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)