, after returning to earth, Arjuna was a different man, fully in realization of the truth about relationships. He fought thereafter, as he had never fought before.
When we realize that by sacrificing a small pleasure, we gain a huge benefit, we must give up that measly pleasure. This happens all the time. We must keep the reward of Supreme Bliss in mind, and be ready to give up the trivial pleasures of life here. We must sacrifice a bit of our time to do sadhana. Then we gain the supreme state.
Verse 24:
tvayi mayi chaanyatraiko vishnuh
vyartham kupyasi mayyasahishnuh
bhava samachittah sarvatra tvam
vaanchhasyachiraadyaadi vishnutvam
Vishnu is all-pervasive. He is in you and in me. Why then get angry? As you forgive yourself, forgive others, seeing yourself in others. Ignorance causes the sense of difference. Therefore, keep praising God.
There are 1008 Upanishads. Out of them 108 are important. Out of them 10 are most famous. Ishavashya Upanishad has only 11 verses. It is very profound. These are like 11 steps to reach God, says Sri Bhagavatpada.
From the knowledge of God, all differences vanish. You place a blanket over this entire Creation, just as when unexpected visitors come, you push all mess to a corner and cover it with a bedsheet. All kinds of mess will be there, since you had no time to clean, sweep, or tidy up. All that is visible then, is only the sheet you used as a cover-up.
Similarly, when you throw a cover over this entire Creation, all you see is God. Instead of trying to experience the results of past Karma, just surrender them all to God. Then the result is wonderful.
Vishnu is everywhere. Guru says, God is in you, the disciple, and God is in me, the Guru. Paramatma is both of us.
There was a strong devotee of Siva called Ghanta Karna. He got the name because he wore bells in his ears. If he heard the name of Vishnu, he would vigorously shake his head to ring the bells to drown out the sound of Vishnu’s name. As much as he loved Siva, he hated Vishnu. That was a demonic trait in him. Such hatred when it is harbored in the heart, obstructs one’s attainment of Liberation. For his penance, Siva appeared before him and asked what he wanted. Ghanta Karna wanted Liberation. Siva said, for that you must approach Vishnu. Upon Siva’s order, he addressed Vishnu in his penance, won his grace and got liberated, because he saw Vishnu in the form of Siva.
It is important to drive out hatred and anger. Always pray for peace. Constantly practice a peaceful attitude. Pray for peace on earth, in the sky, in the directions, in the stars, in the trees, in the surrounding, everywhere. If one has everything but lacks peace of mind, what is the use?
Tomorrow we will continue. Since this is the weekend, we are spending more time today and tomorrow. Now we will sing one bhajan and conclude the program.
Bhajan: Om namo Narayana Krishna
Victory to Sadgurudeva and all gods and deities.
Sri Guru Datta