Arjuna

 Who is Arjuna? Arjuna is the individualized consciousness, albeit ‘divine’, a blemished mind (polluted by desire, attachment, ego, and other qualities). He is the blessed child of Indra ‘mantrasya-putrah’. 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! Kuntidevi is symbolically the Mother Earth (found in a box while ploughing the field?).

    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!

    What is ‘Brahmavidya’? The Bhagavad-Gita as ‘Brahmavidya’ is the highest knowledge. It is ‘para-vidya’. It is ‘Knowledge Supreme’ (Vedanta)! It is the Knowledge of the Self, Atmajnyan.

   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’’.

    Mukti (liberation) and moksha (emancipation), as revealed in the last Chapter of the Gita, are very important instructions imparted by the Lord. It is the ‘Realization of the Self’ or ‘Atmajnyan’ that brings about liberation. 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 friend, philosopher and guide, He, the Bhagavan, advises us, confused minds, the Arjunas in us, not to worry (actually He says maa shuchaa), whatever happens, happens. It is beyond your limits of control!” Bhagavan guides us giving several options and allows liberty to pick and choose whatever means that suits the temperament! Finally, He, the Benevolent Lord, assures that “Ultimately, all will reach Him!”

    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 sAlso, it is quite intriguing that the spoken words of the Lord, Bhagavan Sri Krishna comes here as the one that Minister Sanjaya is narrating to the Blind Kuru King Dhrutarashtra about the happenings on the Kurukshetra Battlefield. The Bhagavad-Gita starts with the request of the Arjuna requests his Charioteer Sri Krishna to take him to the middle of the Battlefield so that he can see who all have assembled to fight! He sees the army of the Kourava headed by Guru Dronacharya and the Grandsire Bhishma along with Duryodhana and Dushyasana and others. Bewildered, overcome by his attachment, getting confused, Arjuna declares that “He will not fight” and keeps his bow and arrows down! It is at this point, that too after the bugles were blown and drums beaten to declare the war started that the ‘gitopadesha’ starts!

    In the very words of Bhagavan Shree Krishna, this Gita as Brahma vidya yogopanishat was firs revealed to the Sun God Vivasvan at the beginning of Creation! This was later on passed on to manu, Ikshvaku and others and finally lost!  इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानमव्ययम्।विवस्वान्मनवे मनुरिक्त्वाकवेब्रवीत्॥(४.१)

   Meaning, The Lord says, “I first taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan, the Sun, the first manu; who in turn told it to Manu; Manu proclaimed it to Ikshvaku.” It is also stated that “Every time these scriptures are lost and the pious people suffer the Lord appears again and again to restore dharma”. I instruct knowledge of Atman, Soul, and help confused minds, seeking solace to realize its true nature, and thereby, help them to get released from eternal bondage of sansar.

    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, tapas in sanyasa (renunciation). Thus, the jiva is redeemed from its bondage, released from the shackles of kaala, niyati and other limitations (‘maya’).