Gita

Margasirsha month is also mentioned in the Bhagvad Gita by Lord Sri Krishna. The below sloka tells about the significance and spiritual importance of margasirsha maasa.

Bruhatsama thatha samnam  Gayatri Chandasamaham

Masanam Margashirshoam Ruthunam Kusumakarna ||   [ BG 10.35 ]

It means – Lord Krishna says “I, myself, stay in Bruhathsama in the Samaveda, Gayatri in Chandassu or literature, Margashira or Margasirsha in months and Vasant rithu in rithus or seasons”. I manifest more in Margasirsha Masa among the different months in a year. The Sannidhana of the Lord is more in Margasirsha Masa. Hence this Masa is regarded as superior to other Masas.

And the other important event in Dhanur Masa is the “Gita Jayanti” which is observed It is on this day many ages ago, in the sacred battlefield of Kurushetra, Lord Krishna not only blessed Arjuna with His amrutopadesha but the entire world with His words. Bhagavad-gita is also known as Gitopanishad. The Bhagavadgita, or the Song of the Lord, is a dialogue between Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, and His friend and disciple, Arjuna. This dialogue takes place in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. The Bhagavad Gita is composed of 701  shlokas (verses) arranged in 18 chapters. It is one of the best-known philosophical texts of Hinduism, and is said to contain the essence of Upanishadic thought. No other work in the world has been translated in as many different languages as the Gita. It is eternal and applicable to entire world at all times.

The Bhagavad Gita has not only attained the status of Classics in literature but also accepted as the Pre-eminent scripture.  The fact that it has attracted numerous commentaries by many saints exhibits that it is the philosophy of  perennial nature.  The word Gita  itself would mean nectar. The Baghavad Gita scores a point over the vedhas for the  following reason.  The vedhas praise the Lord Krishna  and therefore the paramatma is superior to the vedhas.  Gita being the essence of the vedhas is the word of the Lord and hence the conclusion. And we need to note here with gratitude, our great Acharyaru has written not one but two granthas on Gita in Gita Bhasya and Gita Tatparya. Such is the emphasis and greatness of this Gita. No other Acharya has done this.

In the first of the series on Gita, we would look at Gita Mahatmayam in this article. Varaha Purana has this and it is also found in Padma Purana where the Gita Mahatmayam is mentioned and there is a story associated with every chapter of Bhagavad Gita in it. Padma Purana discusses in detail the glory and greatness of The Bhagavad Gita in Uttarkhand section of the purana. Uttarkhand contains a discussion about the metaphysical knowledge of religion presented in a dialogue style between Lord Shiva and Parvati.  Lord Vishnu says He himself has manifested in the form of Bhagavad Gita and anyone who daily recites one chapter or even one shloka will attain great position by His grace.

Thanks to Samskrita Bharati and in particular, Sri Venkatakrishnan Mahodaya for bringing me closer to Bhagavad Gita and helping me to sail steady in this Ocean of Knowledge.