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Confusions with respect to "Bhaja Govindam"

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Vimalkumar Ranganathan • February 4, 2003 


Dear Vaishnavas,
                Namo Narayanaya!! Am trying to be a
staunch Sri Vaishnava, but I get great inspiration
from "Bhaja Govindam" by Adi Shankara. Verses like, 

"Bhagavad Gita Kinchita Dhita 
Ganga Jalalava Kanika Pita
Sahrdapi yena Murari Samarca 
Kriyate Tasya Yamena na carca"

Which means, "If one reads a little but of the
Bhagavad Gita, drinks a drop of water from Ganga, or
if he worships Murari even for a small moment, he
won't have any tiffs with Yama".

The verse above stresses the importance of Bhakti,
likewise, there are other similar verses:

"Iha Samsare Bahu Dustare 
 Krpaya Pare Pahi Murare"

which means, "this Samsare is full of miseries, please
save me oh Murari, by your grace"

or 
"Geyam Gita Nama Sahsram
 Dhyeyam ShriPati RupaMajashram"

"The Bhagavad Gita and Vishnu Sahasram should be sung,
the form of Vishnu should be meditated upon"

So, one can see that Bhaja Govindam has many such
verses stressing the importance of Bhakti. BUT, there
is a big catch!! In the third verse, he says, 

"Mayamayam idam Akhilam Hitva 
Brahma Padam Tvam Pravisha Vidhitva"

"Leaving this world which is Illusory (Mayamayam),
knowing the state of Brahman, enter into it"

Which is 100% pure Advaita.

Well, my point is, should a Sri Vaishnava (or any
Vaishnava for that matter) listen to Bhaja Govindam?? 

My points of contention would be:

* It is basically Sung by Adi Shankara, the proponent
of Advaita Philosophy, the very doctrine that our
Acaryas took pains to defeat.

* The third verse stresses the importance of Merging
with the "Brahman", clearly stating that God is
impersonal.

* If we say that Adi Shankara himself stressed the
importance of chanting the name of Lord Hari, what
about his works on other devatas, like Soundarya
Lahiri, etc....?? 

Other Schools of Vaishnava Theology are very strict in
this matter: Don't listen to even a word from any
Advaitin or Mayavadi. What is the take of our
SriVaishnava Acaryas??

I personally like "Bhaja Govindam" a lot.. but then, I
really want to know the rules and regulations
emphasized by our Acaryas on these matters.

Sorry for the long query, and my apologies if anybody
yawned while going through the mail.

Adiyen Dasan,
Vimal.
 
[ Please be constructive in your responses. I would like
  to initially point out that the understanding of 'mAyA'
  is up to the reader. 'mAyA-mayam idam akhilam' is 
  certainly acceptable to those following Sri Ramanuja's
  view as long as we take mAyA to mean the wonderful,
  mysterious, aspect of God. It is this aspect that
  is emphasized in the Svetasvatara Upanishad description
  of the Parabrahman as 'mAyinam tu mahesvaram' -- He is
  the great overlord who is the wielder of mAyA. 

  As an aside I enjoy listening to Bhaja Govindam too and 
  it appeals to me as a truly inspired composition.
  -- Moderator ]


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