Gita-Week (6th - 13th August)
Bhagavad Gita one of the most famous Hindu scriptures is taken from Canto 6 (Bhishma Parva), Chapters 25-42 of the Great Epic Mahabharata. The Bhagavad-Gita has 18 chapters and 700 verses. The verses of the Bhagavad Gita are in the range and style of Sanskrit meters (chhandas), and are composed in a poetic form that is traditionally chanted; hence the title, which translates to "The Song of the Supreme Lord".
The content of the Bhagavad Gita is a conversation between The Supreme Personality of Godhead Shree Krsna and his cousin and disciple Shree Arjuna which took place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra (North of New Delhi) just prior to the start of the Kurukshetra War which took place approximately 5.100 years ago.
Responding to Shree Arjun's confusion and moral dilemma, Shree Krishna explains to Shree Arjun his duties as a warrior and prince and elaborates on different Yogic and Vedantic philosophies, with examples and analogies. This has led to the Bhagavad Gita often being described as a concise guide to Sanathan Dharma (Hindu) philosophy and also as a practical, self-contained guide to life. During the discourse, Shree Krishna reveals His identity as the Supreme Being Himself (Svayam bhagavan) in the 11th chapter called “The Universal Form”, blessing Shree Arjun with an awe-inspiring glimpse of His divine universal form.
In a very clear and wonderful way the Supreme Lord Krishna describes the science of self-realization and the exact process by which a human being can establish their eternal relationship with Him. In terms of pure, spiritual knowledge the Bhagavad- Gita is incomparable. Its intrinsic beauty is that its knowledge applies to all human beings and does not postulate any sectarian ideology or secular view. It is approachable from the sanctified realms of all religions and is glorified as the epitome of all spiritual teachings. This is because proficiency in the Bhagavad- Gita reveals the eternal principles, which are fundamental and essential for spiritual life from all perspectives, and allows one to perfectly understand the esoteric truths hidden within all religious scriptures. Many great thinkers from our times such as Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi and Albert Schweitzer as well as Shree Madhvacharya, Shree Shankara and Shree Ramanujacharya from bygone ages have all contemplated and deliberated upon its timeless message. The primary purpose of the Bhagavad- Gita is to illuminate for all of humanity the realization of the true nature of divinity; for the highest spiritual conception and the greatest material perfection is to attain love of God - Krsna-Prema (the Love Of Shree Krsna)
The discourse on the Bhagavad Gita begins before the start of the climactic battle at Kurukshetra. It begins with Shree Arjun, as he becomes filled with doubt on the battlefield. Realizing that his enemies are his own relatives, beloved friends and revered teachers, Shree Arjun turns to his charioteer, guide and Guru, Lord Shree Krishna, for advice.
In summary the main philosophical subject matters of the Bhagavad-gita is the explanation of five basic concepts or "truths":
Ishvara (The Supreme Controller) Jiva (Living beings/the soul) Prakrti (Matter) Karma (Action) Kala (Time) Shree Krishna counsels Shree Arjun on the greater idea of dharma or universal harmony and duty. He begins with the tenet that the soul is eternal and immortal. Unlike other books which teaches you how to behave like a cultured human, Shree Krsna goes straight to the point and talks about “Aham Brahmasi” – “we are not this body rather we are all eternal souls”. In the Bhagavad Gita there are 700 verses that are sung and for your information we have provided who sang these verses. Shree Dhrtarastra - 1 verse, Shree Sanjaya - 41 verses, Shree Arjun – 84 verses, Shree Krsna – 574 verses which all totals to 700 verses. In this week of glorifying the Bhagavad Gita we have provided 18 selected verses one from each chapter and you can chant a few verses daily or all 18 verses (which does only take a few mintues). If you are having problems with chanting of the Sanskrit mantras then you can read the English verses. The benefits of chanting these beautiful verses are astronomical. Chapter 1, Verse 40. adharmabhibhavat krsna pradusyanti kula-striyah
strisu dustasu varsneya jayate varna-sankarah When irreligion is prominent in the family, O Krsna, the women of the family become corrupt, and from the degradation of womanhood, O descendant of Vrsni, comes unwanted progeny. Chapter 2, Verse 13. dehino 'smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change. Chapter 3, Verse 21. yad yad acarati sresthas tat tad evetaro janah sa yat pramanam kurute lokas tad anuvartate Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues. Chapter 4, Verse 7. yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srjamy aham Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion--at that time I descend Myself. Chapter 5, Verse 18. vidya-vinaya-sampanne brahmane gavi hastini suni caiva sva-pake ca panditah sama-darsinah The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste]. Chapter 6, Verse 34. cancalam hi manah krsna pramathi balavad drdham tasyaham nigraham manye vayor iva su-duskaram For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krsna, and to subdue it is, it seems to me, more difficult than controlling the wind. Chapter 7, Verse 19. bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare. Chapter 8, Verse 6. yam yam vapi smaran bhavam tyajaty ante kalevaram tam tam evaiti kaunteya sada tad-bhava-bhavitah Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail. Chapter 9, Verse 26. patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati tad aham bhakty-upahrtam asnami prayatatmanah If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it. Chapter 10, Verse 8. aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate iti matva bhajante mam budha bhava-samanvitah I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts. Chapter 11, Verse 55. mat-karma-krn mat-paramo mad-bhaktah sanga-varjitah nirvairah sarva-bhutesu yah sa mam eti pandava My dear Arjuna, one who is engaged in My pure devotional service, free from the contaminations of previous activities and from mental speculation, who is friendly to every living entity, certainly comes to Me. Chapter 12, Verse 8. mayy eva mana adhatsva mayi buddhim nivesaya nivasisyasi mayy eva ata urdhvam na samsayah Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt. Chapter 13, Verse 21. karya-karana-kartrtve hetuh prakrtir ucyate purusah sukha-duhkhanam bhoktrtve hetur ucyate Nature is said to be the cause of all material activities and effects, whereas the living entity is the cause of the various sufferings and enjoyments in this world. Chapter 14, Verse 4. sarva-yonisu kaunteya murtayah sambhavanti yah tasam brahma mahad yonir aham bija-pradah pita It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father. Chapter 15, Verse 15. sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas I am to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas. Chapter 16, Verse 24. tasmac chastram pramanam te karyakarya-vyavasthitau jnatva sastra-vidhanoktam karma kartum iharhasi One should understand what is duty and what is not duty by the regulations of the scriptures. Knowing such rules and regulations, one should act so that he may gradually be elevated. Chapter 17, Verse 11. aphalakanksibhir yajno vidhi-disto ya ijyate yastavyam eveti manah samadhaya sa sattvikah Of sacrifices, that sacrifice performed according to duty and to scriptural rules, and with no expectation of reward, is of the nature of goodness. Chapter 18, Verse 66. sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear. To obtain a free copy of the Bhagavad Gita please click onto these links http://www.krishna.com/en/taxonomy/term/58 http://www.asitis.com Thank you for taking time to read this article. We are trying to reach out not only to Hindus but to others of other faiths as well. By compiling and publishing these articles we hope that others will understand what a beautiful and diversified way of life Hinduism (Sanathan Dharma) really is. Please alert your friends and family of this website. 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