(By Achala Bhakthan)
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GOPIKAA GHEETHAM
Gopikaa Geetham is the
celestial song sung by Vruja Gopis in praise of Lord Krishna. This
projects the depth of Viraha Thaapam suffered by Gopis when Krishna
diappears and their pure Prema Bhakthi and the highest spiritual heights
attained by them. This song also brings out the Sringaara Rasam of Gopis
with Krishna. This finds its place in the midst of DEEPA
PRADKSHINAM, .The same tathwa is given in the form
of RAASAKREEDA in the Tenth
Skantham(middle) of Bhaagavatham. This is to be sung with devotion, in
rapt attention and reverence without any Thaala or sounds. Tears should
flow from the eyes in Bhakthi. Normally this is sung in
CHENCHURUTTI & PUNNAGAVARAALI raagaas which are so
touching and denotes
devotion.
The mythological story
goes like this:- Gopis who enthralled in the presence of Krishna with
ecstasy during the Raasa Leela, thoughtless about their worldly duties,
relations and existence and always longed for Krishna's company, had
developed an EGO, i.e. each Gopi claiming that Krishna is hers and hers
alone and He likes/loves her only. This possessiveness is Saathwic Ego as
it relates to Possessiveness towards Lord. Krishna considers it the right
time to help Gopis caste away this EGO too and give them the Knowledge
(i.e. make them realise the real nature). He disappears temporarily from
there midst and made Himself not reachable by them. At this time, Gopis
felt loneliness and could not concentrate on their work and grieved over
the absence of Krishna. They realised that without Krishna, nothing moves,
nor is it possible to do anything. And it is the presence of Krishna that
made them happy and active. Even Living became a torture without Krishna.
Having realised this, they started wandering in the Kaalindhi River bank,
where they used to be in the company of Krishna and craved for his
appearance by admitting all their ignorance and egotism. The opening sloka
brings out the import:
THANMANASKAA:THADAALAAPAA: PUNA:
PULINAM
AAGATHYA Meaning:
Thinking about THAT,
Singing about the Gunaas of THAT, Remembering about the Leelaas
(Playfulness) of THAT, Concentrating on THAT, Singing in praise of THAT,
without a bit of self-feeling (loss of EGO), (Gopis) kept on visiting
Kaalindhi river banks again and again (repeatedly) always in the memory of
Krishna and finding in every Sthaavara Jangama Vasthus Krishna's figure
only, longing for the return (appearance) of Krishna, of course by singing
the Gopikaa Geetham song. The word 'THAT' used here refers to Paramaathma
Thathwa, i.e. in the form of KRISHNA here.
The Song : JAYATHI THEDIKAM KRISHNA JANMANAA VRUJA: is
to be sung in full, in raaga Chenchurutti &
Punnagavaraali by sitting
around the Deepam. Despite their cry, Krishna did not appear. YETHESUJAATHA
CHARANAAMBRUHAM
STHANESHU Then Gopikaas sung the
song of Saranaagathi (total surrender) - (to be sung in raaga Sinhendra Mahyamam): Philosophical Import of
Gopikaa Geetham:
Though Mythology
projected Gopikaa Geetham as the song sung by Gopis, there is a message
for all of us. Gopis are the embodiment of Bhakthi towards Krishna.All of
us, the Jeevaathmaas, must become Gopis to attain Paramaathma (Krishna).
Jeevaathma is a spark coming out of the Paramaatma (self-willed leela of
Paramaathma) but having got entangled in the Samsaara Chakra by Maaya,
forgot about the real nature and is sunk in the materialistic pleasures
which are impermanent. Jeevathma should realise the real nature and try to
attain Mukthi, i.e. the knowledge of the Brahman and ultimately should
reach the abode of Paramaathma. This should be our aim while singing
Gopikaa Geetham. The Poorva Sloka before Gopikaa Geetham is full of
philosophical import and conveys as to how the Bhaktha should address the
Lord and what Bhaava one should have while singing Gopikaa Geetham.
