Complete Bhaj Govindam lyrics in Sanskrit with English translation & meaning. Discover Adi Shankaracharya’s profound philosophical hymn on detachment.

Bhaj Govindam Lyrics: Complete Adi Shankaracharya Philosophical Hymn Guide

Bhaj Govindam Lyrics: Adi Shankaracharya’s Timeless Philosophical Hymn

Are you searching for the complete Bhaj Govindam lyrics with authentic meaning and philosophical insights? You’ve discovered the ultimate guide to one of Hinduism’s most profound devotional-philosophical compositions that continues to transform lives after 1,200 years.

Bhaj Govindam, also known as Moha Mudgara (“The Hammer to Delusion”), is a powerful Sanskrit hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century CE. This extraordinary composition contains 31 verses that strike at the very root of human delusion, urging spiritual awakening through devotion to Lord Govinda (Vishnu/Krishna) while emphasizing the impermanence of worldly life. Unlike purely devotional hymns, Bhaj Govindam uniquely blends bhakti (devotion) with jnana (knowledge), making it essential for spiritual seekers worldwide from USA to UAE, UK to Australia, Canada to Singapore.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover the origin story and philosophical context of Bhaj Govindam, complete verses in Sanskrit with English transliteration, verse-by-verse translation and profound meanings, the Advaita Vedanta philosophy embedded within, how to recite and study this hymn, spiritual benefits of regular practice, and Shankaracharya temples and mathas with addresses. Whether you’re a philosophy student, spiritual seeker, or devotee, this guide illuminates one of India’s greatest philosophical-devotional treasures.

Understanding Bhaj Govindam – Origin and Context
The Philosophy: Advaita Vedanta and Devotion Combined
Complete Bhaj Govindam in Sanskrit (Devanagari)
Complete Bhaj Govindam in English Transliteration
Verse-by-Verse Translation and Meaning
How to Study and Recite Bhaj Govindam
Spiritual Benefits and Practical Wisdom
Shankaracharya Temples and Mathas (Addresses & Maps)
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion

Understanding Bhaj Govindam – Origin and Context

The Legendary Origin Story

According to tradition, Adi Shankaracharya composed Bhaj Govindam when he was walking along the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi with his disciples. They encountered an elderly scholar intensely studying and memorizing Panini’s Sanskrit grammar rules.

Moved by compassion, Shankaracharya realized this elderly man was wasting his final years on mere intellectual pursuit while neglecting spiritual preparation for death. Spontaneously, the first verse emerged:

“Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam, Govindam Bhaja Moodha-mate…”

“Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, O fool! When your time comes, grammar rules will not save you.”

This powerful message—that intellectual knowledge without spiritual wisdom is futile—became the foundation for 31 verses, 12 by Shankaracharya and 14 by his disciples, plus concluding verses.

Who Was Adi Shankaracharya?

Adi Shankaracharya (788-820 CE) was one of India’s greatest philosophers and spiritual reformers who:

Consolidated the Advaita Vedanta philosophy
Established four cardinal mathas (monasteries) across India
Wrote extensive commentaries on Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, and Bhagavad Gita
Composed numerous devotional hymns
Unified diverse Hindu traditions
Attained enlightenment and left his body at age 32

Multiple Names for This Text

Bhaj Govindam: “Worship Govinda” – from the opening refrain

Moha Mudgara: “Hammer to Delusion” – emphasizing its purpose to shatter illusion

Dvadashamanjarika Stotra: “Hymn of Twelve Verses” – referring to Shankara’s original 12

Structure and Composition

Original Core: 12 verses by Shankaracharya (sometimes 13 including the opening)

Disciples’ Contribution: 14 verses added by his disciples, each addressing specific delusions

Total Verses: 31 in the complete version (some versions have 31, others organize differently)

Language: Classical Sanskrit with profound philosophical terminology

Literary Style: Simple vocabulary yet deep meaning – accessible to common people but profound for philosophers

Meter: Primarily uses the Shikhariṇī meter

The Central Teaching

Bhaj Govindam presents a three-fold message:

Wake Up: Life is impermanent; death approaches
Let Go: Worldly attachments bring suffering, not lasting happiness
Turn Within: Only devotion to the Divine and self-knowledge bring liberation

The hymn doesn’t advocate renouncing responsibilities but rather holding them lightly while prioritizing spiritual realization.

