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Bhaja Govindam 28: The four easy paths for spiritual upliftment (Verse 27)
Geyaṃ gītā nāma sahasraṃ dhyeyaṃ śrīpati rūpam-ajasram |
Neyaṃ sajjana saṅge cittaṃ deyaṃ dīnajanāya ca vittam || 27 ||
Meaning – Regularly chant the verses from Bhagavad Gita and the Sahasranama; at all times meditate upon the form of Lord Vishnu; let the mind always associate with holy saints; give away in charity to the poor and needy people.
In this hymn, the relationship between speech (vak), mind (manas), intellect (buddhi) and wealth is being preached. Four easy paths are being taught here to the spiritual aspirants.
First is to recite the verses from the Bhagavad Gita. Bhagavad Gita contains the essence of all the Upanishads. This sacred Gita was made available to the world by Lord Krishna himself! At the time of the war, Krishna preached this holy Gita to Arjuna who was unwilling to complete his duty and thus the merciful Lord washed away his grief. When a person immersed in terrible grief or troubles conducts the regular parayana of Bhagavad Gita, he will begin to clearly understand his ‘duty’. His sorrows will be washed away and the mind rendered peaceful. Bhakti (devotion), jnana (knowledge) and vairagya (dispassion) have been explained in a very easy manner in Bhagavad Gita.
‘Reciting the Bhagavad Gita’ means ‘to practice what is preached in it’. Bhagavad Gita contains in it the solution for every single difficulty that we come across in life. Ignorance cannot envelop the person who diligently chants the Bhagavad Gita daily.
‘Reciting Vishnu Sahasranama’ means ‘to sing the glories of the Supreme Lord’. All of us are aware of the greatness and importance of chanting divine names. Amongst the 9 forms of devotion the simplest and easiest is ‘nama sankeertana’. Just as food energizes the body, bhajan energizes the mind. It purifies the mind. That is why it is said- ‘Kalou nama sankeertana’ which means, ‘In Kali Yuga, liberation can be achieved through singing the glories of the Supreme’.
The second path is to constantly meditate upon Srihari. When the mind is completely filled with the Lord, then there will be no space for desire, anger etc. within it, isn’t it? The mind will not run towards the objects of desire. The human mind acquires only that which it constantly contemplates/ thinks. By constantly thinking about the Supreme Lord, it acquires that supreme bliss, which is an inherent trait of that Lord. If the mind focuses upon the materialistic objects of desire then it will imbibe traits such as anger, greed and the like.
The third recommended path is to maintain friendship with holy persons. Shankara Bhagavad-padacharya in an earlier stanza ‘satsangatve nissangatvam’ has already explained about the greatness of satsang. Society (sanga) causes attachment and other bondages. Yet, at the same time, it is not so easy to live without society. Living within the society is the natural trait of the mind. (Man is a social being). Therefore, if at first satsang is practiced, then gradually the mind will reach the state of living without this social setup (nissanga). The story of Valmiki is the finest example of satsang.
The fourth path is helping the poor and the needy. It is very important to be charitable. Helping our own near and dear ones cannot be termed ‘charity’ (daana). Charity should be offered to a needy person in the society. A beggar, who went from door to door seeking alms, had the following message to those greedy persons who refuse to indulge in charity- ‘O man, do not be greedy. By not giving away in charity in this birth, do not take the risk of being born like me (beggar) in your next birth. Be charitable in this birth and once again be born in this good status itself”.
Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-28-the-four-easy-paths-for-spiritual-upliftment-verse-27/
Bhaja Govindam 27: Give up desires, anger, delusion and greed (Verse 26)
Kāmaṃ krodhaṃ lobhaṃ mohaṃ tyaktvātmānaṃ paśyati soham |
Ātmaṅñnāna vihīnā mūdhāḥ te pacyante naraka nigūdhāḥ || 26 ||
Meaning – Give up desires, lust, anger, greed and delusion. Ponder about your true Self. Understand that fools i.e. those who fail to acquire Self-realization will be thrown into a secretive place in hell (naraka) wherein they will suffer terribly.
Giving up desire and anger is the essence that every good book preaches. This stanza teaches the adverse effects of failing to give up this desire and anger (kāma, krodha).
