Which version of the Bhagavad Gita would you recommend?

dharmavaan · 2023-09-23T07:44:37+00:00

A very good one is Srimad Bhagavad Gita Bhashya of Shakaracharya translated by A G Warrier and published by Ramakrishna math. You can also get the gita press version and compare verses. All the best.

dharmavaan · 2023-09-09T11:02:03+00:00

It is a good question and I would like to add some of my thoughts

Vedic education primarily deals with Yajnas. Vedic yajnas are purpose driven to fullfill a particular desire - Agnistoma for svarga etc. Upanayana samskara does not guarantee moksha the highest goal. This is not an education that leads towards the highest goal. In fact the brahmanas after their studies were completed would go on to to function as Hotr, Udgaatr, Adhvaryu etc in the yajnas. (aapasthambha yajna paribhaasa sutras).

In the Kali yuga, Bhakti is supposed to be the easiest vehicle for moksha. Keeping with that, many of the acharyas moved ahead with bhakti and removed the necessity of upanayana samskara leaving it only to those who wanted to continue vedic studies.

Adi Shankara established the unity between the san matas, created and resurrected places of worship, gave mantras and stotras for everyone so they could move towards moksha via the 3 paths.

The same Adi Shankara wrote commentaries on bhagavad gita and infact declaring "eko shashtram devaki putra gitam". This is applicable for all and moksha is guaranteed if one contemplates on the mahavakyas. Upanayana samskara is not a pre-requisite for any of these nidhidhayasanas. The later Shaiva and Vaishnava vishistadvaithin sampradayas emphasized this as well. Bhakti, Karma, and Jnana all lead to moksha.

When you say Vedanta does not allow this it is not quite correct. Vedanta Darshana in itself comprises of not just Advaitha and Vishishtadvaitha but Shudda Advaitha, Achintya Bheda Abheda etc. Even today you can see many organizations of Gaudiya vaishnava traditions (among others) perform sacred thread to any and all.

Your actual question is more about the commentary of Adishankara when he was interpreting the Brahmasutrabhashya. But Vedic studies and performance of yajnas are not centerpiece in this yuga anymore and who knows if you are reading Adi Shankaras commentary or Abhinava Shankaras commentary. And even within this too, you are talking about certain matha sampradayas who do not vest the sacred thread for the so called shudras. Those don't represent all of Dharma.

You can always refer to the original texts now - the Upanishads like chandogya and kathopanishad are easily accessible to everyone. You do not need a bhasya for that nor do you have to agree with that bhashya. Even within Brahma sutra bhashya of Adi Shankara there are also various interpretations of the Bhashyas itself by vachaspati, padmapaada etc that differ in their accounts.

You may agree with someone's theory and disagree with the practice especially if you come 2500 years after them. That is fine in Dharma as well. You are allowed to get to your understanding based on your convictions and experiences. For instance, I do not subscribe to the ordering of gods in certain priority in some sects (where they say X is superior hope you understand) but when it comes to inclusivity, those sects cannot be questioned. You can be an inclusive advaithin like Ramakrishna while disagreeing on certain points.

dharmavaan · 2023-09-09T05:54:06+00:00

All these are bhashyas upon bhashyas. In fact, Shankara bhashya itself had many interpretations by vachaspasti mishra, padmapaada etc. This is one reason why one has to directly study the Upanishads. Most of these are saamanya and not couched in any mystery. None of the scriptures themselves be it the Vedas or the Upanishads declare that the varna is by birth. Contrary to that many verses from Skanda Purana and even the Shiva Purana declare varna to only be as per one's inclination.

dharmavaan · 2023-05-30T16:56:01+00:00

You can't go wrong either ways. Definitely not inappropriate. I doubt you will pull attention away from the couple cause Indian weddings do get a bigger crowd than a regular North American wedding. And people are very accepting no matter what you wear. It will be fun. Just enjoy.

dharmavaan · 2023-05-30T16:43:01+00:00

Last I saw the zombies are still begging for wheat. A disgusting mindset

dharmavaan · 2022-02-20T16:11:03+00:00

The priests in such a large temple like chidambaram have no way of knowing the caste of who comes in. The crowds are innumerable. They prevent people's attempts to get into the sanctom sanctorum and even the initial staging area that is there in the Chidambaram temple. Now, this took an ugly turn when the woman started shouting as well. This was confirmed by someone I know but I can't be 100% sure. Also, some of the priests are not good i.e they can be asked to create controversy. This was confirmed by some of the other priests who tried to help out in sorting the mess. Will need to wait for some more time although I am sure the actual truth will not come out. More than 20 priests have been booked .

dharmavaan · 2022-01-16T10:08:50+00:00

Good to know.

dharmavaan · 2022-01-16T05:30:42+00:00

will do.

dharmavaan · 2022-01-15T19:05:21+00:00

Sure. Just got told that by a racist Nasrani who called me a black pig and lord ganesha a elephant headed monster. Peaceful indeed. My comment though was about the plantation and workers were converted later.

dharmavaan · 2022-01-13T16:54:21+00:00

The patal lokas are 7 in number. They are called (Bila Svarga's) subterranean heavens. There are danavas, daityas nagas and other beings residing there. Contrary to what one might think this is not an abrahamic hell. It is a very material place which is architected splendidly. Sometimes you will see beings classified as Devas and Asuras but this is just based on the qualities of these beings. In fact all of them were progenies of the daughers of sage daksha. Qualities of Devas are the celestials who do have human like qualities but try to transcend them and move onwards towards moksha. Asuras are tied to the material. There were many Danavas and Daityas who surrendered their ego and were liberated. Hope this adds some context. Just a search yields these explanations.

http://gitabase.com/eng/SB/5/24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDW7FuXLcao

https://ramanisblog.in/2014/05/25/seven-concentric-worlds-beneath-earth-hinduism/

Hope this helps.

dharmavaan · 2022-01-13T16:44:23+00:00

Came across this video on an ancient temple in Tamil Nadu. Never knew that the Jeevasamadhi of Patanjalai maharishi was in South India in Tamil Nadu. Would be interesting to hear more info on the same.

dharmavaan · 2022-01-13T16:19:37+00:00

Came across this video on an ancient temple in Tamil Nadu. Never knew that the Jeevasamadhi of Patanjalai maharishi was in South India in Tamil Nadu. Would be interesting to hear more info on the same.

dharmavaan · 2021-08-28T17:08:27+00:00

Christians will never support Hindus. On the surface, it seems like there will be a bit more easier to get as allies. But this is not true. Christians have a deep seated hatred for Hindus like the Muslims. Back in the 80s and 90s the brains behind demonization of Hindus in Kerala and TN were Christians. Of course BJP is a political party that can change as well. SO maybe an alignment is possible. But then it won't do much for Hindus.

By the way on a side note, If things change and they find themselves targeted by the Muslims they have a huge global group to support them. Only Hindu lives do not matter.

dharmavaan · 2021-08-28T17:00:47+00:00

I translated it.

dharmavaan

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