Bhaja Govinda Stotram
Day 5, July 21
Let us continue our discussion of the Bhaja Govindam.
Verse 13:
kaa te kaantaa dhanagatachintaa
vaatula kim tava naasti niyantaa
trijagati sajjanasangatirekaa
bhawati bhavaarnavatarane naukaa
We think we do everything. It is because of ego. It topples us. Shiva becomes Shava in no time, destroying the ego. Once life leaves the body, nothing is left of value. Padmapadacharya is repeating the lesson given to him by his Guru. Some people doubt the veracity that all these are the teachings of Sri Bhagavatpada. All teachings are from Guru who is Paramatma in human form. In the Bhashyas/commentaries composed by Guru also, such doubts are raised. But name is not important. The teaching is from Guru, who is divine and is imparting divine knowledge. Tradition may show different names as composers. That is not very significant. Accept that the teaching is from a divine source.
Vaatula is whirlwind that is wild. Are you gone wild with no restraint? Have you not anyone to direct your thinking? Vishwamitra wanted to know which gives the greatest power? Vasishtha directed him to Adi Sesha, whose head supports the entire earth as if it were a mustard seed. Adi Sesha is the serpent that Vishnu reclines upon. Also, he is the Yoga Master Patanjali. Adi Sesha said Satsanga yields the greatest power. People praise me because of the powers I have gained from Satsanga, association with saints. We get transformed by the friendship with sadhus and saints. Without such friendship, spiritual pursuits will not give proper results.
Hanuman prayed to Rama that he should be the greatest devotee. He found a stronger devotee and prayed to Rama to give him darshan. He recommended his case to Rama. Rama went to his home. The devotee asked, are you really Rama? I am going to test you. Rama said okay. He brought a heavy copper spoon, Uddharini. He said if you change this to gold, I will believe that you are really Rama. Rama obliged. Now the devotee brought a larger item. Rama changed that also to gold. The devotee was greedy for more gold for the family to eat for generations. What one should bequeath to generations, is spiritual knowledge, not gold and wealth. Now, the man tried to bring in the stone used for washing clothes. Then Hanuman gave this so-called devotee a big whack on his back. Rama disappeared. Hanuman knew he had misjudged the devotee. His practice was not correct. Hanuman asked Rama why the devotee did not fall at Rama’s feet or pray to him humbly when Rama blessed him with his darshan. Why did he demand gold? Rama said, he did spiritual practice with devotion, but lacked proper guidance from Satsanga. He did not know right from wrong in conducting himself before God. He had no discretion about what to ask for from God.
Good education and good salary one may have, but one does not know how to utilize the earnings. Money is spent on worthless things. The family is not happy and they get into debt also and are miserable. This happens because there is no Satsanga to teach how to properly utilize the earnings, how to control the mind and desires. Satsanga is like holy water, Teertha. During pilgrimages, one takes holy bath. The holy water takes some time to show its positive result. But Satsanga gives immediate result.
Satsanga takes one to the highest state. Therefore, take time daily to do Satsanga, no matter how busy you may be. There are people, old by age, old by wisdom, or old by penance. Physical age does not matter. Ramayana says, we need these three kinds of people.
Age gives experience and knowledge and must be honored and one must derive benefit from the elderly. It is wrong to relegate them to old age homes and consider them as worthless. Children must interact with the elders in the family to gain knowledge and wisdom.
Leave off everything else to seek the company of the wise, says Hitopadesha.
Verse 14:
jatilo mundee lunchhitakesah
kaashaayaambara bahukritaveshah
pasyannapi cha na pasyati moodho
hyudaranimittam bahukritaveshah
Trotakacharya’s composition. This is written in Kasi. All kinds of strangely attired sadhus are seen in Kasi, bairagis, aghoras, and others. Some insult our traditions by their undesirable behavior. They consume intoxicating beverages and act strangely. One should not be misled by them. They falsely claim that Shiva engaged in such behavior and they are following in his footsteps. It is wrong to say so. Shiva revels in His own Self. He is God. He is the Lord of All. Shiva consumed Halahala poison and held it in His throat to protect the world. One must exercise caution in dealing with such people who use false practices. They wear matted locks, or have heads shaven fully, wear saffron robes. But They are not all holy. People must be alert and see truth as it is. These people will be in a different world out of intoxication, not from spiritual ecstasy. Some innocent foreigners are duped by these con artists wearing a trident, and large rudraksha beads. They give them money. For gaining monetary benefit, these fake sadhus play tricks upon innocent people.
