On #GitaJayanti, I prostrate before Sri Krishna for conceptualising the Bhagwad Gita, Ved Vyasa for compiling these powerful spiritual ideas, and Sri Aurobindo for taking them to the next level.
A thread...

The one shloka from the Bhagwad Gita that has dominated the 2020 discourse is on dealing with death:

नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः ।
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः ॥

Weapons cannot cleave it, nor the fire burn, nor do the waters drench it, nor the wind dry.
I have had to send these words of solace to many friends and relatives this year.
But finding solace requires us to read the Gita, live it.
Die the body will but death is only a passport to the next life, next evolution, the Bhagwad Gita tells us.
That’s how I read this shloka.
#GitaJayanti is a good day to read the Bhagwad Gita, one of 58 Gitas, of which 18 reside in the Mahabharata and the rest outside.
The Gitas in the Mahabharata and Ashtavakra Gita I knew; the rest have been enumerated by @bibekdebroy in his new book.
Depending on the engagement path and reading skill, every seeker will have a unique proclivity to the Bhagwad Gita and its expositions.
I find Sri Aurobindo’s Essays on the Gita the deepest, the widest and the loftiest modern interpretation of these ancient truths.
The Bhagwad Gita by Paramahansa Yogananda interprets the text through material symbolism of spiritual forces. Simplicity its signature, gentle its texture, these two volumes are an easy introduction.
महाभारत by the Gita Press is my go-to text for Sanskrit-Hindi version. The Bhagwad Gita is situated in the तृतीय खण्ड।
Finally, if you want to introduce the Bhagwad Gita to your children, introduce them to the joys of Amar Chitra Katha, in 10th of a 14-volume collection.
The focus in 2020 has been on death and immortality.
Let’s see where 2021 takes us.
Irrespective, this text will continue to inspire us, guide us — in an increasingly fragmenting world, if there is one unifying idea, it is the Bhagwad Gita.

More from Religion

Assalam Alaiki dear Sister in Islam. I hope this meets you well. Hope you are keeping safe in this pandemic. May Allah preserve you and your beloved family. I would like to address the misconception and misinterpretation in your thread. Please peruse the THREAD below.


1. First off, a disclaimer. Should you feel hurt by my words in the course of the thread, then forgive me. It’s from me and not from Islam. And I probably have to improve on my delivery. And I may not quote you verbatim, but the intended meaning would be there. Thank You!

2. Standing on Imam Shafii’s quote: “And I never debated anyone but that I did not mind whether Allah clarified the truth on my tongue or his tongue” or “I never once debated anyone hoping to win the debate; rather I always wished that the truth would come from his side.”

3. Okay, into the meat (my love for meat is showing. Lol) of the thread. Even though you didn’t mention the verse that permitted polygamy, everyone knows the verse you were talking about (Q4:3).


4. Your reasons for the revelation of the verse are strange. The first time I came across such. I had to quickly consult the books on the exegeses or tafsir of the Quran written by renowned specialists!
#Ramayana #LecturesOnTheRamayana

In the past, we had a glimpse of Lakshmana's devotion towards Sri Rama, his brother and father figure.

However, it is interesting to note his unique relationship with Sita, especially as seen by from her perspective.

Thread below

1/

We all know about the Golden Deer / Maricha incident and the way Sita influences Lakshmana to go in search of his brother.

Personally, I am unable to get 2 strong emotional points in one thread and hence, I will skip this incident for today.

2/

In Sundara Kanda, when Hanuman meets Sita, she says the following

सिंहस्कन्धो महाबाहुर्मनस्वी प्रियदर्शिनः।
पितृवद्वर्तते रामे मातृवन्मां समाचरन्।।

Lakshmana, who has lionshoulders and strong arms, who is handsome, who takes Rama as his father & treats me as his own mother

3/

ह्रियमाणां तदा वीरो न तु मां वेद लक्ष्मणः।
वृद्धोपसेवी लक्ष्मीवान् शक्तो न बहुभाषिता।।

Heroic Lakshmana, did not know while I was borne away. He is prosperous, foremost in serving elders. He is energetic and reserved in his speech like my father-in-law ..

4/

He is a prince dear (to his brother).

These are from Sarga-38, shlokas 60 and 61.

There are 3 distinct points which I want to draw the attention of the reader to.

1. She also compares Lakshmana to Dasaratha much like how Rama did when he constructed the hut in panchavati

5/

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