The Philosophy: Advaita Vedanta and Devotion Combined

Bhaj Govindam uniquely bridges what sometimes appear as different paths in Hindu philosophy.

Advaita Vedanta Core

Non-dualism: The central teaching that Atman (individual soul) and Brahman (cosmic consciousness) are identical, not separate. The perceived separation is maya (cosmic illusion).

Key Concepts:

Brahman: The absolute, infinite reality beyond attributes
Maya: The cosmic power creating the appearance of multiplicity
Avidya: Individual ignorance that perceives duality
Moksha: Liberation through realizing one’s true nature as Brahman

The Surprising Devotional Element

Shankaracharya is famous for rigorous non-dualism, yet Bhaj Govindam emphasizes:

Bhakti (Devotion): Repeated calls to “worship Govinda” seem dualistic—implying a worshipper and a worshipped deity.

Why this apparent contradiction?

Practical Pedagogy: Most people cannot immediately grasp non-dual reality; devotion provides an accessible starting point
Purification: Bhakti purifies the mind, making it fit for jnana (knowledge)
Two Levels of Truth: Vyavaharika satya (conventional reality) where devotion happens, and Paramarthika satya (absolute reality) where only non-dual Brahman exists
Ishvara as Saguna Brahman: Govinda represents Brahman with attributes—a bridge to the formless absolute

The Philosophical Progression

The verses move through stages:

Verses 1-10: Wake up from delusion; see impermanence

Recognize body’s mortality
Understand wealth/family attachments are temporary
Observe life’s fleeting nature

Verses 11-20: Cultivate detachment and discrimination (viveka)

Distinguish eternal from ephemeral
Develop dispassion (vairagya)
Turn mind toward the eternal

Verses 21-31: Embrace devotion and realize the Self

Worship the Divine in various forms
Seek good company (satsang)
Recognize the non-dual reality
Attain liberation through knowledge and devotion

Key Philosophical Terms Explained

Moha: Delusion, attachment, infatuation—the root problem

Viveka: Discrimination between real and unreal

Vairagya: Dispassion, non-attachment to worldly objects

Satsang: Company of truth; being with wise, spiritually advanced beings

Mumukshutva: Intense desire for liberation

Govinda: The Divine as Lord Vishnu/Krishna—literally “one who pleases the senses and cows”

Complete Bhaj Govindam in Sanskrit (Devanagari)

Here are the key verses from Bhaj Govindam in original Sanskrit:

Core Verses by Adi Shankaracharya

श्लोक १ (Refrain Verse)

भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं
गोविन्दं भज मूढमते।
सम्प्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले
नहि नहि रक्षति डुकृञ्करणे॥

श्लोक २

मूढ जहीहि धनागमतृष्णां
कुरु सद्बुद्धिं मनसि वितृष्णाम्।
यल्लभसे निजकर्मोपात्तं
वित्तं तेन विनोदय चित्तम्॥

श्लोक ३

नारीस्तनभर नाभिदेशं
दृष्ट्वा मा गा मोहावेशम्।
एतन्मांसवसादि विकारं
मनसि विचिन्तय वारं वारम्॥

श्लोक ४

नलिनीदलगत जलमतितरलं
तद्वज्जीवितमतिशयचपलम्।
विद्धि व्याध्यभिमानग्रस्तं
लोकं शोकहतं च समस्तम्॥

श्लोक ५

यावद्वित्तोपार्जन सक्तः
तावन्निज परिवारो रक्तः।
पश्चाज्जीवति जर्जर देहे
वार्तां कोऽपि न पृच्छति गेहे॥

श्लोक ६

यावत्पवनो निवसति देहे
तावत्पृच्छति कुशलं गेहे।
गतवति वायौ देहापाये
भार्या बिभ्यति तस्मिन्काये॥

श्लोक ७

बालस्तावत्क्रीडासक्तः
तरुणस्तावत्तरुणीसक्तः।
वृद्धस्तावच्चिन्तासक्तः
परमे ब्रह्मणि कोऽपि न सक्तः॥