Kanaka Dasa alone returned without eating his banana, while all others ate theirs, when the disciples were asked by their Guru to eat the banana where they were unobserved. Kanaka Dasa said wherever he went, God was there, watching him.
There are many mountains which yield great gems. In Russia, they found recently huge valuable crystals in a mountain. True Sadhaka are not easy to find. Gurus should be properly treated to gain benefit from them. In Karnataka, the forests have an abundance of sandalwood trees. Our state is famous for that. We must recognize true saints and revere them. Not all forests have valuable trees.
Only when the mind develops dispassion, one qualifies to become a Sanyasi. Prematurely if he becomes a sanyasi, just by changing physical attire, he does not benefit at all. The mind must mature first into total dispassion. Some householders may be sanyasis, without changing their attire. Many so-called sadhus are fake and act holy only to dupe tourists and simpletons for material profit. That is the warning given in this verse.
Verse 15:
angam galitam palitam mundam
dasanaviheenam jaatam tundam
vriddho yaati griheetvaa dandam
tadapi na munchatyaasaapindam
Hastamalakacharya has composed this verse. We do Guru Parampara Puja on Vyasa Purnima. We remember the lineage of Gurus and offer worship. Vyasa panchaka, Sanat panchaka, Krishna panchaka, Dattatreya panchaka and so on. We revere all the Jnanis. We must seek true realized souls and gain wisdom from them by reverential worship.
Hasta is hand. Amalaka is gooseberry. Gooseberry is extremely good for health. Even doctors recognize the medicinal value of gooseberry. Six days a week one must eat gooseberry to remain healthy. Except on Sunday. When you have a gooseberry in your hand, your health is ensured. Hastamalakacharya is ensured of salvation because of his mature wisdom. It is as obvious in him as a gooseberry held in the palm. He revels in his Self. Soul is not visible. It has to be experienced within.
The body is weak. Hair has turned grey. The teeth have fallen off. The legs are shaky and a third leg, a stick is picked up for support. Still, desires have not left the person. We must turn our minds towards God, not only in old age. This must be practiced since childhood onward.
Once, a rich king was greedy for more money. He was a good man. One saint came to him carrying a pot. He said this is a Yaga Bhiksha pot. I collect money in it to perform a ritual which will remove restlessness and grants peace of mind. The rich man said to his attendant, put some money in the pot. The saint said, you add the money yourself. The rich man said okay and kept putting in gold coins and as he kept adding them to the pot, they all disappeared and the pot was not getting filled. After his treasury got emptied, the rich man got suspicious and removed the cloth that wrapped the pot. It was not a pot, it was a skull. Not of a dead man. But of a living man, whose desires never get satisfied. That is what the saint explained. I wanted to demonstrate this truth to you, and that is why I brought this pot to you, the saint said. Chinta Nashana, removal of sorrow has occurred now to the rich man, who realized his foolishness in being so greedy.
Desire ties up everyone. It is a very strange rope. Those who are tied are always chasing after stuff of the world out of greed and never find any rest. They do not remain still. Those who free themselves from this rope are at peace and feel restful. We learn this lesson from this beautiful verse.
No benefit is derived from greed. The interest we show towards the things of the world, we should direct instead, towards God. Then it will open for us the gateway to Liberation. Our bondages will be released. We will be able to obtain a darshan of God.
Sobodhacharya has composed the next verse. He might have had many followers. Sri Bhagavatpada had followers all the way up to Nepal. We do not know how many followers and disciples he had. But the name of this composer is not very well-known.
Verse 16:
agre vahnih prishthe bhaanuh
raatrau chubukasamarpitajaanuh
karatalabhikshastarutalavaasah
tadapi na munchatyaasaapaasah
In front is a fire to keep him warm at night. On his back during the day is sunshine to keep him warm. He rests his chin on his knees to keep from shivering from cold at night. That is how he sleeps. He has no pot to collect his alms. He uses his bare hands. He sleeps under a tree on the bare ground with his hand for a pillow. He has no home. Yet, he is full of desires. Desire has not left him. Paasha is a rope that binds and gives us discomfort.
