Introduction to gIta (target group - children)

[Guest guest]

Dear bhagavatas,

In an attempt to give our treasure gItA to children, first I give below an

introduction. Slowly, with the grace of Ramanuja I plan to write the meaning of

each sloka as per visishtAdvaita philosophy. Kindly make your children read

this. It may be below your standard which is wantedly kept so. Pls encourage

your children to ask questions in this forum. After clearing all those only we

would go to the next sloka. Let them ask till they are clear. You can also help

them in asking their doubts.

Srimad Bhagavad Gita

 

BACKGROUND:

 

One of the most important treasures of India, Srimad Bhagavad Geeta, is a part

of sri Mahabharata. Vedas are the source of true and in depth knowledge for

human race. Vedas are of two parts: Poorva Kaanda and Uttara Kaanda. Poorva

Kaanda deals with the Karma (rituals) and Uttara Kaanda (Upanishads or vedanta)

deals with the knowledge on Brahman. Vedas are eternal. Since they are very

difficult to be understood, the Maharishis helped us by supplementing it with

Smritis, Itihasas and Puranas

 

Birth of Geetha:

 

In Kurukshethra, the battle field, the Kauravas (Duryodhana and Brothers) and

the Pandavas (Yudishtra and brothers) were on both sides to start the battle.

Krishna, the cowherd incarnation of Sriman Narayana, was the charioteer of

Arjuna. Krishna started preaching Geetha to Arjuna to clear his doubts just

before the war. This was in Dwaparayuga, the third of the four yugas. We are now

in Kaliyuga, the fourth yuga. It is now 5100 years since the beginning of Kali

yuga. When Krishna ascended

 

"sarvOpanishadO gAva: dOgdhA gOpAla nandana: !

 

pArthO vatsa: sudhIrbhOkta dugdham gItAmrutam mahat!!"

 

"All the upanishads took the form of a cow, the cowherd knowing the art of

milking was Krishna himself, Arjuna represents the calf, without which a cow

will not give us milk. We - the knowledge mongers are the one to enjoy the milk,

and finally the elixir like milk is - gIta. "GIta is a discussion between Arjuna

and Krishna. This discussion is repeated as a running commentary by Sanjaya to

Drtarashtra. This discussion is an integral part of Mahabharata which itself is

a discussion between janamEjaya and vaisampAyana.

 

Need of Geetha:

 

Arjuna, just before the war, found all his relatives, gurus and friends on the

opposite side. It is by killing them that he has to regain his lost kingdom.

Arjuna being a satvik, with pious qualities, did not like that. He thought, to

kill them is a sin. So he laid down his bow and arrow, refusing to fight. He

asked Krishna to advise him of what is good to him. Krishna, the well wisher of

this whole universe, took pity on the confused and grief filled Arjuna. He

unveiled Geetha and directed arjuna to do his duty - fight.

 

Gist of Geetha:

 

Yamunacharya's (Alavandar) famous "gItArtha Sangraham" gives the gist of gIta in

one verse.

 

"svadharma gnAna vairAgya sAdhya bhakthi eka gocara: !

 

nArayana: param brahma gItA sAstrE samIrita: !!"

 

One who performs his prescribed duty, with full knowledge of himself and his

master, without desire in worldly pleasures, reaches the stage to practice

Bhakthi yoga. By Bhakthi yoga one can please Narayana and reach Him. So it is

our objective (to reach and serve our master) and means to achieve it (Bhakthi

yoga) that is explained in gItA. Narayana, the supreme Lord, (whom we have to

reach) His nature and qualities are iterated in gIta.

 

gItA is divided into three hexads (shatkam). The first six chapters deals with

Karma and gnAna yoga which are required for realising the jIvAtma. After

realising the jIvatma, one goes to realise his master paramAtma. Once he knows

the greatness of Paramatma, he wants to reach him. The second six chapters deals

with the unparalleled mastery of Krishna and Bhakthi yoga, which is to be

practiced to reach Lord krishna. The last six again explains about, atma,

paramatma and three yogas.

 

(to continue later)