श्लोक ८

का ते कान्ता कस्ते पुत्रः
संसारोऽयमतीव विचित्रः।
कस्य त्वं कः कुत आयातः
तत्त्वं चिन्तय तदिह भ्रातः॥

श्लोक ९

सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वं
निस्सङ्गत्वे निर्मोहत्वम्।
निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्वं
निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः॥

श्लोक १०

वयसि गते कः कामविकारः
शुष्के नीरे कः कासारः।
क्षीणे वित्ते कः परिवारः
ज्ञाते तत्त्वे कः संसारः॥

श्लोक ११

मा कुरु धन जन यौवन गर्वं
हरति निमेषात्कालः सर्वम्।
मायामयमिदमखिलं हित्वा
ब्रह्मपदं त्वं प्रविश विदित्वा॥

श्लोक १२

दिनयामिन्यौ सायं प्रातः
शिशिरवसन्तौ पुनरायातः।
कालः क्रीडति गच्छत्यायुः
तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशावायुः॥

Selected Additional Verses

श्लोक १३

काते कान्ता धन गतचिन्ता
वातुल किं तव नास्ति नियन्ता।
त्रिजगति सज्जनसं गतिरैका
भवति भवार्णवतरणे नौका॥

श्लोक २०

गेयं गीता नाम सहस्रं
ध्येयं श्रीपति रूपमजस्रम्।
नेयं सज्जन सङ्गे चित्तं
देयं दीनजनाय च वित्तम्॥

श्लोक ३१ (Concluding)

गुरुचरणाम्बुज निर्भर भक्तः
संसारादचिराद्भव मुक्तः।
सेन्द्रियमानस नियमादेवं
द्रक्ष्यसि निज हृदयस्थं देवम्॥

Complete Bhaj Govindam in English Transliteration

Verse 1 (Refrain)

Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam
Govindam Bhaja Moodha-mate |
Samprapte Sannihite Kale
Nahi Nahi Rakshati Dukrin-karane ||

Verse 2

Moodha Jahihi Dhana-agama-trishnam
Kuru Sad-buddhim Manasi Vitrishnam |
Yallabhase Nija-karmopattam
Vittam Tena Vinodaya Chittam ||

Verse 3

Nari-stana-bhara Nabhi-desham
Drishtvaa Maa Gaa Moha-aavesham |
Etan-maansa-vasaadi Vikaaram
Manasi Vichintaya Vaaram Vaaram ||

Verse 4

Nalinee-dala-gata Jalamatitaralam
Tadvaj Jeevitamati-shaya-chapalam |
Viddhi Vyadhyabhi-mana-grastam
Lokam Shoka-hatam Cha Samastam ||

Verse 5

Yaavad-vittopaarjana Saktah
Taavan-nija Parivaaro Raktah |
Pashchaj-jeevati Jarjara Dehe
Vartaam Ko’pi Na Prichhati Gehe ||

Verse 6

Yaavat-pavano Nivasati Dehe
Taavat-prichhati Kushalam Gehe |
Gatavati Vayau Deha-apaaye
Bhaarya Bibhyati Tasmin-kaaye ||

Verse 7

Baalas-taavat Kreeda-saktah
Tarunas-taavat Taruni-saktah |
Vriddhas-taavach-chinta-saktah
Parame Brahmani Ko’pi Na Saktah ||

Verse 8

Ka Te Kanta Kaste Putrah
Samsaro’yamateva Vichitrah |
Kasya Tvam Kah Kuta Aayaatah
Tattvam Chintaya Tadiha Bhraatah ||

Verse 9

Satsangatve Nissangatvam
Nissangatve Nirmohatvam |
Nirmohatve Nishchala-tattvam
Nishchala-tattve Jeevanmuktih ||

Verse 10

Vayasi Gate Kah Kama-vikarah
Shushke Neere Kah Kaasaarah |
Ksheene Vitte Kah Parivarah
Jnaate Tattve Kah Samsaarah ||

Verse 11

Maa Kuru Dhana Jana Yauvana Garvam
Harati Nimeshat-kaalah Sarvam |
Maayaa-mayamidam-akhilam Hitvaa
Brahma-padam Tvam Pravisha Viditvaa ||

