Bhaja Govindam
Once when Jagadguru adi Shankaracharya was walking along a street in Varanasi, he saw an aged scholar reciting the rules of Sanskrit grammar repeatedly on the street. Taking pity on him, Adi Shankaracharya went up to the scholar and advised him not to waste his time on grammar at this age but to turn his mind towards Govinda (Lord Vishnu) and keep chanting Govinda ( bhaja govindam means keep chanting Govinda)
On this occasion, jagadguru adi Shankaracharya told bhaja govindam. In bhaja govindam, Adi Shankaracharya mainly explains 2 things
- Reality of life
- Things we are supposed to do, so that we can get mukthi
Now let us know what Jagadguru Adi shankaracharya told in bhaja govindam
- Skills which we have learned to earn money or to lead a life, will not be able to save us when we are about to leave this body. So don’t spend your entire lifetime learning these kinds of skills and earning money. Here Adi Shankaracharya is not saying that we should not learn those skills or stop earning money but what he is saying is don’t run behind them madly so that you will waste your life.
- Remember that men and women are made up of the same flesh, blood, and bones. So don’t waste your life thinking more about the body parts of the opposite gender.
- Till your body keeps breathing, everyone will ask about your whereabouts but once the body stops breathing your own spouse will be afraid by seeing your body
- Don’t be proud because you have money or people who can support you or the energy you have, because nature can remove all this in a moment
- People will spend their childhood with games, middle age in thinking about opposite gender and earning money and old age with miseries (health issues or loneliness). In this way, people will waste their lifetime
- People who are not able to control indriyas will keep searching for happiness and luxuries but will finally get stuck with diseases or some other problem. Everyone knows that they should face death but even after knowing they will not stop doing bad deeds.
So like this after saying the reality of life jagadguru adishankara says what we are supposed to do so that we can get mukthi (moksha)
- Always try to be in the company of good people, who have understood the reality of life and who are devoted to god. Because of this your attachment with the world will be reduced, because of non-attachment your desires will be reduced resulting in peace of mind. If you are at peace of mind, you will be able to think and understand about the actual truth of life (god), understanding which can give you mukthi
- Understanding and practicing what is told in Bhagavadgita and worshiping the feet of Lord Vishnu will give mukthi
- Everyone should do pranayama, pratyahara (controlling indriyas), Japa, and meditation. With this, one should reach brahmastithi (oneness with God).
Finally, Adi Shankaracharya blessed us by saying that one who believes in guru and who follows above should get mukthi.