Today’s verses:
Verse 17:
kurute gangasaagaragamanam
vrataparipaalanamathavaa daanam
gyaanaviheenah sarvamatena
bhajati na muktim janmasatena
I remember Yoga Vasishtha. Since 2014 we are discussing that work. That is why I keep remembering it. Why do people go on pilgrimages? What do they do when they go? How do they behave? People quarrel while waiting in line. People shove others aside to push ahead. Then they have darshan. After that, they go to a restaurant and eat as if they had never eaten before in their lives. Then they buy snacks, and litter the place with garbage. This is what happens. Then they go the room and sleep.
One should give charity during a pilgrimage. One should do penance. One must practice silence. Get rituals performed as per affordability. Keep the pilgrimage center clean. Improve the facilities there for other future pilgrims. A sacred place is entirely the physical body of the deity. Entire city of Mysuru is the body of Mother Chamundi. Whole country, entire universe is God. It is everyone’s responsibility to maintain cleanliness and the serenity of the place. Instead, we feel that we alone should have urgent darshan and return home urgently. Instead, give priority to some older people who have been waiting there longer than you. Yield your place to them. If you do, without a doubt, God will come to your home to give you darshan. But if you push aside others, God is not pleased. Pregnant women are not given consideration. That is why Shastra says, pregnant women should not go on pilgrimages, because people do not show courtesy.
In Trinidad, I saw a quote: “Courtesy is contagious. Try it.” I liked it a lot. We must spread courtesy by our example. Children and old people should receive consideration.
Once, the Pandavas wished to go on a pilgrimage. They invited Krishna to go with them. Krishna himself is God. Yet, they wanted to go elsewhere to gain merit. But Krishna declined to go with them. Guru’s presence is itself a pilgrimage center. Never feel remorse that you have not gone to a certain holy place. Guru Gita says at Guru’s feet are all holy places. The Pandavas decided to go ahead. Krishna said to them, you will see all holy rivers and oceans. Please take this with you. He gave them a gourd (a vegetable). As you take a holy bath, give a bath to this vegetable also. That will give me great happiness. The Pandavas were perplexed but agreed. Wherever they went, they were obsessed with the Sorakai vegetable. They took care of it well. They returned and returned the vegetable to Krishna. They all sat for a meal together at Krishna’s home, since he cordially invited them. Krishna said there is a special item. Krishna himself served a vegetable curry. It was extremely bitter. It was inedible. Generally, before they cook certain vegetables, they taste a small piece to make sure it is not bitter, especially certain gourds. If it is sweet, they cook it. Otherwise they throw it away. Krishna said, just to teach you a lesson, I gave this gourd to take with you. You have performed all ablutions and prayers mechanically, but not devoutly and wholeheartedly. That is why the bitterness from your minds has made this vegetable so bitter. The Pandavas fell at Krishna’s feet, realizing their mistake.
Govinda Govindaa! We travel to Ganga, to the seashore, to Ganga Sagara where the river merges into the ocean. At Antarvedi, Kolkata, Pumpuhaar, at Prayag, where three rivers meet, Rameswaram, and other pilgrimage centers there are rivers and oceans where devotees go for a holy dip.
Shivamahimna Stotram says, we are all like rivers, and ultimately, we all merge in you, who are like an ocean. The sight of a river meeting an ocean is a beautiful sight and brings to our minds the wish that when our time comes, we must also merge in the Almighty.
What is the use of such pilgrimages? What is the benefit of doing austerities? Of taking vows; Of self-restraint during the ritual time? That is austerity. Taking an oath for oneself, to not get angry, not to shout, not to speak. Slowly self-control must be developed. It is very difficult not to speak, just as it is difficult not to move the hands. People even talk to themselves. We must instead, chant God’s name, rather than speak. These habits must be cultivated. Satyanarayana Vrata, Ananta Padmanabha Swami Vrata, Anagha Vrata for Datta devotees revived by Swamiji. Sivaratri Vrata, Deepotsava Vrata, Navaratri Vrata, and such Vratas are many. People keep a Kalasha, a sacred pot to invoke the divine energy. One must not leave such good practices. What happens if one gives up the tradition? God gets angry? How can He be God if he gets angry just like humans? God does not get angry because you have not offered him stuff. He gets angry because you are breaking your own oath.
Rudra mantra begins by praying to God to not be angry. I offer salutation to your anger. Why? Because we have misbehaved. Parents also get angry with children only when they misbehave. They punish only to set them right and to give them good training in behavior.