Verse 12

Dina-yaaminyau Saayam Praatah
Shishira-vasantau Punar-aayaatah |
Kaalah Kreedati Gachchhaty-aayuh
Tadapi Na Munchaty-aashaa-vaayuh ||

Verse 13

Ka Te Kanta Dhana Gata-chinta
Vaatula Kim Tava Naasti Niyantaa |
Trijagati Sajjana-sam Gatir-aikaa
Bhavati Bhavarnava-tarane Naukaa ||

Verse 20

Geyam Geeta Naama Sahasram
Dhyeyam Shree-pati Roopam-ajasram |
Neyam Sajjana Sange Chittam
Deyam Deena-janaaya Cha Vittam ||

Verse 31

Guru-charanambuja Nirbhara Bhaktah
Samsaraad-achiraad-bhava Muktah |
Sendriya-maanasa Niyamaadevam
Drakshyasi Nija Hridayastham Devam ||

Verse-by-Verse Translation and Meaning

Verse 1 (The Refrain) – Wake Up Call

Translation:
“Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, O fool! When your appointed time arrives, the rules of grammar will certainly not save you.”

Meaning: This opening salvo strikes at intellectual pride. Shankaracharya addresses the elderly scholar (and by extension, all of us) who mistake mere intellectual knowledge for wisdom. The repetition of “Bhaja Govindam” (worship Govinda) three times emphasizes urgency.

Deep Insight: Grammar represents any worldly knowledge pursued for ego rather than liberation. At death, neither degrees, nor wealth, nor social status matter—only spiritual preparation. “Govinda” (the Divine) represents the eternal reality we must connect with now.

Verse 2 – Renounce Greed

Translation:
“O fool, give up your thirst for accumulating wealth. Create in your mind detachment and discrimination. Whatever you obtain through your own past actions, be content with that and entertain your mind.”

Meaning: The endless pursuit of more wealth is identified as a primary delusion. Contentment (santosha) with what karma provides frees mental energy for spiritual pursuits.

Practical Application: This doesn’t mean avoiding work, but rather not obsessing over accumulation. Earn ethically, use appropriately, remain detached from outcomes.

Verse 3 – Transcend Physical Attraction

Translation:
“Having seen the fullness of a woman’s bosom and navel region, do not fall into delusion and infatuation. Contemplate again and again in your mind that this is merely a modification of flesh and fat.”

Meaning: Sexual attraction, while natural, becomes bondage when it dominates consciousness. The verse advocates seeing through surface appearance to biological reality.

Deeper Teaching: This applies to all sensory attractions. Look beyond appearances to the impermanent, composite nature of all physical phenomena. Not suppression, but clear seeing.

Verse 4 – Life’s Fragility

Translation:
“Know that life is as unsteady as a water drop on a lotus leaf, extremely fleeting. Understand that the entire world is consumed by disease, ego, and is stricken with sorrow.”

Meaning: The famous lotus-water metaphor captures life’s precariousness. Just as a water drop rolls off a lotus leaf with the slightest movement, life can end any moment.

Contemplation: This verse cultivates urgency without anxiety. Recognizing life’s brevity motivates spiritual practice while reducing trivial concerns.

Verse 5 – Fair-Weather Family

Translation:
“As long as you are capable of earning wealth, your family members are attached to you. Later, when you live in an old, decrepit body, no one in the household even asks about your welfare.”

Meaning: A stark observation about conditional relationships. When utility ends, affection often fades.

Balanced View: Not cynicism, but clarity. Understand relationships’ conditional aspects while still fulfilling duties. Don’t expect ultimate security from any worldly relationship.

Verse 6 – The Breath of Life

Translation:
“As long as breath dwells in the body, people inquire about your welfare at home. When breath departs from the body, even the wife fears that very same body.”

Meaning: The body we identify with so strongly becomes repulsive the moment life leaves it. What changed? Only the animating consciousness departed.

Philosophical Point: This highlights that we are not the body but the consciousness that temporarily inhabits it. Why identify with something others will fear to touch?

Verse 7 – Lifelong Distractions

Translation:
“The child is attached to play, the youth is attached to young women, the old person is attached to anxieties—but no one is attached to the Supreme Brahman.”

Meaning: A devastating observation of how each life stage has its distractions, yet few prioritize the eternal.

