WHAT IS BHAGVAD GITA?

The Bhagavad-Gita is the eternal message of spiritual wisdom from ancient India. The word Gita means song and the word Bhagavad means God, often the Bhagavad-Gita is called the Song of God.

WHY IS THE BHAGAVAD-GITA CALLED A SONG IF IT IS SPOKEN?

Because its rhyming meter is so beautifully harmonic and melodious when spoken perfectly.

WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS RHYMING METER?

It is called Anustup and contains 32 syllables in each verse.

WHY IS SRIMAD OFTEN WRITTEN BEFORE THE BHAGAVAD-GITA?

The word Srimad is a title of great respect. This is given because the Bhagavad-Gita reveals the essence of all spiritual knowledge.

WHO ORIGINALLY SPOKE THE BHAGAVAD-GITA?

Lord Krishna originally spoke the Bhagavad-Gita.

WHERE WAS THE BHAGAVAD-GITA ORIGINALLY SPOKEN?

In India at the holy land of Kuruksetra.

WHY IS THE LAND OF KURUKSETRA SO HOLY?

Because of benedictions given to King Kuru by Brahma that anyone dying in Kuruksetra while performing penance or while fighting in battle will be promoted directly to the heavenly planets.

WHERE IS THE BHAGAVAD-GITA TO BE FOUND?

In the monumental, historical epic Mahabharata written by Vedavyasa.

WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL EPIC MAHABHARTA?

The Mahabharata is the most voluminous book the world has ever known. The Mahabharata covers the history of the earth from the time of creation in relation to India. Composed in 100,000 rhyming quatrain couplets the Mahabharata is seven times the size of the Illiad written by Homer.

WHO IS VEDAVYASA?

Vedavyasa is the divine saint and incarnation who authored the Srimad Bhagavatam, Vedanta Sutra, the 108 Puranas, composed and divided the Vedas into the Rik, Yajur, Artharva and Sama Vedas, and wrote the the great historical treatise Mahabharata known as the fifth Veda. His full name is Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa and he was the son of sage Parasara and mother Satyavati.

WHY IS THE MAHABHARATA KNOWN AS THE FIFTH VEDA?

Because it is revealed in the Vedic scripture Bhavisya Purana III.VII.II that the fifth Veda written by Vedavyasa is called the Mahabharata.

WHAT ARE THE SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAHABHARATA?

The Mahabharata has no restrictions of qualification as to who can hear it or read it. Everyone regardless of caste or social position may hear or read it at any time. Vedavyasa wrote it with the view not to exclude all the people in the worlds who are outside of the Vedic culture. He himself has explained that the Mahabharata contains the essence of all the purports of the Vedas. This we see is true and it is also written in a very intriguing and dramatically narrative form.

WHAT ABOUT THE ARYAN INVASION THEORY BEING THE SOURCE OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA?

The Aryan invasion theory has been proven in the 1990?s not to have a shred of truth in it. Indologists the world over have realized that the Aryans are the Hindus themselves.

WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA?

The Bhagavad-Gita is composed of 700 Sanskrit verses contained within 18 chapters, divided into three sections each consisting of six chapters. They are Karma Yoga the yoga of actions. Bhakti Yoga the yoga of devotion and Jnana Yoga the yoga of knowledge.

WHEN WAS THE BHAGAVAD-GITA SPOKEN?

The Mahabharata confirms that Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-Gita to Arjuna at the Battle of Kuruksetra in 3137 B.C.. According to specific astrological references in the Vedic scriptures, the year 3102 B.C. is the beginning of kali yuga which began 35 years after the battle 5000 years ago.

WHAT IS THE OPINION OF WESTERN SCHOLARS FROM ANCIENT TIMES?

According to the writings of both the Greek and the Romans such as Pliny, Arrian and Solinus as well as Megastathanes who wrote a history of ancient India and who was present as an eyewitness when Alexander the Great arrived in India in 326 B.C. was that before him were 154 kings who ruled back to 6777 B.C. This also follows the Vedic understanding.

WHEN WAS THE BHAGAVAD-GITA FIRST TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH?

The first English edition of the Bhagavad-Gita was in 1785 by Charles Wilkins in London, England. This was only 174 years after the translation of the King James Bible in 1611.

WAS THE BHAGAVAD-GITA ALSO TRANSLATED INTO OTHER LANGUAGES?

Yes. The Bhagavad-Gita was translated into Latin in 1823 by Schlegel. It was translated into German in 1826 by Von Humbolt. It was translated into French in 1846 by Lassens and it was translated into Greek in 1848 by Galanos to mention but a few.

WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA?

The original language of the Bhagavad-Gita was classical Sanskrit from India.

IS HISTORY AWARE OF THE GREATNESS OF SRIMAD BHAGAVAD-GITA?

Historically many very extraordinary people such as Albert Einsten, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Herman Hesse, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Aldous Huxley, Rudolph Steiner and Nikola Tesla to name but a few have read Srimad Bhagavad-Gita and were inspired by its timeless wisdom.

WHO IS QUALIFIED TO READ SRIMAD BHAGAVAD-GITA?

Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana a 16th century saint from the Brahma Madhva Vaisnava Samparadaya has stated that those who are pious and reverent, those who are of controlled senses and those sincerely performing their daily spiritual duties are qualified to read Srimad Bhagavad-Gita.

WHAT CAN BE LEARNED BY THE STUDY OF SRIMAD BHAGAVAD-GITA?

Accurate, fundamental knowledge about God, the ultimate truth, creation, birth and death, the results of actions, the eternal soul, liberation and the purpose as well as the goal of human existence.

