Chapter ten reveals Lord Krishna’s exalted position as the cause of all causes. Also specifying His special manifestations and opulences. Arjuna prays to the Lord to describe more of the opulences and the Lord describes those which are most prominent. Thus this chapter is entitled: The Infinite Glories of the Ultimate Truth.
Archive for the ‘Krishna’ Category
To most Hindus*, Krishna is an avatar (incarnation) of the great god Vishnu. In the Bhagavad Gita** he is the vehicle for the revelation of ultimate reality; at the other end of the spectrum he is known for his childhood pranks, erotic seductions and for inspiring the heady rapture of personal devotion.
According to the Bhagavata Purana†, the province of Mathura was in the thrall of the tyrannical king Kansa, who was told that the eighth child of his cousin Devaki would be responsible for his death. Enraged, he was about to slay his cousin, when her husband Vasudeva intervened, promising to deliver all their children into Kansa’s hands, if only he would spare Devaki.
Kansa imprisoned Devaki and Vasudeva, and murdered their first six offspring. The seventh, Balarama, was miraculously saved, and the eighth was Krishna, who was rescued and delivered into the hands of Vasudeva’s friends, the cow herders Nanda and Yashoda. He was born on the eighth day of the month of Shravan; the festival celebrating his birth, Janamashtami‡ (janam, ‘birth’, ashtami, ‘eighth’) is marked by fasts, prayers and the enactment of incidents from Krishna’s childhood, and is as eagerly anticipated as Christians look forward to the advent of Christmas.
Sources: http://www.mythicmaps.net/Book_of_days/Sep/Krishna/Sept_Krishna.htm
In chapter nine Lord Krishna reveals that the sovereign science and the sovereign secret. He explains how the entire material existence is created, prevaded, maintained and annihilated by His external energy and all beings are coming and going under His supervision. The subjects matters covered subsequently are primarily concerned with devotional service and the Lord Himself declares that these subject matters are most confidential. Thus this chapter is entitled: Confidential Knowledge of the Ultimate Truth.
In chapter seven Lord Krishna gives concrete knowledge of the absolute reality as well as the opulence of divinity. He describes His illusory energy in the material existence called Maya and declares how extremely difficult it is to surmount it. He also describes the four types of people attracted to divinity and the four types of people who are opposed to divinty. In conclusion He reveals that one in spiritual intelligence takes exclusive refuge of the Lord without reservation in devotional service. Thus this chapter is entitled: Knowledge of the Ultimate Truth.
In chapter six Lord Krishna reveals astanga yoga, and the exact process of practicing such yoga. He explains in detail the difficulties of the mind and the procedures by which one may gain mastery of their mind through yoga which reveals the spiritual nature of a living entity. Thus this chapter is entitled: The Science of Self-Realization.