Call to Action: Don’t wait for old age to seek truth. Childhood play gives way to youthful passion, which yields to elderly worry—a cycle of delusion. Break it now.

Verse 8 – Who Are You Really?

Translation:
“Who is your wife? Who is your son? This world is indeed very strange. Whose are you? From where have you come? O brother, contemplate that truth here.”

Meaning: Existential questions that shatter comfortable assumptions. Relationships exist temporarily; our true nature transcends all roles.

Contemplative Practice: Regularly ask: “Who am I beyond all my roles, relationships, and identifications?” This inquiry leads to self-knowledge.

Verse 9 – The Liberation Path (Most Famous Verse)

Translation:
“From good company comes non-attachment. From non-attachment comes freedom from delusion. From freedom from delusion comes steadiness in truth. From steadiness in truth comes liberation while living.”

Meaning: This verse outlines the complete path to enlightenment in four progressive steps:

Satsang → 2. Detachment → 3. Clarity → 4. Liberation

Profound Teaching: Spiritual company (satsang) is the foundation. It naturally produces detachment, which clears delusion, revealing unchanging reality, culminating in jivanmukti (liberation while alive).

Verse 10 – Rhetorical Questions

Translation:
“When youth has passed, where is lust? When water has dried up, where is the lake? When wealth is depleted, where is the family? When truth is known, where is the world?”

Meaning: Four parallel rhetorical questions showing dependencies. When the cause disappears, the effect vanishes.

Ultimate Question: The final question is most significant. When ultimate truth is realized, the suffering world (samsara) is recognized as appearance, not ultimate reality.

Verse 11 – Pride’s Impermanence

Translation:
“Do not be proud of wealth, people, or youth. Time takes away everything in the blink of an eye. Having renounced this entire illusory world, knowing it to be maya, enter the state of Brahman.”

Meaning: Three common sources of pride—wealth, social connections, youth—are demolished. Time (kala) is the great equalizer.

Final Instruction: Having seen through appearances, consciously enter Brahman-consciousness through meditation and knowledge.

Verse 12 – Time’s Play

Translation:
“Day and night, dusk and dawn, winter and spring come repeatedly. Time plays, life passes away, yet the wind of desire does not cease.”

Meaning: Seasons cycle endlessly; time flows inexorably. We watch it all yet remain trapped in desire’s storm.

Irony: We observe life passing but don’t apply the lesson. The “wind of desire” (aashaa-vaayu) continues despite clear evidence of impermanence.

Verse 13 – The Only Refuge

Translation:
“Who is your beloved? Where is your anxiety about wealth? O mad one, do you have no controller? In the three worlds, the company of good people alone is the boat for crossing the ocean of worldly existence.”

Meaning: Addresses someone anxiously pursuing relationships and wealth without self-control. The solution: spiritual company (satsang).

Navigation Metaphor: Worldly life is an ocean; satsang is the boat. Without it, we drown in suffering.

Verse 20 – Four Spiritual Practices

Translation:
“The Bhagavad Gita and Vishnu Sahasranama should be chanted; the form of Lord Vishnu should be meditated upon constantly; the mind should be led into the company of good people; wealth should be given to the needy.”

Meaning: Four concrete practices:

Scriptural study (Gita, Sahasranama)
Meditation on the Divine
Seeking satsang
Charity to those in need

Balanced Path: Combines individual practice (study, meditation) with social dimensions (satsang, charity).

Verse 31 – Final Liberation

Translation:
“Being devoted to the lotus feet of the Guru with pure heart, be liberated soon from the cycle of rebirth. Through control of the senses and mind, you will see the Lord dwelling in your own heart.”

Meaning: The concluding verse emphasizes guru’s importance and self-discipline leading to the ultimate realization: the Divine resides within.

Complete Teaching: External worship of Govinda, philosophical understanding, and inward realization unite—the inner deity is discovered through devotion, discipline, and grace.