Holi Dahan – Burning of Desires

Holi heralds the end of winter and the onset of spring. It is also pointed out as an instance of the conquest of base instincts of man and Holi is a celebration of this conquest. The Holi fire connotes this event in Hindu mythology of the conquest of lust by Shiva. For this reason, Shiva is also known by the names Kameswara, Maara Ripu or Madana Ripu indicating one who has conquered carnal desires.

On Holi day, Hindus remember the life of a pure devotee, Prahlad and keep his spiritual ideas alive. In other parts, it is celebrated as the day of Kaama dahan (burning of desires). Madana Utsava is the vernal festival honoring Madana. Madana Trayodashi is the 13th day in the day in the bright half of Chaitra when the festival in honor of Madana is observed. Madana Chaturdashi is the fourteenth day in the bright half of Chaitra honoring Madana.

Lord Krishna teaches detachment

Sri Krishna relates to Arjuna in Bhagavadgita (Ch.2.62 & 63), on the battlefield of Kurukshetra (a place near Delhi) in Mahabharata that:

       Dhyayato vishayaan pumsah, vangas teshupa jaayate
       Sangaat sanjaayate kaamah, kaamat krodhobhi jaayate
       Krodhad bhavati sammohah, sammohat smriti vibramaha
       Smriti bhramsaad buddhi nasho, buddhi maashaat pranasyati

While contemplating material and sensual objects, persons become attached to them. Such attachment develops lust and lust generates anger. Anger leads to delusion and delusion to mental bewilderment. When the mind is bewildered, intelligence and discretion is lost. Loss of intelligence and discretion leads to downfall of the person.

Holi is an occasion to detach oneself from the delusions of the past and renew our journey towards spiritual fulfillment in the coming year.

Lord Shiva Conquers Lust – Kaameswara

Another story relates to Shiva who was in a deep trance in his Tapas (penance). Kaama or Manmatha or Madana is the son of Krishna and Rukmini. His wife is Rati. Lord Indra, the king of the Devas wanted a commander to lead their forces in their war with the demon Tarakasura. Taraka was the son of Vajranga and Varangi. He propitiated Lord Bhrahmadeva by a severe penance on the Pariyatra mountain. When Brahma appeared before him, he asked as a boon (vara) that he should not he killed by anyone other than a seven day old child. Brahma granted him the boon.

Misusing this boon, Taraka began to oppress the gods. They were obliged to approach Brahma for help to destroy Taraka. Brahma told the devas that only an offspring of Shiva could destroy him. For this they sought the help of Kaama or Maara or Manmatha, the god of love in Hindu mythology to Shiva to drag him out of his meditation and generate an issue with Parvati. This alone could vanquish Tarakasura. Kaama agreed to undertake this mission.

Maara shot his arrows at Shiva but he was not perturbed from his trance. Maara shot a powerful arrow in a final effort to perturb Shiva. At this, Shiva was offended and opened only his third eye (Phaala Netra) and Maara was burnt and turned to ashes instantly. Subsequently, at the beseechment of Rati and the devas, Shiva restored him from the ashes in the form of Pradyumna. His intimate friend is Vasanta or the Spring. His son is Aniruddha. He is armed with a bow and arrows, the bow string being a line of bees and the arrows being a string of flowers of five different plants. Shiva and Parvati created Kaartikeya to destroy Tarakasura. Later, Kartikeya was born and slew the demon Taraka on the seventh day of his birth.

Ref: V.S.Apte: The Student’s Sanskrit-English Dictionary. 2nd Ed. Pub.by Motilal Banarsidas, 1988.

Sources: http://www.eaglespace.com/spirit/holispiritual.php

Shivratri, or Mahashivratri, is the most auspicious day dedicated to Lord Shiva and is popularly known as the night of Siva. In 2010, the date of Shivaratri is February 12. In Panchangs and Hindu calendars followed in United States, United Kingdom (Britain) and Canada, Shivratri is marked on February 11. This holy night of Shiva is observed on the night before ‘amavasya’ in the Hindu month of Phalgun (February – March) as per traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India. The corresponding period in other regions is the night before Magh Amavasya.

Most Hindu festivals are noted for its mirth and color but Shivratri is a night dedicated to prayers and contemplation. Of course, when Lord Shiva is worshipped there is joy all around but it is not just joy but bliss that is achieved through Brahman realization – When Lord Shiva is seen in all animate and inanimate.

When we realize that it is his Tandava that creates each cell and it is his Tandava that is responsible for the transformation of each cell – we attain Moksha

Planetary Position on Shivaratri Night

It is believed that the planetary positions align in such a way on Shivratri night that it naturally creates an upsurge of energy in the human system. This is also why traditionally it is known to be beneficial both physically and spiritually to stay awake and aware through the night.

Shivratri and Amavasya (No Moon)

The significance of Shivratri is closely associated with ‘amavas’ – the no moon night or full dark night as per traditional Hindu Calendar. Amavas symbolically represents Kaliyuga or spiritual ignorance. Lord Shiva appeared just before the beginning of Kaliyuga to rid the world of evil and ignorance. Therefore Shivratri is celebrated to get rid of evil and ignorance.

It must be noted here that Shivratri is observed during Phalgun month in North India. The corresponding month in Gujarat,Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh is Magh Month.

There is also a Masa Shivratri which is observed on thirteenth day of Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the moon) in all traditional Hindu months.

(image belongs to Ishafoundation)

Sources: http://www.hindu-blog.com/2009/02/shivratri-in-2009-maha-shivaratri.html