Monday, 12 December 2016

Gita Jayanti and Jyotisar

Few days ago, 8thDec was the day of Gita Jayanti,the day of the Advent of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita i,e  the day on which Lord Sri Krishna spoke Bhagavad-Gita to Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra war.As per Hindu calender, it was a Shukla Ekadashi, 11th day of the waxing moon of Margashirsha month.Also known as Gitopanisad, Srimad Bhagavad Gita contains the essence of Vedic knowledge and one of the most important Upanisads in Vedic literature.The speaker of Bhagavad-Gita is Lord Sri Krishna who is mentioned as Bhagavan or the Supreme God in every page of Gita and, the same is confirmed by all the great acharyas (spiritual masters) like Shankaracarya, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Nimbarka, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and many other authorities of Vedic knowledge.
Thus about 5000 years ago, on this very day Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna, who accepted him as a spiritual master. Arjuna is confused about his duty and surrendered to Lord Krishna and requested him to guide him and clarify his doubts.This is when, Lord Krishna starts speaking to Arjuna.
JYOTISAR - The place where Lord Krishna spoke the Gita

JYOTISAR - The place where Lord Krishna spoke the Gita


The subject of the Bhagavad-Gita entails the comprehension of 5 basic truths: Isvara (the Supreme Lord), jiva (the living entity), prakrti (nature), kala (eternal time) and karma (activity) are all explained in the Bhagavad-Gita. Out of these five, the Lord, the living entities, material nature and time are eternal. The manifestation of prakrti may be temporary, but it is not false. Some philosophers say that the manifestation of material nature is false, but according to the philosophy of Bhagavad-Gita, this is not so. However, the karma, is not eternal. We are suffering or enjoying the results of our activities from time immemorial, but we can change the results of our karma, or our activity, and this change depends on the perfection of our knowledge. We are engaged in various activities. Undoubtedly we do not know what sort of activities we should adopt to gain relief from the actions and reactions of all these activities, but this is also explained in the Bhagavad-Gita.

Sometimes People say that Kurukshetra does not exist and that it's a mythological place, a symbol of the body or Kshetra and the senses. They say it is an allegory to explain certain truths.But,the fact is that Kurukshetra is a place in Haryana State of India. It is located at a 2 hour journey from New Delhi by Train and about by by Bus takes about 3 and haif hours.While travelling by bus there is a stop called “Pipli” on Kurukshetra by-pass. From there catch an auto-rickshaw to reach ISKCON Main Bazaar temple (6 km) and then see the holy places with the assistance from the local devotees, or at a nominal cost one can take the auto-rickshaw to visit all the important places to be seen in and around Kurukshetra.There are so many old temples and historic places to see in and around Kurukshetra that once,one is lucky enough to visit this places, no longer considers the place Kurukshetra and the historical incidents as a myth. One can see everything that is mentioned in the Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita.
One can visit “JYOTISAR”a place in Kurukshetra which is the Exact Spot where Lord Sri Krishna spoke Srimad Bhagavad-Gita to Arjuna.Today, as a testimony at the place a huge banyan tree can be seen.During the rule of Moghuls, the tree was cut down but, the tree again grew back. What is seen today is the tree that came back to life from the roots of the original tree.There is a board placed on the tree in which is written “The immortal banyan tree witness of the celestial song Bhagavad-Gita”. In fact this place is named as the “Gitopadesh sthal - place where the Bhagavad-Gita was spoken”.Doing the Parikrama or Circumambulation of the tree is considered as a very auspicious.There are a number of historic places and old temples including the recent ones like, ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) which has 3 Temples in Kurukshetra: (1) Sri Krishna-Arjuna Jyotisar Temple which is very next to “Jyotisar”, the exact spot where Lord Sri Krishna spoke Srimad Bhagavad-Gita., (2) Sri Sri Radha-Radha Kant Temple, Main Bazaar (3) A preaching centre in Kurukshetra.
Everyone knows, about the famous incident of Grandsire Bhisma lying on a bed of arrows, asks Arjuna for water to quench his thirst.The problem was and could be
only percieved by ones dear to him (Pandavas - Arjuna), that only the special water of river ganges would be able to quench his thirst.Thus,during the course of discussions between Bhismadeva and Yudhisthira Maharaj,when Bhismadeva asked for water, and Arjuna shot an arrow on the ground from which emanated the sacred Ganga
water which flowed into Bhisma’s mouth like a jet that quenched his thirst. This body of water is called ‘Ban Ganga’ which means that the Ganga that emanated from the e shot of a ‘Ban’ (arrow).Today, you can find a lake called Ban Ganga.
Similarly, you can find other places like,
Karnavadha - a long trench where the wheels of Karna's chariot were stuck before Arjuna killed him.
Parasar/Dvaipain: Parasara Muni, the father of Srila Vyasadeva, had his asrama here, about twenty-five miles south of the town of Thaneswar. Duryodhana hid in
the lake here after running away from battle at the end of the Mahabharata war. He came out of the water when the Pandavas challenged him to fight.
Chakravyuha: At Chakravyuha, 8kms south of Thaneswar, the general Dronacarya organized his army in the shape of a discus (cakra). It is also where Abhimanyu, the
son of Arjuna and Subhadra, was killed.

For further reading and details please visit the link;

Bhagavad Gita - As it is
There are so many versions of Bhagavad Gita written by so many authors but,  I would like to encourage all my readers to read this version called “ Bhagavad Gita – As it is” written by Srila Prabhupad. I remember myself, from childhood reading so many copies of Bhagavad Gita written by different authors but, they did not make much difference to my understanding of the subject matter of Gita. Yes, I would get the dry meaning of the verses and some interpretation  and I actually got more confused and wonder what is it, all about.Then, once I got a copy of Bhagavad Gita As it is by Srila Prabhupad and just by reading the introduction, I was blown away. I could get so much information and knowledge just by the initial few pages that, I then read the whole book like crazy. Everywhere, in the bus, tram, Lunch time, night etc and completed the book in 7 days. Since then, I keep going back to the book, reading it again and again and every time, I find that I find something new

No comments:

Post a Comment