Friday, January 2, 2015

How is the name Govinda related to Jesus?


There is a new mantra you can check out at http://jesusmantra.com/

You can hear the entire thing on YouTube if you click on the link below:

Jesus Sahasranama Music is available on Youtube

This post is in response to a genuine question that proceeds from an examination of the content of a particular line of the mantra.
How is the name Govinda related to Jesus?

From wikipedia:
Govinda is a name of Krishna and also appears as the 187th and 539th name of Vishnu in the Vishnu Sahasranama, the 1000 names of Vishnu.[3]According to Adi Sankara's commentary on the Vishnu Sahasranama, translated by Swami Tapasyananda, Govinda has four meanings:[3] The sages call Krishna "Govinda" as He pervades all the worlds, giving them power.
The Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata states that Vishnu restored the earth that had sunk into the netherword, or Patala, so all the devas praised Him as Govind (Protector of the Land).
Alternatively, it means "He who is known by Vedic words alone".
In the Harivamsa, Indra praised Krishna for having attained loving leadership of the cows which Krishna tended as a cowherd, by saying, "So men too shall praise Him as Govinda."
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, in his commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita, states that Govinda means "master of the senses".[4] In the Mahabharata, when Draupadi's saree was stripped by Dushasana in the court of Hastinapura, it is said that Draupadi prayed towards Lord Krishna (who was in Dwaraka at that time) invoking him as "Govinda" at the instance of extreme distress where she could no longer hold her saree to her chest. For this reason, it is believed that "Govinda" is how the Lord is addressed by devotees when they have lost it all and have nothing more to lose. This may be the reason why in colloquial Tamil and Telugu the slang-term "govinda" sometimes refers to the prospect of losing or failing in something important.
From a critical reading of the information above we can derive the following:
Govinda is interpreted by Hindu sages as the following:
  • He who 'pervades all the worlds' = He who is omnipresent Jeremiah 23:24 24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth declares the Lord. 
  • He who is the 'Protector of the Land' = He who protects the world John 16:33 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 
  • He who is known by Vedic words alone = He who is known as 'the word' John:1-1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
  • He who is 'master of the senses' = He who although being God lived as a human among us.John:1-14 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 
  • He to whom devotees cry out 'when they have lost it all and have nothing more to lose' = He who is our refuge and strength in times of trouble. Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 
Taking the logical form it proceeds thus, if A=B and B=C then A=C.
Where
A= Govinda
B=meaning/interpretation of Govinda
C=attribute of Jesus/Jesus

The verses that are referenced are verses that talk about the attributes of Jesus in the Bible and if the word Govinda means these things referenced in the Wikipedia article then it is just as applicable as a name for Jesus.
I would like to end this post with a verse to the wise:
Romans 1:20:
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.