How this poem emanated is a popular story. This poem came into being from the inspiring heart of the Great Teacher Adi Sankara. It is said that once in Kasi (Benares) as Sankara along with his fourteen of his disciples was passing, he overheard a pandit repeating himself the grammar rules for rote memory. It was a futile effort and waste of time, which does not help one to realise the spiritual unfoldment in himself. Then Sankaracharya is said have burst forth the famous Bhaja Govindam Stotram. Grammar rules(Dukrun Karane) will not help any one at the time of death. While alive strive to realise the deathless state of purity and perfection.

The first Stanza is for Chorus to be chanted at the end of every other stanza. It is said that the first twelve verses after the chorus were given out by Sankaracharya himself under the name of Dwadasa Manjarika Stotram. It seems the teacher's inspired mood was very contagious, so that, at that very moment each one of the fourteen followers that were in Acharya's company contributed a stanza of his own and these are called Chaturdasa Manjarika Stotram. After he heard these verses - Sri Sankaracharya blesses all the seekers in the last four stanzas.

The set of thirty one stanzas together titled as Bhaja Govindam or Moha Mudgara.

Even to hear these stanzas chanted is thrilling enough. It is said that Jnana leads to Bhakti. The all knowing Jnani Sankaracharya - expressed his great bhakti in the devotional songs that emanated in the closing part of his life. The time is fleeing. Hence this song whips up - on the back of man - it slashes - with an urgency - with kindly cruel whip of horrible impatience to wake up persons- still sleeping in sansara sorrows-when the house of life is almost ablaze of death.