This is a great little book of about 80 pages in which the author illustrates the importance of each of the 18 chapters of Gita with a short story from Padma Purana. This book is not a commentary on Bhagavad-Gita but exemplifies its glory and the importance of reading the Gita for spiritual fulfillment.
In chapter 176 (Uttara Kanda) of Padma Purana, we come across the story of a Brahmin called Vishnu Sarma who pursued the path of a sinner and eventually, after his death, is reborn as a buffalo. The buffalo leads a very difficult and laborious life with his new owner. When the buffalo was physically distressed and near death, many onlookers including a neighborhood whore voluntarily donate part of their punya (divine-reward accrued in heaven for good deeds). In his next life Vishnu Sarma is born as a good Brahmin with a memory of the past. He becomes curious as how a whore who had sinned in her life could donate her punya when she didn't have any of it. Upon contacting her, he learns that she had a parrot which used to recite the first chapter of Gita, which it learnt from a local hermitage. So the whore was blessed with punya just by listening to the first chapter of Gita.
Chapter 2 is known to provide peace and liberation for those who seek joy, peace and freedom from hunger. There is a story of a Brahmin called Deva Sarma who discovers that he can attain peace and inner joy by reading the second chapter of Gita. The story of Jada of Janasthana describes how one can seek salvation for their parents and ancestors by reading the chapter 3. Similarly reading of the seventh chapter, illustrated by the story of Sanku Karna, also provides for a way for the liberation of the souls of one's ancestors. The story suggests that reading this chapter is greater than charity or pilgrimage or even penance.
The story of Bharata of the city of Kashi gives a path to relieve from the curses of previous births by reading the fourth chapter of Gita. Similarly reading 17th chapter also brings similar results as illustrated by the story of Dursasanan of the kingdom Saurashtra.
The story of Ajamila illustrates the power of the Lord Vishnu's name. Ajamila was non-believer and led a sinner's life style. At the time of his death he called his son by his name "Narayana" by accident, which enabled him to reach salvation. Vyasa through Bhishma gave the Lord Vishnu (Krishna) one thousand names; Vishnu Sahasranama is one of the most sacred and commonly chanted verses. It is found in the Mahabharata, Padma Purana and Matsya Purana. Each name eulogizes one of His attributes. Another related story is that of Sanku Karna from Padma Purana who becomes a serpent in his next life because he was thinking of a serpent at the time of his death; the serpent that bit him.
Gita is quoted as an authority in Mahabharata, which suggest that it had a separate identity before the epic was completed. Shankara believed that Gita teaches Advaita Vedanta, but Ramanuja suggested that Gita represents Vishistadvaita; Madhva was convinced it teaches Dvaita; and Bhaskara found Bhedabheda Vedanta in Bhagavad-Gita. All these philosophers argued that Gita is univalent but Vivekananda observed that it teaches many paths and all of them are equally feasible. Jnaneswara, Aurobindo and Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada inculcated bhakti yoga; Tilak and Gandhi preached selfless action and a dedication to duty are the principal elements of this poem. However, most modern interpreters find multivalent interpretations in the Gita. This poem describes the supremacy of karma in the first six chapters; the depths and intricacies of Vedantic monism and Sankhya dualism in chapters seven to 12 and the last six chapters are devoted to the bhakti yoga as the message of Krishna. Stories from Puranas offer great strength and substance to the message of Bhagavad-Gita.
Glory of the Gita by C Mahadevan
In chapter 176 (Uttara Kanda) of Padma Purana, we come across the story of a Brahmin called Vishnu Sarma who pursued the path of a sinner and eventually, after his death, is reborn as a buffalo. The buffalo leads a very difficult and laborious life with his new owner. When the buffalo was physically distressed and near death, many onlookers including a neighborhood whore voluntarily donate part of their punya (divine-reward accrued in heaven for good deeds). In his next life Vishnu Sarma is born as a good Brahmin with a memory of the past. He becomes curious as how a whore who had sinned in her life could donate her punya when she didn't have any of it. Upon contacting her, he learns that she had a parrot which used to recite the first chapter of Gita, which it learnt from a local hermitage. So the whore was blessed with punya just by listening to the first chapter of Gita.
Chapter 2 is known to provide peace and liberation for those who seek joy, peace and freedom from hunger. There is a story of a Brahmin called Deva Sarma who discovers that he can attain peace and inner joy by reading the second chapter of Gita. The story of Jada of Janasthana describes how one can seek salvation for their parents and ancestors by reading the chapter 3. Similarly reading of the seventh chapter, illustrated by the story of Sanku Karna, also provides for a way for the liberation of the souls of one's ancestors. The story suggests that reading this chapter is greater than charity or pilgrimage or even penance.
The story of Bharata of the city of Kashi gives a path to relieve from the curses of previous births by reading the fourth chapter of Gita. Similarly reading 17th chapter also brings similar results as illustrated by the story of Dursasanan of the kingdom Saurashtra.
The story of Ajamila illustrates the power of the Lord Vishnu's name. Ajamila was non-believer and led a sinner's life style. At the time of his death he called his son by his name "Narayana" by accident, which enabled him to reach salvation. Vyasa through Bhishma gave the Lord Vishnu (Krishna) one thousand names; Vishnu Sahasranama is one of the most sacred and commonly chanted verses. It is found in the Mahabharata, Padma Purana and Matsya Purana. Each name eulogizes one of His attributes. Another related story is that of Sanku Karna from Padma Purana who becomes a serpent in his next life because he was thinking of a serpent at the time of his death; the serpent that bit him.
Gita is quoted as an authority in Mahabharata, which suggest that it had a separate identity before the epic was completed. Shankara believed that Gita teaches Advaita Vedanta, but Ramanuja suggested that Gita represents Vishistadvaita; Madhva was convinced it teaches Dvaita; and Bhaskara found Bhedabheda Vedanta in Bhagavad-Gita. All these philosophers argued that Gita is univalent but Vivekananda observed that it teaches many paths and all of them are equally feasible. Jnaneswara, Aurobindo and Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada inculcated bhakti yoga; Tilak and Gandhi preached selfless action and a dedication to duty are the principal elements of this poem. However, most modern interpreters find multivalent interpretations in the Gita. This poem describes the supremacy of karma in the first six chapters; the depths and intricacies of Vedantic monism and Sankhya dualism in chapters seven to 12 and the last six chapters are devoted to the bhakti yoga as the message of Krishna. Stories from Puranas offer great strength and substance to the message of Bhagavad-Gita.
Glory of the Gita by C Mahadevan
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