To remain silent for half an hour as an austerity, it is not easy. Our lineage will benefit by this discipline. The genes, the DNA will be clean and strong. The family traditions must be kept up. Austerities are medicines for the mind. Sandhya Vandana is a prayer for everyone, to be done at dawn, noon, and dusk. Whatever work you may be engaged in, take a few minutes break and offer a prayer. Agumbe is a holy place in Karnataka where austerities are performed. These disciplines positively influence the mind and the benefit is passed on to children and their children. This is the science of the mind. Devotion is medicine for the mind. One must propagate devotion in the world. Our consciousness gets awakened.
Indra has a great personality. People make fun of Indra, Yama, and Narada in movies. It is so wrong. Narada has given us the seven musical notes. To ridicule the character as one who creates quarrels, is ignorant. He is a great sage, a rishi. Diti was served by Indra for a long time. Once Indra missed a discipline. Then God reminded him. We should pay our taxes. If we fail, we get punished. We must maintain our discipline.
If we fail in our discipline, if we remain ignorant, what is the use of going on pilgrimages? All our efforts fail even in a hundred lifetimes, if jnana, spiritual wisdom is absent. Mere action minus knowledge yields no benefit. Doing things like a robot, is useless. Breaking a coconut has significance. If you do not know the meaning and simply break a coconut, there is no benefit. You yourself should break the coconut, remove the husk, see the three eyes, and then make the humble offering.
Coconut is not a tree grown from seed. The fruit yields a sapling. Banana trees are not grown from seeds. One tree brings forth more saplings all around it. The tiny seeds inside a banana do not grow saplings. The reason we offer coconuts and bananas to God as food offering is that these trees are different and special. These trees grow without seeds. Our minds are like seeds. They should be totally cleansed. God alone has the power to make them pure as crystal. For any Puja, we use mainly coconut and banana fruits. Sometime grapes, or just plain sugar also may be offered. Shastra authenticates all these.
Many devotees offer coconut to God with the sole interest of getting back their half piece of coconut. They clamor for it. What have we offered to God in the form of a coconut? The contamination and sinful thoughts from our minds we have offered to God in the form of the coconut. That should be kept in mind. That thought should be there every time you break a coconut. Do things with an awareness. Don’t think of the cost of your offering. A man said he would break 108 nuts to God if he gets a job promotion that would give him a raise in salary of ten thousand rupees. He started breaking peanuts instead of coconuts. An observer was surprised at watching this. Such is our miserliness. It appears as if someone sits inside our pockets, pulling our hands in and not allowing the money to come out. People do not wish to give. No matter how much charity you give with selfish motives, without proper jnana, you will not attain salvation in a hundred lifetimes. Teach children to understand what they study. Not just memorize or blindly read. Be aware of why you do what you do. Why are we here? That is everyone’s question. The answer must be sought and understood.
Verse 18:
suramandiratarumoolanivaasah
sayyaa bhootalamajinam vaasah
sarvaparigraha bhogatyaagah
kasya sukham na karoti viraagah
When we go on pilgrimages, we must adjust and be satisfied with whatever facilities are available, without complaining. Just sleep at the sacred places without expecting a foam bed and pillow. Just use a mat. There may be mosquitoes. Endure the inconvenience. Understand how others endure discomforts. There are holy trees at the pilgrimage centers. Rest under the tree. Consider the ground as the bed and sleep there. In ancient times, people used to use deerskin and so forth for warmth. By adjusting to conditions, our immunity increases. We develop resistance to diseases. Learn to sacrifice comforts. When there is dispassion and contentment, one is always comfortable. Those who are never satisfied are always unhappy. One gets coffee, they complain of less or more sugar, or less of more milk. People go to a wedding only to complain and create disturbance. The purpose of getting together at a wedding is to mingle happily and have a good time with others, not to spoil everyone’s mood. Many people scold mother, wife, or cook about taste of food. People throw food away, which is a sin. One should never insult food. Food is God. The person preparing food daily, works hard despite the tedium and heat, and in the end, receives complaints. People forget the tasty food enjoyed daily and if one day the food is too salty or not tasty enough, a big issue is made of it, and a temper tantrum ensues. It is not fair. If the food is always bad, then go and eat out.
Victory to Sadgurudeva.
Govinda Govindaa.
Sri Guru Datta