His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, Mumbai
Introduction to Bhagavad-gita (Class notes and T1: introduction +
R1: Introduction ) Srila Vyasa Deva: Compiler of Bhagavad- gita Literary incarnation of Supreme Lord Son of Parasara Compiler of original Vedic literatures Written 1010 slokas Srila Vyasa Deva: Compiler of Bhagavad- gita Selflessly thought of people in kaliyuga i.e. us His vision is perfect His fame is spotless Firm in vow and truthfulness What are Vedas? Root word vitta i.e. to know Vedas are known as sruti i.e. that which is heard Vyasdeva compiles four vedas What are Vedas? One veda is divided into four vedas ◦ Samveda 1000 sakas (divisions) ◦ Rgveda 100 sakas ◦ Yajurveda 21 sakas ◦ Atharvaveda 9 sakas Each saka is further divided into ◦ Aranyakas ◦ Samhitas ◦ Upanishads ◦ brahmanas What are Vedas? Furher, Srila Vyasa deva compiled itihasaas, puranas. Total sakas (divisions) are 4520 And total slokas are 1010 Vyasa deva has compiled everything for the benefit of human population in Kaliyuga Unique position of Bhagavad-gita Bhagavad gita kinchidadhita ganga jala lava kanika pita sakrdapi ye na murari samarcha kriyate tasya yamenana charcha Gita mahatmya Vishnoh padam avapnoti bhaya sokadi varjitah Gitadhyayana silasya Pranayama parasya ca Naiva santi hi papani Purva janma krtani ca Gita mahatmya mala nirmocanam pumsam Jala snanam dine dine sakrd gitamrta snanam samsara mala nasanam Gita mahatmya gita sugita kartavya kim anyaih sastra vistaraih ya svayam padmanabhasya mukha padmad vinihsrta Gita mahatmya bharatamrta sarvasvam visnu vaktrad vinihsrtam gita-ganodakam pitva punar janma na vidyate Gita mahatmya sarvopanishado gavo dogdha gopala nandanah partho vatsah sudhir bhokta dusdham gitamrtam mahat Gita mahatmya ekam sastram devaki putra gitam eko devo devaki putra eva eko mantras tasya namani yani karmapy ekam tasya devasya seva Unique position of Bhagavad-gita vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam vedanta-vid veda-krt eva ca aham (15.15) trai-gunya-visaya veda nistrai-gunyo bhavarjuna nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho niryoga-ksema atmavan (2.45) Bhagavad-gita Appears as an episode in Mahabharata Is spoken by Krishna, the Supreme Lord, to Arjuna, His devotee and friend This historical and transcendental event took place 50 centuries ago, just at the beginning of Kali yuga. Subject matters of Bhagavada-gita Isvara: Controller Jiva: living entity Prkriti: Material nature Kala: Time Karma: action The Infalliable Vedic Knowledge E.g. Cow dung Beyond four defects ◦ Imperfect senses ◦ Commiting mistakes ◦ Being Illusioned ◦ Tendency to cheat others Infallible Vedic knowledge Basis of acceptance Four defects Faith, integral part of any learning process Axiomatic truths Ways of gaining knowledge Pratyaksha praman Anuman praman Sabda praman ◦ Only way to understand Vedic scriptures Sanatana Dharma Religion ? A kind of faith ! Christianity -- Hinduism – Islam – Sikhism - …….. Indian – American – European – Tamil – Telugu --.. Faith keeps changing! Dharma – That which constantly exists with a particular object That which has neither beginning nor end Dharma of fire is heat and light Dharma of Living entity is to Serve God Sanatana dharma What is dharma? ◦ Sanatana dharma – eternal occupation of living entity
The Religious Imagery of Khajuraho by Devangana Desai Review By: Bettina Bäumer Artibus Asiae, Vol. 59, No. 1/2 (1999), Pp. 138-140 Published By: Stable URL: Accessed: 17/06/2014 12:37