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Salute to Mother Geeta - Śrī Bhagavad Gītā Jayanti and Happy Anniversary


December 23, 2012



Today is the auspicious occasion of Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā Jayanti (Anniversary). It is said that on this holy Ekadashi day, over 5-6000 years ago, Śrī Kṛṣṇa taught this sacred message to the warrior Arjuna. It is also marks the second anniversary of the day that I started this blog. On this occasion, I invoke the 1st verse of the Geeta Dhyanam, attributed to Śrī Madhusudan Saraswati.
ँ़ पार्थाय प्रतिबोधितां भगवता नारायणेनस्वयं
व्यासेन ग्रथितां पुराणमुनिना मध्ये महाभारतम् ।
अद्वैतामृतवर्षिणीं भगवतीं अष्टदशाध्यायिनीं
अम्ब त्वामनुसन्दधामि भगवद्गीते भवद्वेषिणीम् ।। १ ।।


OM paarthaya pratibodhitaa.m bhagavataa naaraayaNenasvaya.m
vyaasenagrathitaa.n puraaNamuninaa madhye mahaabhaaratam.h |
advaitaamR^itvarshhiNii.n bhagavatii.n ashTadashaadhyaayinii.n
ambatvaamanusandadhaami bhagavadgiite bhavadveshhiNiim.h | | 1 | |

OM, O Bhagavad Gītā, by which Pārtha (Arjuna) was enlightened by the Lord Nārāyaṇa himself, which was incorporated in the Mahābhārata by the ancient sage Vyāsa, the Divine Mother, who showers, the nectar of the philosophy of Advaita in the form of eighteen chapters, upon Thee, O Blessed Mother, I constantly meditate. You are the sure antidote, i.e. destroyer of Saṁsāra (cycle of birth and death).

To quote Param Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji:
"Without reverence, respect and faith for the very textbook in hand, no serious study can ever take place; therefore, the very first stanza for meditation is dedicated to register our reverence and express our adoration to the Divine Mother Gītā Herself.

In the last line, the Gītā is addressed and approached as a mother and this is to be understood as very significant. The Gītā Mother, that gave birth to the universal religion, is the one to whom the children of any age can always confidently turn, expecting but total forgiveness and complete love, even after they have committed a million outrageous acts.

Constant remembrance of the way of life and the ideal goal of existence as indicated in the Gītā is therefore the surest and best method of revering and respecting Mother Gītā."

My praNām to the Guru Shishya Paramparā, Parama Guru Swami Tapovan Maharaj (whose Jayanti is also observed today) and Param Pujya Gurudev. A gentle nudge to checkout on this page today.

For those in Singapore, please checkout http://gitajayanti.org.sg/ for details of innumerable activities, competitions and the magnificent havan that is performed every year in honor of Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā.

Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post


PS: The picture shown is of the chariot that adorns the gate to Gangaji at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh in the Himalayas.

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