Bhaj Govindam 

It is the grand finale - The last verse written by Shankaracharya in the form of dvadasa-manjarika-stotra of Bhaj Govindam. This verse I would call as ‘A Shaj Upaye - Simple solution’.

This is the 13 Verse (the last verse) if we consider the opening verse. However, the first verse is the re-affirming verse. A repeated reminder, after every verse when Guru Shankaracharya says, this won’t help, that won’t help, this is wrong, that is wrong. He tells us only Hari Naam is the way. 

However, he knows that even the learned find it difficult to understand/hold on to this abstract concept called God - Saakaar or Niraakar. He provides the bewildered one a simple solution 

• Just have faith in the Lord (don’t try to understand him or his ways, just love him) and 
• Hold onto the feet of a ’Sajjan Purusha.’

Verse 13

काते कान्ता धन गतचिन्ता, 

वातुल किं तव नास्ति नियन्ता।

त्रिजगति सज्जनसं गतिरैका, 

भवति भवार्णवतरणे नौका॥१३॥

Ka Te Kanta Dhanagatacinta

Vatula Kim Tava Nasti Niyanta

Trijagati Sajjanasangatireka

Bhavati Bhavarnavatarane Nauka

The thirteenth verse said to me - Shruti Says🌷

What will happen to my wife, what will happen to my wealth, and so on one worries.

Is God not there for you, as he takes care of all, he will take care of you and yours. Leave this worry.

And be in the company of the ‘Sajjan’.

In the three worlds, the only way(boat) to cross the ocean of birth and death, is association with them.

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With the support of bhajans and a few stories, we will try to internalise the deep secret that Shankaracharyaji is going to reveal. 

Note: No equivalent of the word Sajjan is there in english, hence will just have to use the word as it is.

Have Faith - Why worry?

• Bhajan: Kyo Ghabrao mai
• Story 1: Krishna Sudama
• Story 2: Hanuman and Mummy
• Animals left before/soon after birth

Miracles of Sajjan Saang, The company of Sajjan

• Bhajan: Yama Niyam Sayam
• Story 4: Shankaracharyaji and Giri
• Story 5: Gajendra Moksha 
• Characteristic of Sajjan 

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Have Faith - Why worry?

Bhajan 

Kyo ghabraoo mai, mera tau Ram se naata hai,

Meri yeh jeevan gaadi, Ram chalata hai.

Jub jub mujhko padti hai darkaar, 

Ram humesha rehta hai tayra.

Ram ne mujhper kiya bohot upkaar,

Ram hi mere jeevan ka aadhar.

Haar daam yeh mujhper aapna,

pyaar loota ta hai.

Rukh ke baadal jub jub mandrate, 

Ram naam laite hi chaat jate.

Baal phi baaka woh na kar paate,

kabhi dubara naazar nahin aate.

Sankat aane se pehle, 

Ram aata hai.

Mere maan mai aata jo bhi khayal,

Ram vyavasta karta hai tatkal.

Haar per mujhko yehi reha sambhal,

Ram kripa se mai hu maala maal.

Jiske layak hi nahin mai,

woh miljata hai.

Ram bharose mai to nishchint hu,

kyoki mai to Ram pai aashrit hu,

Ram charan mai poorna samarpit hu,

isiliye mai saada surakshit hu.

jee bharke bacho ko yeh,

laad ladata hai.

Story 1

Ones Sudama fell into the well, and he started shouting Krishna Krishna Krishna. Suddenly out of nowhere, came a little cowherd boy. He pulled Sudama out and was about to run away. When Sudama held his hand tight and said. You are my Krishna, you are my Krishna. The boy said no I am just a boy. He being much stronger escaped the grip of Sudama’s hand and ran away. 

Sudama with tears filled in his eyes shouted, Krishna, I am weak that is why you are running aways from me. But I will consider you strong only when you are able to escape from heart.

‘Haat chuda kar jaat ho nibal jan kar mohe,

Hridaya se jub jao tau, sabal mai janu toye.’

Story 2

My mother had come to render moral support to me and this happened when she was leaving. She was at the station waiting for her train all alone. Her purse which contained all her jewellery and money fell down on the track and the train was about to start. 

She looked around, a true bhakth of Hanuman, whose heart is his abode. She did not know what to do, her luggage was in and her purse was down. Suddenly out of no where a cooli came, he jumped down picked up the purse, handed it over to mummy. Gave her a hand, made her climb the train. The train that very moment started to move.

When she looked at him, he said Ram Ram. My mother had tears in her eyes. She said in her heart, mere Hanuman.

Some Animal left before / soon after Birth

In the animal kingdom, many mothers hardly look after their young or abandon them before birth. Lets name a few

• Turtle
• Harp seal
• Cuckoos
• House Sparrow
• Pandas
• Black Eagles
• Black Bear
• Rabbits
• Burying Beetles
• Skinks

If God lovingly takes care of them, won’t he take care of us. The animals, birds and trees, the so called lesser evolved then we, have great faith in the creator and his creation.

Look around, every thing just echoes Faith. The minute faith takes over, all else that troubles the mind vanishes and bliss infinite is experienced.

Miracles of ‘Sajjan Saang’, The company of Sajjan

Bhajan

Bhajan meaning Verse wise:

(1-3) The first three paragraphs of this bhajan, describe 17 types of austerities, which result into a lot of sidhis and even disinterest towards this world. But, they are still unable to give anything in the form of divine experience.