What connection does hell have with our desires and anger? In Bhagavatam it is said that Lord Narayana while preaching Maharishi Narada about the type of action, explained about the results of bad, sinful actions. In this context He mentioned the 28 types of hells that exist. Succumbing to the 6 inner enemies of desire, anger, greed etc., those who proceed on the path of adharma (unrighteousness) will have to suffer dreadfully in Rourava and its associated 28 hells. Based on the type of the evil deed, the living entity will have to suffer in a different type of hell. On the other hand, those pious beings, who abide by dharma (righteousness) during their life, will enjoy the comforts of heaven. This is why it is extremely essential to abide by dharma.
Among the six inner enemies, desire (kāma) is the first. Everyone seeks that his desires should necessarily be fulfilled, but it is not always possible. From one desire stems another; fulfillment of one desire leads to the birth of another- in this manner desires are endless. Just as offering of ghee only increases the flames, the fulfillment of desires leads to the birth of endless more desires. Amongst them some are fulfilled and some are not.
When a desire is not fulfilled, it instantly leads to anger (krodha). The person develops hatred towards those people and those circumstances due to which his desire could not be fulfilled. Wisdom as well as power of discrimination degenerates in such a person. When discrimination is lost, dharma will not be visible to him. To ensure that his desire is fulfilled in some way or the other, he will torture others. He will retort to vile and despicable methods. He will thus be eligible to be sent to hell.
Seeking to exclusively enjoy all that he has earned is greed (lobha). At every second he will worry that his earnings may get exhausted. The root of all this is moha (infatuation). Imagining the non-existing as existing and trying to acquire is delusion (moha). The fire fly sees the burning fire and believing that it is something awesome, runs and falls into it. Thus it meets its end. In the similar manner, the human being falling into infatuation & enticed by this world, runs towards it and is caught in the huge fire called desire and anger. All this is caused due to spiritual ignorance.
What exactly is spiritual ignorance? Not being able to understand one’s original Self is spiritual ignorance! Not realizing the happiness that inherently exists within, searching for it outside is ignorance! The person whose ignorance has been wiped away and in whom Spiritual Knowledge (Jnana) has dawned is able to see the triviality of his desires. He understands the limitations of this world and all its comforts. He begins the search for truth.
That is why this stanza asks the person to give up desires and anger (kaama-krodha) and to begin the search for truth.
Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-27-give-up-desires-anger-delusion-and-greed-verse-26/
Bhaja Govindam 26: It is impossible to reach God if filled with feelings of hatred (Verse 25)
Śatrau mitre putre bandhau mā kuru yatna vigraha sandhau |
Sarvasminnapi paśyātmānaṃ sarvatrot-sṛja bhedāṅñānam || 25 ||
Meaning – Do not waste your energy in developing enmity with your enemy, friend, son or any other relative. If you are eager to understand the Supreme Essence, then at the earliest, try to develop feelings of equal-mindedness towards one and all.
As discussed earlier, the message contained in Bhaja Govindam is applicable to everyone, be it a learned pundit or an ordinary person who is entangled in worldly bondages. Those who are entangled in these bondages have to necessarily abide by the rules of communal living.
In this world there are many elders who wrongly interpret the teachings of Gurus. Just because the previous stanza preached about discarding the feelings of love and hate towards family members, can a person neglect his family and instead develop love towards the neighbouring family? It will result in lot of problems. Yet, there are many in this world who practice this. This stanza contains a message for such people. It states- ‘My dear, you are living in this world and therefore you should be bound by its rules. Learn to treat your enemy, friend, son and relative with feelings of equality. Do not develop feelings of hatred and enmity towards anyone’.
This hymn emphasizes that it is impossible to reach God when the person is enveloped with feelings of hatred/ enmity towards another being. Isn’t this the essence contained in the story of Maharishis Vishwamitra and Vashishta? Vishwamitra was blessed with the divine vision of Lord Brahma yet was unable to give up feelings of enmity towards Sage Vashishta. For this reason he could not become a Brahmarishi (he who has attained the highest divine knowledge). When Lord Brahma appeared before him for the second time, he asked the Lord, “Have I become eligible to be blessed with the title of ‘Brahmarishi’?” To this the Lord replied, “If Vashishta agrees, then it is possible.” Vishwamitra now approached Vashistha and enquired, “Have I become eligible to be called a Brahmarishi?” Vashishta replied, “The very moment you gave up enmity towards me, you became a Brahmarishi”.
