ADI SHANKARA THE OCEAN OF KNOWLEDGE Introduction Adi Shankara was born thousand years before this century. He was born in a Brahmin family, but he lost his father at the very young stage of life. His birth place is called “KALADY”, a small village situated in KERALA of SOUTH INDIA. Up to six years he was brought up by his mother. He was willing to take renunciation by that age of six itself. However, his mother refused him for Ashram life of renunciation and penance. One day, when the boy Shankara was taking bath in the river, a crocodile caught one of his legs. That information went into the ears of his mother. His mother ran to the riverbank and saw her son struggling for life. At that stage also, Sri Shankara told his mother, that if she could permit him for a life of renunciation Lord Vishnu would save my life from this crocodile. His mother had no other go. She gave permission for the boy to take renunciation. By surprise an elephant came into that place and fought with the crocodile. The crocodile slipped into the river leaving the boy unhurt. From that time he became Sanyasi (sage/saint/monk). It was meant, that a person who left the earthly pleasures. But Sri Shankara promised his mother that he would come to her at the time of her last days . He traveled through out India and visited all holy places. Adi Shankara had composed and written many Sanskrit slogas of philosophy. Bhaja Govindam is a collection of poems written by Adi Shankara and his desiples, Sri Padma pathar and Sri Todakachariyar. Baja Govindham plainly explains the sorrowful and changeable nature of the worldly life of people. Bhaja Govindham follows with 31Slogas, worshipping Sri Vishnu in other name Sri Govindha. Sloga No.1 Oh fool, the time of death is harmful, what is the use of learning Sanskrit grammar like “Duklinkarane”.The Grammatical verses will not save any one when the death occurs. So, through the mind, through the words and through physique worship the “Lord Govindha”. Always worship by chanting the words “Lord Govindha”. Sloga No.2 Oh fool!! A person gets wealth through his past births and contributions. Avoid strong desire for money, wealth and property. Be satisfied with what that comes ultimately. Do not get confused and get strong desire and become insane. The deeds of past birth have much attachment to present life. Sloga No.3 Oh fool!! A young woman’s breasts and hip are made by flesh and excessive protein. Do not get infatuation or lust by looking at them! Think with patience how these forms come into vision. Control the mind by minute to minute and second to second. Think about the basic elements of those physical anatomy, then the lust and sexual feeling will not arise. Sloga No.4 In the lotus leaf, the dew drops of water in the early morning, which exists for a few seconds. Human life is impermanent. This world has strange nature. Every where Ego and Selfishness and disease appear and exist. For this destructive worldly pleasure don’t wander with hunger. Sloga No.5 When a person has ability to earn and make income, his relatives and others will love him much. When that person becomes unable to make money, wealth due to old age, his relatives and others start to neglect him, and they would not ask his well fare. In old age that person would fall bed-ridden due to disease. No one would come near to that person. Sloga No.6 While that bird named ‘soul’ fly away from one’s physique, no body would care about that person. With whom that person shared the pleasure would get afraid to go near to that dead body. These are temporary contacts with close relatives and not permanent. The flower like words from them would cease. Nothing in this world is eternal. Sloga No.7 When a person born and reach to boy hood, he spends his time through playful activities. When a person attains young, he goes behind woman for pleasure. When a person attains old age, he spends his time through thinking about past with tears. These are the three stages of one’s worldly life. Even then no one spends his time about thinking of the God. No one leads his life towards the Almighty. Sloga No.8 Who is one’s son? Who is one’s wife? This world is nothing but strange trap. Where from a person comes into this world? Who are the relatives when a person has not entered into this world? Engage into that “Deep thought”! Come to realize this physique is not one’s nature! Then how this birth came? Search through philosophy. How and where this deep-mist that disclose the “Truth” of one’s “Self”. Sloga No.9 Have and join with the true devotees of God! Join with justful people. Then the truth and revealation will come through this attachment! Then the imaginary relations and attraction would destroy. By that time a person will achieve eternal pleasure and will be a known one to all. Even while living in this world a person will become a saint or devotee of God and attains wisdom. Then those people know and understand about the eternal pleasure. Swamy ji Sri Selvam Siddhar