Though, sometimes referred to as a scripture, the Gita is not a religious doctrine in its strict sense. It is an epic poem, sung by Lord Krishna, the eighth reincarnation of Vishnu, to his friend prince Arjun at the battlefield of Mahabharata.
Picture a battlefield near Delhi; armies of five million combined, on one side are the Pandavas representing the good. On the other side are the Kauravas, their cousins, representing the evil. Prince Arjun, one of the five Pandav brothers is about to enter into a battle with his cousins, an acts he considers immoral. Arjun doubts whether it is the right thing for him to bring his own family to ruins. Buckled under this confusion he asks, “Why am I doing this, Krishna”. Krishna replies that Arjun should carry out his duty, because all human beings are instruments in God’s eternal plan. What follows is the timeless dialog that Krishna delivers, popularly known as the Gita.
The Gita is composed of eighteen chapters. Gita teaches us to be more spiritual, not more religious and that salvation is not gained through the offices of the priest, but by attention to one’s duty. There are some apparent repetitions in the teachings of the Gita, which are believed to be deliberate. Since these ideas are very profound, these eternal truths are presented in various contexts. Scholars have written commentaries on this philosophical book of knowledge from ancient times to the modern day today, and yet the message reveals new dimensions and interpretations. The modern relevance of this message, though voiced thousands of years ago, is very vital.
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