The Salient Features of the Bhagavad-Gita

The Salient features

1.  The Bhagavad-Gita reveals the utmost secret of Brahma vidya and yogashastra for redemption of the embodied soul.

2.  The Source of the Bhagavad-Gita- Unknown! In the words of Bhagavan, “It was first imparted to Vivasvan, the Sun (4.56 billion years ago!)”. (See Ch. IV. Verse 1). It is the spoken words of the Lord as stated in the Gita (Bhagavan uvacha). Since He, the Lord, is the self of all, seated within us all, anybody can hear His voice if intently looks within in a transcendental state of mind (samadhi yoga) as desired and there is no doubt in this!

3.  Who is the author of the ‘Divine Song’ the Gita?

It is none other than the supreme Lord, parabrahman, Shree Krishna Dvaipayana who later came to be known as Veda vyasa since he classified the voluminous (over a lakh verses) Veda. (See Ch. X) These are His own pronouncements regarding this.

4.  Who gave this instruction (upadesha) to whom and when?

Bhagavan Shree Krishna, as pure Consciousness, imparted this secret knowledge of ‘brahmavidya’ and ‘yogashastra’ to the confused Mind (Arjuna) as repeatedly stated at the end of each of the eighteen chapters of the Gita..

5.  Who is Bhagavan Shree Krishna?

At the outset, Bhagavan is ‘Param-Atman’, pure consciousness (purnam-prajnyam). He, the Lord is divine non-dual; however, may enter anywhere, pervade (pravishat) as in divi dual consciousness, manas (Mind) as Arjuna!

     There are several sources cited in this regard viz, the Srimat Bhagavata purana, the Mahabharata, and the Gita itself (Ch. X) where the answers to this question is available. According the epic, Krishna is born in Mathura to the parents- vasudeva and devaki, kept in jail by the wicked King Kamsa. Devaki is the sister of Devaki and Kamsa is thus the maternal uncle of Krishna. Both Vasudeva and Devaki were kept in the prison for the fear of by King Kamsa for the fear of being killed (as told by akashavani and warned) by the eighth child born to Vasudeva-Devaki.. He was rejoicing after his sister’s marriage and this warning came to him and he was about to kill her and vasudeva. But, he was counselled that he need not kill her and it is the child that would kill him! So he decided to kill all the children born to her and kept the couple in the prison. Krishna was born in the prison at Mathura. So the eighth child was shifted to Gokula of the King Nanda and Yashodha sister of Vasudeva. However, Bhagavan Shree Krishna says, That He is never born nor does He die. He says, “He always exists as parabrahman without any attributes (nirakara). Thus, Bhagavan Shree Krishna is the birthless, deathless, attributeless, and formless (guna-ateeta and nirakara) ‘parabrahman’. He, the Lord, further says, “Neither the learned sages, nor the Gods and Goddesses, will ever know Him. He cannot be known by the study of scriptures or by any other means!” This is because, “He only exists and nothing else exists besides Him!” Further, He asserts that, “He, the Lord Paramatman, exists in all as the Self (Atma) of all” If He only exists and nothing else besides Him, it is for us to see Him within us, and realize, experience, visualize, and become one ‘merged in Him’- discarding all that we have acquired as body, senses, mind, intellect, ego and all the qualities associated with Prakruti (Nature). This is the essence of the Gitopadesha. Krishna means that which has no limit of time that will not diminish with time (‘Krish-na’).

6.  Who is Arjuna?

 Arjuna is the individualized consciousness, albeit ‘divine’, a blemished mind (polluted by desire, ego, and other qualities) the blessed child ‘mantrasya-putrah’ of blessed by Indra, the ‘God of all Gods’ (devaadideva). In fact, all the Pandava are born by the ‘Grace of Gods’, the boon (in the form of mantra) given to Kunti, and not born as children from King Pandu like ordinary mortals!