(4) In the fourth para he thinks, I have done everything birth after birth, there is nothing left. Reached nowhere yet. What do I do now, what have I missed out?

(5 - 6) Without a Sadguru (Sajjan) breaking the chains of samsar is not possible. There a guru comes, a saadguru, to whom I surrender. All this while I had the ego that I can accomplish this on my own. Then I started learning from others, over here a guru. I surrendered everything at his feet. He showered his grace on me.

(7-8)There he showed me that which I was looking for, it was always there, right in front of my face. I had emptied myself of ego and now filled myself with immense love, everything was overflowing with love, everywhere I looked all I could see was love.

(9 onwards) That is when he(guru) shared his experience. When a heart filled with love looks at anything, even a blade of grass will reveal all its secrets like a guru.

Wordings:

Yama niyam sayam aap kiyo

puni tyag virag aathak laayo

vanvas liyo mukh maun raahyo

Dradh aasan padam lagaye diyo ….1

maan paun nirod swabodh kiyo

haath yog prayog sutaar payo

jap ved jape taph tyo hi taape

uur se hi udasi lahi tabhai….2

tab sastran ke naaya dhari kiye

maath mandan khandan bhed liye

veha saadan baar anant kiyo

tadapi kachu haat hayo na paryo….3

aab kayaan vicarath hai maan se

aab kayaan vicarath hai maan se

kachu aur reha unn sadan se….4

bina sadguru koi na bhed lage 

mukh aagal hai taha baat kahe 

karuna hum pavat hai tumki

bhav baat rahi su guru gam ki

pal mai pragate mukh aagal se

jub sadguru charan saprem baase…..5

taan se maan se dhaan se saab se

gurudev ki aan swaatma baase

tub karaj seeth bane appano…..6

raas ammarit pavahi prem ghano

waha satya sudha darshavahienge 

chatur angul hai darv se milhai

raas dev niranjan kopi wahi

wahi jog jugu jug sodi wahi……7

per prem prabhav badeh pragate

saab agam bhed so aur wase…….8

waha keval ko beej gyani kahe 

waha keval ko beej ghani kahe ..9 onwards

neej ko aanubhav batlaye diye.

waha keval ko beej gyani kahe 

waha keval ko beej ghani kahe 

neej ko aanubhav batlaye diye.

Story 3

Giri was Shankaracharyaji’s disciple. He knew nothing at all, all he knew was that he wanted to serve his master. From morning to evening he would not only serve his master, but also all the other fellow disciples. He was in the true sense what we call ‘Daaso ka daas.’ 

However, no matter how much one tried, neither could he understand nor could he comprehend the teaching. But, guru Shankaracharya would never start his discourse if girl was not present.

One day, giri was at a distance washing the cloths of all the inmates of the ashram and his Guru. Not finding him, Shankaracharyaji waited for him to come and this agitated all other others. They said he is a blank as a wall, it is impossible for this knowledge to penetrate. Why wait for him.

That very minute, Shankaracharyaji called out in his mind and girl came running, when he felt the call and fell at his feet singing the ‘Totaka Astakam’. As if the entire knowledge just transmitted to him. He from then on was called Totaka Charya.

Story 4

Gajendra Moksha - God liberated the crocodile who was holding the feet of his dearest devotee Gajendra, even before the devotee himself. God holds more dear than the devotee, the one who serves them.

Characteristics of Sajjan (Hard to capture but lets try)

‘Sona Sajjan sadhujan,

tute jure sau baar.

Durgam kubh kumar ke,

ek jhatke aaye darar.’

and 

‘One whose mind remains undisturbed amidst misery, who does not crave for pleasure, and who is free from attachment, fear, and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom.’ (BG 2.56)

and 

1. Peaceful
2. Forgiving
3. Compassionate
4. Gentleness
5. Absence of Restlessness
6. Absence of fault finding
7. Absence of GreedFearlessness
8. Non- Hatred 
9. Patience and fortitude
10. Modest
11. Gentle
12. Purity of heart and mind
13. Steadfastness
14. Alms giving
15. Self Restraint
16. Self Discipline
17. Straightforwardness
18. Non injury and violence
19. Truthful
20. Absence of anger
21. Desire-less
22. Radiance in Character
23. Absence of pride
24. Renunciation 

and there is not end to the virtuous qualities that make a Sajjan person.

Here we have to understand that Guru Shankaracharya has not said - Satsang - he has specifically mentioned Sajjan sanga. As Sat ka Sang means company of the truth, as mentioned before in verse 9. It is less tangible and includes all things even the thought in our mind, which is difficult to comprehend.

To help us, he says just stay in the company of a person who has accomplished and realised, that is all that is needed. As stated in the bhajan, when in the company of a Sajjan purush, liberation happens effortlessly. 

Even as the ocean carves its messaged on the strongest of rocks, just by repeatedly washing over it. So too, the company of such people effortlessly clean the layers of vices and out shines the true divine self.

Question: 

Sajjan Virle hote hai. Sajjan are very rare. Then how will I meet one and when I meet how will I know.

Answer:

When the time comes you will meet, and when you meet you will know.

When the sun rises, everyone knows that the sun has risen, there is no debate no doubt, one just knows. 

When the flower blossoms, one just knows that the flower has blossomed, the fragrance and the sweetness spreads and the bees just know, the world just knows.

In the same way when someone has realised and into a ‘Sajjan’ he/she has become you will know and don’t leave there company, hold on to them.

Have faith, bask in his grace and sing gods glories.

Hari Om