Vishwamitra had undertaken limitless sadhana and penance; yet he had forgotten this most important principle. Vashishta now reminded him of it. Among the crores of living species in this creation, the human being is unique. This is because only the human being is blessed with the ability to obtain the vision of the Lord. This is possible only if the person gives up feelings of love, hate, jealousy and enmity.
This same principle is explained in the Srimad Bhagvatam in this manner- Even after creating innumerable species such as mosquito, fly, ant, animals and birds, Lord Brahma was not content. He then created the human being and after endowing him with the abilities needed for obtaining the vision of the Supreme, Brahma felt peace and joy.
With this we understand that the end goal of a human birth is to obtain the vision of the supreme. We should put in the required efforts in that direction. Simultaneously along with the penance needed to reach this goal, feelings of jealousy, anger etc. should necessarily be given up. Isn’t the story of Vishwamitra a fine example of this?
Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-26-it-is-impossible-to-reach-god-if-filled-with-feelings-of-hatred-towards-others-verse-25/
Chaturthi 2013: Seek good intellect; 21 names of Ganapati
‘Vinayaka Chaturthi’ – this word fills us with joy and we forget all our sorrows. This festival is celebrated in every Indian home. Not just India, many other countries too have tradition of celebrating Ganapati festival. That is why people of all countries are excited about Ganapati festival.
Students worship Lord Ganesha, seeking His blessings for their proper education. Traders and politicians worship Lord Ganapati and seek His blessings before starting any new task.
Lord Ganesha blesses us with broadmindedness, large-heartedness and fine outlook. He enters into our hardened intellect and drives away from it sluggishness and dullness. He then blesses us with fresh energy, enthusiasm and ability. He also grants victory for the task which the devotee has set out to execute. This is why, everyone, right from children to the aged, should unfailingly worship Lord Ganesha every single day! Before beginning any new task, He is to be thought of and worshipped!
Lord Ganapati is an ardent devotee of His parents. Through His actions, He teaches that we should lovingly look after our parents, satisfy their needs, worship them and not cause them any sorrow. By worshipping His parents, He has become eligible for receiving the first worship (ādi pujya, Prathamavandya). Swamiji addresses this Lord as Prathamavandya, vakratunda in bhajans.
His curved trunk (vakratunda) preaches that recitation of ‘Omkara’ is a must. His curved trunk represents Omkāra. His huge stomach houses within it innumerable universes. Just by seeing His idol we understand He is Parabrahma.
He is the lord for this entire creation which is made up of the 5 basic elements. He is easily reachable by the devotees. He is immensely pleased with just the first worship offered to Him in the beginning of any puja/ task. He grants the ashta siddhis (8 super natural accomplishments) to those who worship him with garika (grass).
With full faith and devotion, we should pray to be blessed with a good intellect (buddhi). Why do we seek good buddhi? Only when the intellect is good, accomplishments come to us.
It is a well known fact that through good buddhi, children can inculcate good and noble traits. With this their future will be bright. Parents too will love and respect children who have good intellect because they will turn out to be future good citizens and will look after them with love during their old age. As a result, the entire family will be peaceful and joyful. The entire society will be reformed and rendered prosperous. The root to attain all this is ‘good buddhi.’ As it is Ganapati who showers good buddhi we should never forget Him. We should eternally praise him as ‘siddhidhoota, buddhinaatha, siddhinaayaka’.
He is the Lord of Mooladhara or the base chakra. Standing as the foundation for every cause and effect, He showers victory on to his devotees. Everyone should therefore worship this God today and obtain His blessings.
He is worshipped today with all different types of leaves. This is to seek the protection of nature. When the nature is at peace, it will rain abundantly. In this way all are inter-connected. Ganapati is the essence of this nature.
