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Re: Bhaj Govindam / Vishnu Sahasranamam
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To: alt-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Subject: Re: Bhaj Govindam / Vishnu Sahasranamam
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From: drai@ix.netcom.com (DHARMBIR RAI)
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Date: 30 Apr 1995 17:28:20 GMT
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From netnews@ix.netcom.com Sun Apr 30 13: 17:57 1995
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Newsgroups: alt.hindu
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Organization: Netcom
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References: <3nrk36$8nl@ucunix.san.uc.edu>
In <3nrk36$8nl@ucunix.san.uc.edu> jai@caprica.com (Dr. Jai Maharaj)
writes:
>
>Courtesy of Ramta <ramta@aol.com>
>per article <3nebc1$2tt@newsbf02.news.aol.com> of April 23, 1995.
>
> "Bhaja Govindam is a musical piece in Sanskrit composed by the
>great Hindu saint and philosopher Adi Shankaracharya hundreds of
>years ago (I don't have the exact period of time). He is considered
>as the incarnation of Lord Shiva, the three-eyed God. In this
>piece, he describes the trials and tribulations ("samskara" ) that
>everyone has to go through in this life and how to escape the "life
>and death" odyssey by seeking Lord Govinda (the "protector" among
>the Trinity of Gods in Hindu religion). It is written for the
>layman in simple verses that can be chanted by anyone. Each verse
>("sloka") may be sung in a different raga. There are a total of, I
>believe, 25-30 slokas (I am not sure though). In a deeper sense, by
>composing Bhaja Govindam, Adi Shankara provided a simple tool with
>which one could develop Bhakti (unflinching faith) for and identify
>with the Lord Govinda.
> "Vishnu Sahasranamam (Sa-ha-sthra) is another great composition
>in the Hindu literature by "Grandsire" Bhishma, the senior most
>member of the Kaurava race in Mahabharata. In the decisive battle
>that ensues between the Pandavas and Kauravas in this epic, the
>legandary Bhishma puts up a chivalrous fight against the heroic
>Arjuna, the master archer of the Pandavas but is defeated in the
>end and lays on a bed of arrows ("saratharpa") waiting for an
>auspicious moment to breathe his last. It is then that Lord Krishna
>unfolds himself in his universal form ("Vishwarupa") and Bhishma
>sings 1000 names in the Lord's praise that came to be known as
>Vishnu Sahasranamam. The lyrics are read as a poem or as "namavali"
>(literally means name calling). The names may not be distinguished
>in the poem form but come up individually in "namavali".
> "Temples all across the country (India and US) have devotees
>that chant Vishnu Sahasranamam on a daily or weekly basis. There
>are cassettes and books available if you are interested.
>- Raman Iyer"
>
>End of Article.
>
> *-=Om Shanti=-* Jai Maharaj
>
> jai maharaj |_|_|_|_| mantra corporation
> jyotishi, vedic astrologer |_| |_| vedic prediction sciences
> jai@mantra.com |_|_ _|_| telex 6505614754
> mci mail 561-4754 | | | | | voicemail +1 808 948 4357
>
>Bhaja Govindam actually consists of two 'stotras' - 'Charpat Panjarika
Stotram' containing seventeen 'shlokas' and 'Dvadash Panjarika Stotram'
containing thirteen. These can be found in most 'stotra' collections.
Swami Chinmayananda's book Bhaja Govindam contains the full text and
his commentary. An LP featuring the commentary in Swami Ji's voice and
chanting of the verses by Lakshmi Reddy had also been released in late
sixties/ early seventies.
Vishnu Sahasranam is in Mahabharat (Anushasan Parva 149.14-120) and
forms a part of conversation between Yudhishthir and Bhishma.
Yudhishthir requests Bhishma to tell him of one god who is the ultimate
shelter for man and whose 'stuti' (chanting name and glory) can lead to
the highest state (149.2-3). Bhishma tells him that it is Lord Vishnu
and by chanting his thousand names one obtains release (149.4-13).
Then he proceeds to enumeratethe thousand names.
Incidently the same Parva of Mahabharat also contains Shiva Sahasranam
(17. 31-153) which is conversation between Krishna and Yudhishthir.
In the context thousand names had been narrated to Krishna by Maharshi
Upamanyu.
Rai-Sharma
>
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