7.  What is the main theme of the Gita?

  As ‘brahmavidya’ and a ‘yogopanishat’ the theme of Bhagavad-Gita is ‘liberation of the embodied soul’. The basic concept is that the “the jiva existed in the beginning in its pure state as an ‘energy particle’- chaitanya (prana), chit (prajnya), and vital-airs. It got enmeshed as a jiva on the earth!! The pure energy particle, chaitanya, ‘prana’, has now become a ‘prani’ (living being) embodied in an earthen shell (sharira). This prani, jiva, looks out for liberation, release from its earthly existence! The jiva is locked in a chain, condemned to a repeatedly embodied state in one form or the other. Once, the jiva realizes its predicament it (as confused mind) looks for guidance to a higher power (pure consciousness). Here comes the Gita as “Words of Bhagavan” that helps the jiva to revert to its pure state! The supreme Lord only comes here to teach ‘yoga’ and ‘Atmajnyan’ and ‘brahmavidya’ and thereby, helps the troubled souls to revert to their pure state. With the help of the Gita, the jiva can get cleansed of all its karmaklesha and merge in Bhagavan. Here, yoga, meaning, ‘yuj’, is taught so as to ‘get united’, ‘merge’, with the Lord. It does not matter whether one accepts or not this fundamental principle! The Lord knows this and says, “Let them perish if they do not believe in My words”! The exact way of creation of life-forms, as well as, their release from cycle of rebirths, bondage, is described here. Hence, the purpose of this entire unwritten scripture, spoken words of Bhagavan Shree Krishna, is to enlighten the ignorant jivas and liberate them from suffering; it comes as a guide, a handbook, for all humanity to live a fruitful life, seek solace in times of distress and revert back to the pure pristine formless state!

8.  What is ‘Brahmavidya’?

‘Brahmavidya’ is the highest knowledge, ‘para-vidya’. It is the ‘Knowledge supreme’ (vedanta)! It is the Knowledge of the Self, Atmajnyan, brahmavidya.

9.  What is ‘yoga Shastra’?

Yoga is the means of attaining to ‘unity-consciousness’, ‘oneness (‘yuj’) with brahmn’. Having arrived on this Earth (mrutyu lok) where all that is born has to die, death is certain, besides ill-health, sickness, and old age, the suffering jivas look forward for some divine help and appeals to God! The Gitopadesha comes as a divine help, the means of emancipation, liberation, getting back or reverting to pure state, of Consciousness, ‘chit’ , gains knowledge of the Self, Atmajnyan, and ‘enlightenment’’.

10.    Mukti and moksha as revealed in the last Chapter of the Gita is a very important indtruction imparted by the Lord. It is the ‘Realization of the Self’ or ‘Atmajnyan’ that brings about liberation.

Conclusion 

Bhagavan Shree Krishna comes here as friend, philosopher, and guide not only to Arjuna, but to all of us. As a friend, He says “I am always with you. I shall take care of you.”. As a philosopher, He advises us not to worry, whatever happens, happens. It is beyond your limits!” And, as a Guide, Bhagavan gives several options and allows you liberty to pick and choose whatever means that suits you. Finally, He, the Benevolent Lord, assures that “Ultimately all will reach Him!”

11.    What is taught by the Lord here and what is the methodology”

The Bhagavad-Gita deals with emancipation step by step. It starts with the troubled mind and ends with enlightenment. The supreme Lord, Bhagavan Shree Krishna goes on advising we the mortals through ‘Arjuna’ how to attain to ‘Self’. First, He, the Lord, advises us (through Arjuna) to perform our ordained duties without any expectations (‘nishkama karma’) and then goes on to explain how bhakti, jnyan, dhyana, and samadhi  as regular practice, ‘abhyasa yoga’ and ‘nirasakti yoga’ will help the troubled souls, confused minds, seeking solace to realize its true nature, and thereby, get released from bondage.

    Since the Lord Himself is seated as ‘antaryamin’, the very consciousness of the jivas, the spoken words of the Lord is not very difficult to understand by any ordinary person. Here Bhagavan Shree Krishna speaks in very clear terms. He, the Lord, says, “The jiva can obtain knowledge and wisdom and thereby gets discretionary power (viveka) to know ‘what to do’ and ‘what not to do’. Then, the jiva takes to sacrificial rituals, yajnya, daana, and finally, sanyasa (renunciation). Thus, the jiva is redeemed from its bondage, released from the shackles of kaala, niyati and other limitations (‘maya’).

Once the jiva is enlightened as to its true nature- sat chit, and ananda, the shackles of karma are broken and the consequent rebirths (punarjanma) in different forms and the associated sufferings end.