There are no items in your cart
Add More
Add More
Item Details | Price |
---|
The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most revered Vedic scriptures and is part of the Prasthanatrayi, the three foundational texts for understanding Vedic philosophy. These include the Upanishads, the Brahmasutras, and the Bhagavad Gita.
The Gita is an elaborate commentary on the famous Mahakavya of the Chandogya Upanishad, which presents the profound concept of “Tat Tvam Asi” – "That Thou Art." This phrase is broken down into:
Tat (That): Representing Brahman, discussed in the second set of six chapters, known as Tat Pada.
Tvam (Thou): Representing the Individual Self, covered in the first set of six chapters, known as Tvam Pada.
Asi (Art): Establishing the identity of the Individual Self and Brahman, explained in the last set of six chapters, known as Asi Pada.
The first six chapters of the Gita are known as Karma Yoga, focusing on the path of action. The next six chapters are called Bhakti Yoga, which emphasizes the path of devotion. The final six chapters are referred to as Jnana Yoga, centering on the path of knowledge.
The Bhagavad Gita provides a comprehensive and accessible summary of Vedic philosophy. The word "Bhagavad" means "of God," and "Gita" means "song." Since "Gita" is a feminine word, its literal meaning is "Song of God."The term "Yoga" in the Gita stands for the "path." All three paths—Karma, Bhakti, and Jnana—are independent yet together form a synthetic whole. Since the Bhagavad Gita encapsulates most of the essential aspects of Vedic knowledge, it is also known as Gitopanishad or the Gita Upanishad.
The Bhagavad Gita serves two crucial purposes:
1. Brahma Vidya: The science of knowing the absolute truth or Self-realization.
2. Yoga Shastra: The practical techniques of applying spiritual science in our daily lives, collectively termed as Yoga.
The Gita is a sacred text found within the Mahabharata (Chapters 23-40 of the Bhishma Parva), dating back to the 2nd century BCE. It should not be confused with the Srimad Bhagavatam, a Purana that deals with the life and various avatars of the Hindu God Krishna.
The Srimad Bhagavad Gita is considered as Vedanta’s Smriti Prasthana, where the discourses of the Lord are the subject matter, referred to as “Guhyat Guhyataram” (गुह्यत् गुह्यतरम्) – more secret than the secret itself.
The Gita is often described as the essence of all Upanishads. A well-known analogy suggests that all the Upanishads are like cows, Lord Krishna is the milkman, Arjuna is the calf, and men and women of purified intellect are the drinkers. The supreme nectar – the Gita – is the milk itself. Swami Vivekananda famously referred to the Gita as a "Divine Garden."
Shri Ramakrishna used to say that if one keeps repeating the word "Gita," it sounds like "Tagi," which means to renounce one's ego-centeredness and discover one's divine self.
The Bhagavad Gita consists of 18 chapters and 700 verses, mainly composed in अनुष्टुभ् meter. It is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, set in the backdrop of the Mahabharata war. The Gita begins with a conversation between King Dhritarashtra and his minister Sanjaya, a disciple of Vyasa.
Lord Krishna is referred to by various names such as Hrishikesha, Keshava, Govinda, Madhusudana, and Achyuta, while Arjuna is called Dhananjaya, Kaunteya, Partha, and others.
The beauty of divine knowledge lies in its depth; the more it is churned, the more nectar it produces. The Bhagavad Gita has undoubtedly enriched the world with its profound insights and timeless wisdom.
Find out more on our website www.yoglogue.in or