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What is Gopika Geetham, the meaning and significance, the important slokas and meaning, etc. discussed in detail by Achalabhakthan

GOPIKAA GEETHAM PADDHATHI

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:
                     THATVICHESHTAA: THADAATHMIKAA:
            THADGUNAAN EVA GAAYANTHYA:
                   NA AATHMAAKAARAANI SASMARU    

 PUNA: PULINAM AAGATHYA 
                    KAALINDYAA: KRISHNA BHAAVANAA:
       SAMAVETHA JAGU: KRISHNAM
            THADAAGAMANA KAANSHITHAA:

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
         BHEETHA: SANAI: PRIYA DADHEE MAHI KARKASESHU
         THENAAADAVEEM ATASI THAD VYATTHATHE NA KIMSWITHU 
         KOORPADIBHI: BHRAMATHI DHEE: BHAVADAAYUSHAM NA:

Then Gopikaas sung the song of Saranaagathi (total surrender) - (to be sung in raaga Sinhendra Mahyamam): 

             THWAM EVA MAMA SARANAM KRISHNA
             THWAAM VINAA ANYAM NA JAANE

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: 

              ITHI GOPYA: PRAGAAYANTHYA:
              PRALAPANDYASCHA CHITHRADHAA
              RURUDU:  SUSWARAM RAAJAN
              KRISHNA DARSANA LAALASAA:    

              THAASAAM  AAVEERA BHOOCCHOWRI:
              SMAYAMAANA  MUKHAMBUJA:
              PEETHAAMBARADHARA: SRAGVEE
              SAKSHAATH MANMATTHA MANMATTHA:

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. 

               THAM VILOKYA AAGATHAM PRESHTTAM
               PREETHUTHPHULLA  DHRUSO  ABALAA:
               UTTHASTTHU:  YUGAPATH  SARVAA:
               THANWA:  PRAANAM  IVAAGATHAM

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-
               SUDHAAM  NAYANA  BHAAJANAI:
               APEEYA  APEEYA  NA  ATHRUPYAN
               SANTHA: THATHCHARANAM  YETTHA

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: 

          ANGANAAM ANGANAAM ANDHARE MAADHAVA:
          MAADHAVAM MAADHAVAM CHA ANDHARENA ANGANAA
          ITTHAM AAKALPITHE MANDALE MADHYAGA:
          SANJAGOW VENUNAA DEVAKI NANDANA:

This is the description of RAASAKREEDA Scene in Brindhaavan wherein Krishna formed a circle by placing in between two Gopis (Anganaam) One Krishna and in between two Krishnaas one Gopi (Angana) and finally in the Center of the circle Krishna again and made them all feel the one-ness and enjoy total BLISS. This shows that Paramaathma is present (unattached and unbound) in every Jeevaathma and at the same time the Paramaathma, in fullness, is also in the center of all activities. This is the greatest Philosophical Thathwa we should learn from this celestial song. In our scriptures, there is a mantra, bringing out this theory clearly: 

            POORNAMATHA: POORNAMIDAM 
            POORNAATH POORNAM UTHASCHYATHE
            POORNASYA POORNAM AADAAYA
            POORNAMEVA AVASISHYATHE

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.   The Divyanaamam Attavanai (in PDF format) given as downloadable in Divyanaamam Section, contains the slokas and songs to be taken up for Gopika Geetham.

Attavanai:

As Gopika Geetham is part of Deepa Pradakishinam, separate attvanai is not given.  It is already included in Deepa Pradakshinam Attavanai.

: SWASTHIRASTHU :

 

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