Read this also :

How to Study and Recite Bhaj Govindam

Study Approaches

1. Reflective Reading

Read one verse daily in Sanskrit and translation
Contemplate its meaning for 10-15 minutes
Journal insights and personal applications
This method takes 31 days for complete study

2. Thematic Study

Group verses by theme (impermanence, detachment, devotion, knowledge)
Study all verses on one theme together
Understand the complete teaching on each topic
Excellent for deeper philosophical understanding

3. Memorization Method

Memorize one verse weekly
Recite during walks, commutes, before sleep
Internalized verses arise spontaneously when needed
Ancient tradition for absorbing wisdom

4. Commentary Study

Read traditional commentaries by scholars
Compare interpretations
Deepen philosophical understanding
Recommended after basic familiarity

Recitation Practice

Daily Practice:

Duration: 10-15 minutes for complete recitation
Time: Early morning after meditation, or evening
Method: Chant in Sanskrit (even imperfectly) or recite transliteration
Focus: Meaning over pronunciation initially

Chanting Tips:

Begin with Om and invocation
Maintain steady, meditative pace
Recite with feeling, not mechanically
Conclude with silent contemplation

Group Study:

Join or form Vedanta study groups
Discuss verses’ applications
Share insights and challenges
Collective study accelerates understanding

With Music:

Many beautiful musical versions exist
Singing aids memorization
Devotional mood enhances reception
Listen to traditional artists

Integration Practices

Morning Reflection: Choose one verse as your daily contemplation theme

Evening Review: Before sleep, recall the day through Bhaj Govindam’s lens—where was attachment? Where was clarity?

Decision-Making: When facing choices, ask: “What would the wisdom of Bhaj Govindam suggest?”

Journaling: Write how each verse applies to your current life situation

Spiritual Benefits and Practical Wisdom

Spiritual Benefits

Philosophical Clarity: Understand the nature of reality, self, and liberation with precision

Detachment (Vairagya): Develop healthy non-attachment to outcomes while fulfilling duties

Discrimination (Viveka): Ability to distinguish eternal from ephemeral, real from unreal

Devotion (Bhakti): Despite intellectual rigor, cultivate heart-centered love for the Divine

Fear Reduction: Understanding death’s true nature reduces existential anxiety

Liberation Preparation: Direct orientation toward moksha through knowledge and devotion

Mental Peace: Reduced obsession with worldly outcomes brings calm

Practical Life Wisdom

Career: Work skillfully but without identity-attachment; don’t let professional success create pride

Relationships: Love fully while recognizing the temporary nature of all connections; reduces unrealistic expectations

Wealth: Earn ethically, spend wisely, give generously, remain unattached to accumulation

Aging: Face life stages with equanimity; old age becomes opportunity for wisdom, not merely decline

Health: Care for the body as a spiritual instrument without over-identifying with it

Time Management: Recognizing impermanence creates urgency for what truly matters

Crisis Response: Philosophical grounding provides stability during external turbulence

Modern Applications

Consumerism: Verse 2’s teaching on contentment directly counters advertising’s manufactured desires

Social Media: Verses on transient relationships help navigate digital connection’s superficiality

Career Anxiety: Understanding that all worldly positions are temporary reduces achievement obsession

Relationship Expectations: Verse 5-6 create realistic expectations while maintaining love

Mortality Awareness: Rather than morbid, verses on death inspire living meaningfully now

Success Addiction: Verse 11 on pride prevents achievement from becoming ego-inflation

Shankaracharya Temples and Mathas (Addresses & Maps)

The Four Cardinal Mathas Established by Adi Shankaracharya

1. Sringeri Sharada Peetham (South)
Location: Sringeri, Chikkamagaluru District, Karnataka 577139, India
Google Maps: Search “Sringeri Sharada Peetham”
Website: www.sringeri.net
Phone: +91-8265-250125
Established: 8th century CE
Current Pontiff: Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal
Significance: First matha established; dedicated to Goddess Sharada
Veda Assigned: Yajur Veda
Best Time: September-February; Navaratri celebrations

2. Dwaraka Peetha (West)
Location: Dwaraka, Gujarat 361335, India
Google Maps: Search “Dwaraka Sharada Peetha”
Established: 8th century CE
Current Pontiff: Swami Sadananda Saraswati
Significance: Western cardinal matha
Veda Assigned: Sama Veda
Motto: “Atma Bodha” (Knowledge of Self)

