The Bhagavad Gita is a Hindu religious text that is part of the Mahabharata, a larger group of texts outlining the conflict between the Kauravas and Pandavas (Bresnan 74). It is unknown the exact era in which this work was written, but it is estimated to originate from between 400 and 200 BCE (Lumen 2). According to legend, the Mahabharata was written by a sage named Vyasa who fathered the heads of the Kauravas and the Pandavas (Bresnan 76-77).
The Bhagavad Gita focuses on a conversation between the deity Krishna and the leader of the Pandavas, Arjuna. Arjuna and Krishna are longtime friends, and Krishna had presented himself to Arjuna as a human. During the battle, Krishna served as Arjuna's charioteer, helping guide him. So, when Arjuna asks Krishna to roll him out to see his opponents, his cousins, he is devastated at the thought of having to kill his brethren. Thus begins the conversation between the two, in which Krishna tells Arjuna that "the truly wise one grieves neither for the living or for the dead," for both live on in their atman (Hawley 32).
The rest of their conversation consists of Krishna convincing his friend to follow through with the battle because it is his duty, his dharma. He then continues to educate Arjuna on his role in society as a warrior and encourage him to pursue a higher state of being through yoga. He tells him that whatever path of yoga he chooses, whether it be pursuing enlightenment through action, knowledge, devotion, or meditation, that he must do these purely and with only thoughts of Krishna, the Divine.
This work holds great religious significance because it outlines, in detail, the paths through which Hindus can honor their gods. It also outlines the Hindu faith- their gods, the truth of nature, and the truth of humanity. This text reiterates the importance of understanding that everyone is "Atma, the eternal reality" beyond the human mind and body (Hawley 121). In Hinduism, one must be able to tell the difference between their Atman, essentially their soul, and their human body that encourages them to pursue selfish and meaningless desires. They must also understand that Brahman is presence within everything they do. The Khan Academy video below explains what Atman and Brahman are, as these are essential yet confusing concepts.
I truly enjoyed reading this work. Arjuna is a very relatable character, making his plight easy to empathize with. Krishna was also a very patient and supportive friend, and when he revealed his true self to Arjuna, their friendship was a beautiful thing to see. For all of Arjuna's apologies for his unpreparedness, Krishna was prepared with reassurances, telling his friend that he "showed [him] this because [he] loves [him]" (Hawley 110). It was nice to see such a pure display of friendship, of wanting better for those around you. This coupled with the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita
made it an educational and entertaining read.I also enjoyed learning about the various yogas from a more more philosophically religious. Krishna tells Arjuna how to pursue each path of yoga best, and then advises him to pick the one that is suited best for him. It provides insight for readers to understand which path of yoga is best suited to them and their lifestyle- which is immensely helpful for those who do not have the best self-reflection skills. Their are four main paths of yoga: Karma Yoga (action), Raja Yoga (meditation), Bhakti Yoga (devotion), and Jnana Yoga (knowledge). This work gives insight on just how Hinduism works, as well as how a Hindu should best carry out their worship. It's a fascinating piece of writing, not just for Hindus, but for anyone that is looking to improve themselves and how they operate in the world. The Bhagavad Gita encourages its readers to "act selflessly... without thinking of personal benefit" (Hawley 46). This sentiment is what allows people to act beyond their means, to act for the sake of their community and not their own desires. It is essential for anyone to have these selfless intentions, making the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita applicable to anyone looking to improve themselves or their community.
Works Cited
“4 Paths of Yoga.” Sivananda International, 18 Apr. 2019, sivananda.org/teachings/4-paths-of-yoga/.
“The Bhagavad Gita.” Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought, by Patrick S. Bresnan, 6th ed., Routledge, 2018, pp. 73–94.
“Bhagavad Gita.” Philosophy in the Humanities, Lumen Learning, courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-fscj-philosophy/chapter/the-bhagavad-gita/.
Hawley, Jack. The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners. New World Library, 2011.
khanacademy. “Hinduism Introduction: Core Ideas of Brahman, Atman, Samsara and Moksha | History | Khan Academy.” YouTube, Khan Academy, 6 Mar. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?t=171&v=WhTpJxlJi2I&feature=youtu.be.
“Krishna Showing Vishvarupa to Arjuna before Kurukshetra War.” Dolls of India, Dolls of India, www.dollsofindia.com/product/hindu-posters/krishna-showing-vishvarupa-to-arjuna-reprint-on-paper-QK10.html.
“Mahabharata - Hindi ( Om): Om Books Editorial ... - Amazon.com.” Amazon, Om Kidz, www.amazon.com/Mahabharata-Hindi-Om-Books-Wagon/dp/9382607625.
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