Brahma Samhita
The Brahma Samitha (Praises by Brahma) is a Pancaratra
Text (the Vaishnava Agamas
dedicate to worship of Lord Narayana);
composed of verses of prayer spoken by Lord
Brahma glorifying The Supreme Lord
Shri Krishna (Govinda) at the beginning of The Creation. Lord Brahma,
the first disciple of the disciple succession started by Lord Shri Krishna. Lord
Brahma, who has been given the task of material creation and checking the
mode of passion, is himself created by Lord
Shri Krishna, through His navel.
Throughout Kaliyuga, the present age of quarrel
and hypocrisy, the Brahma Samhita
was relatively unknown, until the appearance of Lord Chaitanya, who recovered only Chapter 5 of the entire text. As a result, Chapter 5 is the chapter that is read, studied, and sung ever
since. Spiritual initiation ceremonies are often began by chanting the fifth
chapter of the Brahma Samhita in
unison.
Brahma
Samhita presents methods of devotional service. Brahma Samhita explains the Garbhodakasayi Visnu, the origin of the
Gayatri Mantra, the form of Govinda and His transcendental position
and abode, the living entities, the Goddess
Durga, the meaning of austerity, the
five elements and the vision of transcendental love enabling one to see the Lord Shri Krishna.
In Brahma Samhita, Lord Shri Krishna described the science of devotion
to Lord Brahma. In the last two
verses, Shri Krishna said:
Abandoning
all meritorious performances serve Me with faith. The realization will
correspond to the nature of one’s faith. The people of the world act
ceaselessly in pursuance of some ideal. By meditating on Me by means of those
deeds one will obtain devotion characterized by love in the shape of the
supreme service. (Verse No. 61)
“Listen,
O Vaydhi, I am the seed, i.e., the fundamental principle, of this world of
animate and inanimate objects. I am pradhäna [the substance of matter], I am
prakåti [material cause] and I am puruña [efficient cause]. This fiery energy
that belongs specially to the Brahman, that inheres in you, has also been
conferred by Me. It is by bearing this fiery energy that you regulate this
phenomenal world of animate and inanimate objects.” (Verse No. 62)
Achintya-BhedAbheda-Tattva
Brahma-samhita
revealed the philosophical conclusion of achintya-bhedabheda-tattva
(simultaneous oneness and difference). Achintya
means "inconceivable", bheda means "difference" and abheda
means "oneness". There are
two conflicting philosophies
regarding the relationship between the Living
Beings (Jiva Aatma, Soul) and God (Ishvara, Baghwan, SuperSoul).
Advaita
School of thought
|
"individual
soul and God are one and the same"
|
Dvaita
School of thought
|
“individual
soul and God are eternally separate"
|
The philosophy of acintya-bhedabheda-tattva merge the
mystery that God is simultaneously "one with and different from His
creation”.
"One
who knows God knows that the impersonal conception and personal conception are
simultaneously present in everything and that there is no contradiction.
Therefore Lord Chaitanya established His sublime doctrine: acintya
bheda-and-abheda-tattva -- simultaneous oneness and difference." (A. C. BhaktiVedanta Swami Srila Parbhupada)
Illustrious
Example:
The analogy often used as an explanation
in this context in the relationship between the Sun and the Sunshine. For example both the sun and sunshine are
part of the same reality, but there is a great difference between having a ray
of sunshine in your room, and being in close proximity to the sun itself.
Qualitatively the Sun and the Sunshine are not different, but as quantities
they are very different. This analogy is applied to the Jiva and God, the Jiva
being of a similar quality to the Supreme Being, but not sharing the qualities
to an infinite extent, as would the Personality of Godhead himself. Thus there
is a difference between the souls and the Supreme Lord.
Sources: Google.com, Brahma Samitha Chapter 5, Wikipedia. (If any error in above article, please highlight and feel free to contact at muneshkumarkella@gmail.com)