He should be worshipped with the recitation of the following names-
OM Gananjayāya namaha
Om Ganapataye namaha
Om Herambāya namaha
Om Dharaneedharāya namaha
Om Mahāganapataye namaha
Om Lakshapradāya namaha
Om Kshipra prasādanāya namaha
Om Amogha siddhaye namaha
Om Amitāya namaha
Om Mantrāya namaha
Om Chintāmanaye namaha
Om Nidhaye namaha
Om Sumangalāya namaha
Om Beejāya namaha
Om āshāpoorakāya namaha
Om Varadāya namaha
Om Shivāya namaha
Om Kāshyapāya namaha
Om Vandanāya nandanāya namaha
Om Vāchāsidhāya namaha
Om Dundivināyakāya namaha
Those who think of Him with these 21 names, will not be subjected to ill-repute. They will be blessed with good knowledge, reputation and wealth.
May everyone be blessed with a good buddhi with Varasiddhi Vinayaka’s grace! May every heart be filled with purity and peace! May all this chaos, lack of peace and turbulence be wiped away from this world and it be rendered peaceful!
Om shanti shanti shanti.
Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/chaturthi-2013-we-should-pray-for-good-intellect-21-names-of-ganapati/
Bhaja Govindam 25: Give up differences of every form (Verse 24)
Tvayi mayi sarvatraiko viṣṇuḥ vyarthaṃ kupyasi mayyasahiṣṇuḥ |
Bhava samacittaḥ sarvatra tvaṃ vāñchasyacirād-yadi viṣṇutvam || 24 ||
Meaning – It is only Lord Vishnu who dwells within me, within you and within everything in this creation. He is the Supreme Lord. Feelings of jealousy and anger in you serves no purpose. If you seek to attain oneness with Vishnu, then it is essential to practise equal-mindedness towards everyone at all times.
The previous hymn asked the person to contemplate on thoughts such as – ‘who am I? From where did I come?’ We were taught to realize that this samsara is completely useless. In this hymn, the results of such contemplation are being explained.
This hymn preaches practising equanimity and treating everyone equally. Kathopanishad declares- anor aniyan mahato mahiyan atmasya jantor nihito guhayam –
The Self is subtler than even a sub-atomic particle yet is greater than the greatest object. The Self exists within the heart of every living being. He who is devoid of anger, jealousy and who has absolutely no desires can, through mental purity and purity of senses, experience the greatness of this Self.
This same concept is being taught in this stanza. All our Vedas, epics and scriptures teach this concept. Some of these however are very difficult to practice.
Repeated cycle of re-births (samsāra) originates out of likes-dislikes. To get hold of the snake that is hiding within his hole, the snake charmer throws sand into the hole. In a similar manner, to get over likes-dislikes, it is essential to cut out jealousy. Jealousy means to be unable to tolerate the prosperity of another person.
As the ability to see the Supreme Lord in every being and in every object is a very difficult task requiring tremendous practice, it is essential to at first begin by giving up differences of every form. In other words, feelings such as ‘he is ‘my’ person/ relative, hence he should prosper’ and/or ‘she is not dear to me, hence she should suffer’ should be completely given up.
‘Sarve ca sukhinah santu, sarve santu nirāmaya‘- In this prayer we pray for the welfare and prosperity of one and all. ‘Every living being should be comfortable and disease- free. Let auspiciousness be showered upon every being. Let no living being in this creation suffer’.
If we pray wholeheartedly in this manner then gradually such feelings remain permanently in the mind. This can also be addressed as ‘nishkāma karma’. The person who seeks the prosperity of even those who are not even remotely connected to him is a truly elevated being (uttama).
There is another important point in this stanza- The Supreme Lord exists within every being; yet only that person who realizes this great truth is able to enjoy the supreme bliss. The person who cannot realize this truth suffers with feelings of jealousy (asuya). There are people who derive great satisfaction in thoughts such as ‘Along with my house, my neighbour’s house also collapsed. I am happy that he has incurred more financial loss than me.’ When the feelings of jealousy have peaked in the person, such thoughts will occur. Jealousy is that which comes in the way of prosperity and happiness. Even though we possess every comfort in life, that which does not enable us to enjoy it is ‘jealousy’.
It is imperative therefore that we should give up feelings of differences and develop feelings of equanimity and equal-mindedness.
Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-25-give-up-differences-of-every-form-treat-everyone-equally-verse-24/
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