Bhaja Govindam is a very popular and well-known Hindu devotional poem that is attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. Here are some interesting facts about Bhaja Govindam that are sure to fascinate you. The devotional poem was composed during the lifetime of Adi  Shankaracharya and highlights the importance of love and devotion towards God, the transient nature of human life, and the desires of the human mind.

Interesting Facts About Bhaja Govindam

Bhaja Govindam urges people to be devoted to Govinda or Krishna and worship him instead of wasting their precious lives on other pursuits. The devotional poem is thus not only popular with Shaivites, but also with the Vaishnavites. The popularity of Bhaja Govindam is also due to the fact that it states the complex meaning of life in simple and beautiful verses.

Facts About Bhaja Govindam

Here are some interesting facts about Bhaja Govindam, the famous devotional poem attributed to Adi Shankaracharya.

1. Interesting Facts About Bhaja Govindam – Etymology

The famous poem is known as, “Bhaja Govindam,” which is the refrain in all the stanzas of the poem. Bhaja Govindam can be translated in English as, “worship Govinda,” or, “Praise Govinda.” Not many know that Bhaja Govindam is also known as, “Moha Mudgara,” “which means destroyer of illusion (Maya).”

2. Interesting Facts About Bhaja Govindam – The Legend

The birth of Bhaja Govindam is associated with a fascinating legend. Once Adi Shankaracharya, along with his disciples was walking along a street in Varanasi. He came across an old man trying desperately to learn the rules of Sanskrit Grammar by reciting them loudly.

Adi Shankaracharya took pity on the old man and asked him to turn his mind towards devotion to God, rather than wasting whatever time he had in the world learning grammar. Only devotion to God would free him from the unending cycle of life and death. This incident inspired Adi Shankaracharya to write and compose Bhaja Govindam.

3. Interesting Facts About Bhaja Govindam – Bhakti Marg

Adi Shankaracharya was the philosopher and saint who revived Hinduism and propounded the Jnana philosophy or the Path of Knowledge. However, the Bhaja Govindam emphasizes the importance of Bhakti. This is the main reason why the devotional poem is popular with the Vaishnavites also.

4. Interesting Facts About Bhaja Govindam – Essence

It is believed that the Bhaja Govindam encapsulates the entire concept of Vedanta in a concise and simple manner. Bhaja Govindam in simple terms explains the futility of running after worldly pleasures including material wealth and lust. It goes on to explain that only devotion to Govinda is what will lead to Moksha and deliverance from the cycle of birth, life, and death.

5. Interesting Facts About Bhaja Govindam – The Verses

Bhaja Govindam consists of 31 verses. It is believed that out of these the first 12 verses and the chorus verse were composed by Adi Shankaracharya himself. These 12 verses or shlokas form the first part of Bhaja Govindam and are collectively known as Dvadashamanjarika Stotram.

Inspired by Adi Shankaracharya’s composition, 14 of his disciples who were traveling with him, composed a verse each, in addition to the original verses composed by their Guru. These 14 verses are together known as Chaturdasha Manjarika Stotram.

Adi Shankaracharya who listened with affection to the verses composed by his disciples, composed 4 more verses that bless true seekers of truth. Thus the Dvadashamanjarika Stotram, the Chaturdasha Manjarika Stotram, the 4 verses composed By Adi Shankaracharya after listening to his disciples, and the Chorus, form the 31 verses that are together are known as Bhaja Govindam.

We hope you liked reading about some of the fascinating facts about Bhaja Govindam, and are inspired to study this famous work of Adi  Shankaracharya in more detail. For more interesting content from us, make sure you subscribe to our blog and also follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

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