What is so special in Bhagavad Gita?
Bhagavad Gita is a sacred scripture that has inspired and influenced many people throughout history. It is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, prince who faces a moral dilemma before the great war of Kurukshetra. In this dialogue, Krishna reveals the essence of all spiritual knowledge and guides Arjuna to perform his duty with detachment and devotion.
Why is Bhagavad Gita taught before Vedas and Upanishads?
Bhagavad Gita is considered to be the essence of all the Vedas and Upanishads, the ancient scriptures that contain the highest wisdom of the Indian civilization. According to Shankaracharya, a renowned philosopher and commentator, Bhagavad Gita is like the milk that is extracted from the cow of the Upanishads by the cowherd boy Krishna, and given to the calf Arjuna, who is the intelligent drinker of that milk.
Bhagavad Gita contains many verses that are directly taken from the Upanishads, and also explains them in a simpler and more practical way. It also introduces some new concepts that are not explicitly found in the Upanishads, such as the concept of avatar, the concept of maya, and the concept of grace and mercy.These concepts are essential for understanding the nature of God, the world, and the self, and for attaining the ultimate goal of life.
What are the names and features of Bhagavad Gita?
Bhagavad Gita has many names that reflect its glory and significance. Some of these names are:
Gita Upanishad: The Upanishad of the Song of God.
Ganga: The river of divine knowledge that purifies the mind.
Samsai Nashini: The destroyer of all doubts and illusions.
Bhagavad Gita: The Song of the Supreme Lord.
Bhagavad Gita is a book that has many features that make it unique and attractive. Some of these features are:
It is concise and comprehensive: It has only 700 verses and 18 chapters, but it covers all the topics of spirituality, such as Karma yoga, Gyana yoga, Bhakti yoga, dharma, etc. It gives an overview of each topic and also refers to other scriptures for more details.
It is simple and profound: It uses easy Sanskrit language that can be understood by anyone, but it also conveys deep and sublime truths that can satisfy the most advanced seekers. According to Madhvachraya every verse of Bhagavad Gita has at least 1000 levels of interpretation and meaning, and at least 8 levels of meaning are known in human society.
It is relevant and universal: It is not a book that is applicable only to a particular time, place, or circumstance, but it is a book that deals with the eternal problems and solutions of human life. It addresses the questions and challenges that every person faces in their journey of self-realization, and offers the best guidance and inspiration for achieving the highest perfection.
How to celebrate and distribute Bhagavad Gita?
Bhagavad Gita is a book that deserves to be celebrated and distributed to everyone who is interested in spiritual knowledge and practice. One of the ways to celebrate Bhagavad Gita is to observe Gita Jayanti, the day when Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna. This day falls on the 11th day of the bright fortnight of the month of Margashirsha, which corresponds to the month of December in the Gregorian calendar. On this day, devotees and admirers of Bhagavad Gita recite, study, and discuss the teachings of Bhagavad Gita, and also offer their gratitude and worship to Lord Krishna and Arjuna.
Another way to celebrate and distribute Bhagavad Gita is to participate in the Gita Marathon, a campaign that is organized by the followers of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) every year in the month of December. The aim of this campaign is to distribute as many copies of Bhagavad Gita as possible to the people of the world, and to share the message of love and peace that Bhagavad Gita offers.
It is said that anyone who reads Bhagavad Gita once will have all his doubt cleared, all his illusions vanquished, and all his attachments severed, and he will become pure and enlightened.