Every human being
entangled by the worldly pleasures possesses Ego, a basic negative
quality, which hinders the human evolutionary process. A Bhaktha may cast
away all worldly pleasures and relationship with the materialistic world
and live an ascetic life but cannot discard the EGO, which the Lord alone
can help to discard. The Gopikaa Geetham song is the way by which God
helps Gopis (Jeevaathma) to cast away the EGO. The Lord helps Bhakthaas
only when they, in total surrender, calls for His help, without AATHMA
ABHIMAANA, i.e. without identification with Deha, Manas, Chittham, Buddhi,
Ahamkaar.
Pleased with the
Bhakthi and total surrender of Gopis, Krishna appears before them.The
following slokas, detail the reappearance of the Lord: Meaning:
When Gopis lamented
thus by singing in praise of Him in touching raaga and laya, without Ego
and in total surrender, they visualised the Lord, who appeared before them
with a most beautiful figure, with a smiling face, wearing Peethambaram,
conquering Manmattha (the Lord of Love) in beauty. Meaning:,p> On getting the darshan of the Lord, who appeared before them
(Self-willed), the Gopis got up in a jerk as if their bodies were inert
(dead) and suddenly as though the Praana entered their body
again.
KRISHNASYA MUKHA
LAAVANYA- Meaning:
Looking at the beauty
of Krishna's face and the moving eyes in smile, they enjoyed the scene
again and again, as though they are ever unsatisfied and wanted more and
more of it. They never wanted to come out of that Ecstasy and remained in
His presence in total BLISS.
Then Krishna through
Raasakreeda, makes them realise that each one is of Krishna Swaroopa, i.e.
He is in every one and also stays alone (in Fullness) as unattached and
unbound. This is clearly brought out in the song after Gopikaa
Geetham: This is the description
of RAASAKREEDA Brahman, the Poorna
Swaroopa is here and there (but unbound and unattached) in Poornathwa and
when thus divided, the divisions are all Poornam and what is left behind
also remains as Poornam. Meaning: God is everywhere in fullness (unbound
and unattached) and also stays as the center of activities in
fullness.
The songs that follow
are all explained in Deepa Pradakshina Paddhathi, which is concluded with
the other sampradaaya songs.
Then we perform
Dolothsavam, the Union with God (Aatma Nivedhanam). Full description of
Dolothsavam is handled in a separate article.
THATVICHESHTAA:
THADAATHMIKAA:
THADGUNAAN EVA
GAAYANTHYA:
NA AATHMAAKAARAANI SASMARU
KAALINDYAA: KRISHNA BHAAVANAA:
SAMAVETHA JAGU:
KRISHNAM
THADAAGAMANA KAANSHITHAA:
BHEETHA:
SANAI: PRIYA DADHEE MAHI
KARKASESHU
THENAAADAVEEM ATASI THAD VYATTHATHE NA
KIMSWITHU
KOORPADIBHI: BHRAMATHI DHEE: BHAVADAAYUSHAM NA:
THWAM EVA MAMA SARANAM KRISHNA
THWAAM VINAA ANYAM NA JAANE
ITHI GOPYA: PRAGAAYANTHYA:
PRALAPANDYASCHA CHITHRADHAA
RURUDU: SUSWARAM RAAJAN
KRISHNA DARSANA LAALASAA:
THAASAAM AAVEERA BHOOCCHOWRI:
SMAYAMAANA MUKHAMBUJA:
PEETHAAMBARADHARA: SRAGVEE
SAKSHAATH MANMATTHA MANMATTHA:
THAM VILOKYA AAGATHAM PRESHTTAM
PREETHUTHPHULLA DHRUSO ABALAA:
UTTHASTTHU: YUGAPATH SARVAA:
THANWA: PRAANAM IVAAGATHAM
SUDHAAM NAYANA
BHAAJANAI:
APEEYA APEEYA NA
ATHRUPYAN
SANTHA: THATHCHARANAM YETTHA
ANGANAAM ANGANAAM ANDHARE MAADHAVA:
MAADHAVAM MAADHAVAM CHA ANDHARENA ANGANAA
ITTHAM AAKALPITHE MANDALE MADHYAGA:
SANJAGOW VENUNAA DEVAKI NANDANA:
POORNAMATHA: POORNAMIDAM
POORNAATH POORNAM UTHASCHYATHE
POORNASYA POORNAM AADAAYA
POORNAMEVA AVASISHYATHE