3. Govardhan Peetha, Puri (East)
Location: Puri, Odisha 752002, India
Google Maps: Search “Govardhan Math Puri”
Phone: +91-6752-222664
Current Pontiff: Swami Nischalananda Saraswati
Significance: Eastern cardinal matha; near Jagannath Temple
Veda Assigned: Rig Veda
Motto: “Jagad Guru” (Teacher of the World)

4. Jyotir Math, Badrinath (North)
Location: Joshimath, Chamoli District, Uttarakhand 246443, India
Google Maps: Search “Jyotir Math Joshimath”
Current Pontiff: (Currently contested)
Significance: Northern cardinal matha; Himalayan monastery
Veda Assigned: Atharva Veda
Best Time: May-October (closed in winter)
Motto: “Aham Brahmasmi” (I am Brahman)

Other Important Shankaracharya Sites

5. Kaladi – Shankaracharya’s Birthplace
Location: Kaladi, Ernakulam District, Kerala 683574, India
Google Maps: Search “Adi Shankaracharya Keerthi Sthamba Mandapam Kaladi”
Website: www.sringeri.net (manages the site)
Features:

Birthplace temple and memorial
Sharada Devi Temple
Shankaracharya Museum
Eight-story meditation tower

6. Kedarnath Temple
Location: Kedarnath, Uttarakhand 246445, India
Google Maps: Search “Kedarnath Temple”
Significance: Where Shankaracharya attained samadhi (left his body) at age 32
Note: High-altitude temple; accessible May-November only
Trek: 16 km from Gaurikund or helicopter available

7. Omkareshwar – Where Shankaracharya Met His Guru
Location: Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh 451115, India
Google Maps: Search “Omkareshwar Temple”
Significance: Where young Shankara met his guru Govinda Bhagavatpada in a cave
Features: Sacred island; 12 Jyotirlinga site

International Vedanta Centers

8. Chinmaya Mission Headquarters (India)
Location: Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai 400072, India
Phone: +91-22-2857-2367
Google Maps: Search “Chinmaya Mission Mumbai”
Website: www.chinmayamission.com
Founded: Swami Chinmayananda (1951)
Programs: Vedanta courses, Bhaj Govindam study groups

9. Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Pennsylvania (USA)
Location: 651 Route 115, Saylorsburg, PA 18353, USA
Phone: +1 (570) 992-2339
Google Maps: Search “Arsha Vidya Gurukulam Pennsylvania”
Website: www.arshavidya.org
Founded: Swami Dayananda Saraswati
Programs: Residential Vedanta courses

10. Vedanta Society of Southern California (USA)
Location: 1946 Vedanta Place, Hollywood, CA 90068, USA
Phone: +1 (323) 465-7114
Google Maps: Search “Vedanta Society Hollywood”
Website: www.vedanta.org
Tradition: Ramakrishna-Vivekananda lineage
Programs: Regular Vedanta classes, library

11. Vedanta Centre, London (UK)
Location: 5 Burghley Road, Bourne End, Hertfordshire SG10 6RS, UK
Google Maps: Search “Vedanta Centre UK”
Website: www.vedantauk.com
Programs: Weekend retreats, Vedanta study

12. Chinmaya Mission, Sydney (Australia)
Location: Chinmaya Prabha, 1-5 Conie Avenue, Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153
Phone: +61 2 9659 3118
Google Maps: Search “Chinmaya Mission Sydney”
Website: www.sydney.chinmayamission.org.au

13. Vedanta Cultural Centre, Canada
Location: 5428 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON L7L 1E1, Canada
Phone: +1 (905) 632-9602
Google Maps: Search “Vedanta Cultural Centre Burlington”
Website: www.vedantacentrecanada.ca

Study Resources Worldwide

Swami Dayananda Ashram, Rishikesh: Advanced Sanskrit and Vedanta studies
Kailash Ashram, Rishikesh: Traditional gurukula training
Chinmaya International Foundation, Kerala: Academic Vedanta studies
Arsha Vidya Research Centre, Chennai: Scholarly research

Visiting Tips

What to Expect:

Simple, austere environments focused on study
Daily schedules with meditation, classes, seva (service)
Vegetarian sattvic meals
Modest dress codes strictly enforced
Silence and contemplative atmosphere

How to Visit:

Many mathas welcome sincere seekers
Some require advance permission
Residential study programs available
Donations appreciated but not mandatory
Respect monastic protocols

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Bhaj Govindam and who composed it?
A: Bhaj Govindam is a 31-verse Sanskrit philosophical-devotional hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. It combines devotion to Lord Govinda with Advaita Vedanta philosophy, urging detachment from worldly delusions.

