5) GOVINDAM ADI PURUSAM - From the Brahma Samhita – Hymns of Lord Brahma

The Brahma Samhita scripture was discovered by the great Avatar and Saint, Sri Caitanya during His pilgrimage to South India in the 15 th century. It is said to be the fifth chapter of the original hymns of Brahma in one hundred chapters, recited at the dawn of creation in praise of the Lord. The Brahma Samhita is considered essential among Vedic literatures, since it contains the gist of all Vaishnava conclusions.

According to the Puranas, the material cosmos begins with Brahma, a multi-headed demigod from the highest planet (Brahmaloka) in the cosmos. He is known as Pitamaha, the Grandfather, as he is the first created being as well as the original instructor (guru) of the sages.

Vaishnavas consider Brahma to be the Lord’s manifestation (guna-avatar) who presides over the mode of passion. His passionate nature is put to work, and he is engaged in creation. Thus he is the creator god and the progenitor of mankind, as opposed to Vishnu, who is seen as the preserver (and master of the mode of goodness), and Shiva, the destroyer (who presides over the mode of ignorance). In popular Hinduism, this triad of avatars (trimurti) is viewed as merely diverse forms of one and the same God.

Brahma’s enlightenment is described that at the dawn of creation, he takes birth on a lotus that sprouts from the divine navel of Vishnu. Finding himself in a new world, Brahma is ignorant of both his own identity and the purpose of life. In an attempt to understand his origin, he climbs down the stem of the spiritual lotus, but finds no answer to his dilemma. Finally he hears the voice of his Lord, Vishnu, call out two syllables: “ta-pa” (literally “austerity” or “penance”). These syllables are pregnant with meaning and Brahma obeys by performing austerity in the form of meditation for one thousand celestial years (billions of earth years). At the end of this period, Brahma is able to see the Lord’s abode and then the Supreme Lord Himself. The Lord recites for him the four seminal verses of the Shrimad Bhagavatam – the verses which formulate the meaning of life. The purification that comes from hearing His voice allows Brahma to create the material universe.

In his Brahma-samhita (5.24-29), Lord Brahma adds details to the version of his enlightenment. According to Brahma, at the beginning of time he is engulfed in total darkness and is bewildered about his service as creator of the universe. At that time, Sarasvati, the divine consort of the Lord, His feminine half, appears before Brahma. She instructs him to meditate upon the confidential Kama-bija-mantra, promising that by its recitation he will receive all that he needs. After meditating on this mantra for one hundred celestial years, Brahma hears the sound of Krishna’s flute. He tries to reproduce the sound with his own lips, but instead finds that he is uttering the esoteric Kama-gayatri-mantra. This mantra purifies him of all illusion, and he is able to proceed with his service of creating the material universes on Krishna’s behalf.

Brahma begins each day by meditating on the Supreme Lord. He prays that he may “engage in the Lord’s service in the creation of the material world,” and that he may not be materially affected by his works, for thus he “may be able to give up the false prestige of being the creator.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam 3.9.23).

This song consists of merely four verses of this important scripture.

cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-
laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam
laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the first progenitor who is tending the cows, yielding all desire, in abodes built with spiritual gems, surrounded by millions of purpose trees, always served with great affection by hundreds of thousands of gopis.

venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksam
barhavatamsam asitambuda-sundarangam
kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-visesa-sobham
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept in playing on His flute, with blooming eyes like lotus petals with head decked with peacock' s feather, with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and His unique loveliness charming millions of Cupids.

alola-candraka-lasad-vanamalya-vamsi-
ratnangadam pranaya-keli-kala-vilasam
syamam tri-bhanga-lalitam niyata-prakasam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, round whose neck is swinging a garland of flowers beautified with the moon-locket, whose two hands are adorned with the flute and jeweled ornaments, who always revels in pastimes of love, whose graceful threefold-bending form of Syamasundara is eternally manifest.

angani yasya sakalendriya-vrtti-manti
pasyanti panti kalayanti ciram jaganti
ananda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord whose transcendental form is full of bliss, truth, substantiality and is thus full of the most dazzling splendor. Each of the limbs of that transcendental figure possesses in Himself, the full-fledged functions of all the organs, and eternally sees, maintains and manifests the infinite universes, both spiritual and mundane.