Today is Gita Jayanti. On this day, the Gita was revealed by Lord Krishna to Arjuna. More than 10 years ago, I had written an article on the Bhagavad Gita. Thanks to Internet Archive, the article is still available for reading. I re-read it and I must say I am quite proud of my younger self. The article encapsulates a lot of my thoughts on the text.
But this post is not about my earlier article. It is about renewing the pursuit to study and experiencing the concepts mentioned in the text.
Verse 20 of the Bhaja Govindam (composed by Bhagwan Adi Shankaracharya) mentions the Bhagavad Gita. It says:
भगवद्गीता किञ्चिदधीता गङ्गाजललवकणिका पीता ।
सकृदपि येन मुरारिसमर्चा क्रियते तस्य यमेन न चर्चा ॥ २०॥
20. To one who has studied the Bhagavad-Gita even a little, who has sipped at least a drop of Ganga water, who has worshipped at least once Lord Murari, there is no discussion (quarrel) with Yama, the Lord of Death.
[Translation by Swami Chinmayananda ji]
Last year when I was in Mt. Abu, Swamiji explained this verse. In this verse, Bhagwan Shankaracharya says that even a little study of the Gita goes a long way in the journey to liberation. To explain this better, the reference of Ganga water is also given. Ganga is sacred to Hindus. It is believed that Ganga's waters washes away our sins. All waters of the Ganga are purifying and sacred. There is no qualification regarding quantum i.e.: you must have a glass full of Ganga water and then you will be purified. Or that you must bathe 100 times and then you will be purified. Or that the purifying character of the water exists in certain parts of the river and does not exist elsewhere. The whole Ganga is purifying. Even a drop of the Ganga purifies. This is precisely why during ceremonies, a drop of Ganga water is added to the kalasha and thereafter the entire kalasha water is deemed to be purfied.
The same is true for the Bhagavad Gita. All of it is purifying and sacred. Every part of it - every chapter, every shloka, every word, and every alphabet is pure and sacred. Just as one drop of the Ganga purifies; similarly, one alphabet of the Gita purifies.
Thus, while attempt must always be made to study and imbibe the entire text; the same should not deter us from starting the study of the Gita. If you can't study the entire text, start by taking up the study of one chapter. If you can't study one chapter, start by taking up the study of one shloka. If you can't take up the study of one shloka, take up the study of one word of the Gita. If you can't take up the study of one word, take up the study of one alphabet of the Gita. But start you must.
And continue it. If possible, do it everyday. If not, once a week. If not, once a month. But do it.
If you can't study it, recite it. If you can't recite it, hear it. But take out the time. Make the effort. Take the first step.
I cannot explain how much the text has helped me. I have been studying it since over a decade. And each time, it offers something new. It has the answers to our struggles. We must make the attempt to search. Rest you leave to God.
Earlier this year, I had started reading and sharing the translation of one verse of the Gita every day. Of course, after sometime I stopped; mostly out of my tamas. I hope that today that enthusiasm can be renewed and we can (re)start our study and experimentation of the Holy Gita.
Hari Om Tat Sat