Q: What does “Bhaj Govindam” mean?
A: “Bhaj Govindam” means “Worship Govinda (the Divine).” The opening verse repeats this three times as an urgent call to prioritize spiritual practice over mere intellectual pursuits before death arrives.

Q: How long does it take to recite Bhaj Govindam?
A: Complete recitation of all 31 verses takes approximately 10-15 minutes at moderate pace. Individual verses can be studied separately for daily contemplation.

Q: What is the central teaching of Bhaj Govindam?
A: The central teaching emphasizes life’s impermanence, the futility of worldly attachments, and urgent need for spiritual practice through devotion and self-knowledge before death arrives.

Q: Can I recite Bhaj Govindam if I don’t know Sanskrit?
A: Yes. Use English transliteration and focus on understanding the meaning. While Sanskrit has special potency, sincere contemplation of the philosophy in any language provides benefits.

Q: What is the difference between Bhaj Govindam and Bhagavad Gita?
A: The Gita is a comprehensive 700-verse dialogue covering all aspects of dharma and yoga. Bhaj Govindam is a concise 31-verse hymn focused specifically on renouncing delusion and worshipping the Divine.

Q: Why does Shankaracharya emphasize devotion despite teaching non-dualism?
A: Devotion purifies the mind and makes it receptive to non-dual knowledge. For most seekers, bhakti provides an accessible path that naturally leads to jnana (knowledge).

Q: What are the main benefits of studying Bhaj Govindam?
A: Benefits include philosophical clarity about reality’s nature, healthy detachment from outcomes, discrimination between eternal and temporary, devotional development, reduced fear of death, and orientation toward liberation.

Q: How should beginners approach Bhaj Govindam?
A: Start by reading all verses with translation to get overview. Then study one verse daily with deep contemplation. Join study groups. Listen to musical versions. Apply teachings to daily life situations.

Q: Is Bhaj Govindam appropriate for householders or only renunciates?
A: Highly appropriate for householders. It teaches detachment while fulfilling duties, not abandoning responsibilities. The wisdom helps navigate worldly life without losing spiritual focus.

Conclusion

Bhaj Govindam stands as one of humanity’s most powerful wake-up calls, as relevant today as when Adi Shankaracharya composed it 1,200 years ago. In just 31 verses, this extraordinary hymn demolishes our comfortable delusions, exposes life’s radical impermanence, and urgently redirects attention to what ultimately matters—knowing our true nature and worshipping the Divine.

The genius of Bhaj Govindam lies in its integration. It doesn’t merely philosophize about non-duality; it combines rigorous Advaita Vedanta with heart-opening devotion to Govinda. It doesn’t advocate running away from life but seeing through life’s appearances while fulfilling our duties with detachment. It offers both the problem diagnosis (delusion, attachment, identification with the impermanent) and the solution (discrimination, devotion, self-knowledge).

Whether you’re a student in Singapore or Sydney, a professional in New York or Dubai, a retiree in London or Toronto, these verses speak directly to universal human conditions—our attachments, our fears, our forgetfulness of what’s essential. The elderly scholar memorizing grammar rules represents all of us when we prioritize the secondary over the primary, the means over the end, the path over the destination.

Begin your journey with Bhaj Govindam today. Select one verse that resonates most powerfully with your current situation. Contemplate it daily for a week. Let Shankaracharya’s words be the hammer that shatters your particular delusions. Join the millions across centuries who have found in these verses both the diagnosis of their suffering and the pathway to freedom.

The clock is ticking. Death approaches for us all. Grammar rules won’t save us. Stock portfolios won’t save us. Social status won’t save us. Only knowing who we truly are beyond all identifications, only devotion to the eternal Divine, only waking up from the dream of separation can provide the liberation we ultimately seek.

Will you answer Shankaracharya’s call? Will you begin contemplating Bhaj Govindam this week? Share your insights and experiences in the comments below.

Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam, Govindam Bhaja Moodhamate!