Bangalore Diaries

In this chapter, Sri Krishna continues his discourse on the importance and significance of the TriGunas i.e. 3 modes / attributes. First, we need to understand the meaning of the name of the chapter. Shraddha Traya means 3 modes of devotion. This chapter addresses the concepts related to practices that one should follow and how they manifest across of the 3 Gunas.  In previous chapters, Sri Krishnas has been elaborating on the meaning of the TriGunas and in the previous chapter, Sri Krishna elaborated on the meaning of demonic and saintly attributes. Arjuna, representing the fickle human mind, poses a very interesting question. अर्जुन उवाच । ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विता: । तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तम: ॥ 17.1॥  Arjun said: O Krishna, where do they stand who disregard the injunctions of the scriptures, but still worship with faith? Is their faith in the mode of goodness, passion, or ignorance? Sri Krishna responds that all Jivas are borne with in...

In previous chapters of Srimad Bhagwad Gita, Sri Krishna constantly encourages us to follow the path of Dharma, aiming for principles like Nishkama Karma, Stithaprajna, Equanimity, developing Bhakti, harnessing Jnana and performing our karma without any attachment to the end result. Naturally, the curious mind will enquire how to identify these attributes? And more importantly what are the attributes or practices that one should safe guard themselves against. What’s the benefit of developing these sadgunas? How to perform our actions in the right manner? Sri Krishna addresses this question towards the end of the chapter. This is my preferred verse for this chapter: तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ । ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥ 24॥ Therefore, let the scriptures be your authority in determining what should be done and what should not be done. Understand the scriptural injunctions and teachings, and then perform your actions in this world accordingly....

Krishna .. Why do you subject us, the mere mortals to these trials? How does one decide to identify only one verse in a chapter whose every single verse is a gem on its own and merits lengthy deliberations for themselves. Purushottama Yoga is one such chapter of Srimad Bhagwad Gita where the reader is spoilt for choice for verses that can be considered as one of the best. It also needs to be highlighted that in some sampradhayas there is a practice of chanting the Purushottama yoga as part of daily anushtana. Amidst these challenging situation, I embark on this audacious attempt to identify one single verse that is representative of the chapter. In a nutshell, this chapter celebrates the magnificence and omnipresence of the Parabrahma . Purushottama yoga’s depiction is widely available on top of dharmic book covers i.e. inverted Ashwatta tree. While we go into the significance of these little later, let’s consider the name of the chapter i.e. Purushottama. It is not surprising that th...

Srimad Bhagwad Gita has multiple recurring themes as captured in previous chapters. This spans equanimity, StithaPrajna, NIshkama Karma, Bhakti, Jnana, Karma and Yoga to name a few. However, one of the most intriguing and enlightening aspects of Srimad Bhagwad Gita is the elaborate and masterful discourse on the interplay of the three modes of material nature i.e. TriGunas viz., Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.  Starting from this chapter, we will observe a repeating pattern in Sri Krishna’s teachings (which is in fact a masterclass), where he stresses the importance of the these 3 characteristics and why one should alleviate themselves above them to attain the supreme Brahman. Who is this supreme Brahman? 
Sri Krishna answers this in the final verse of this chapter. Whenever I read this verse, I always felt its Sri Krishna’s proclamation, similar to him sounding the famous Panchajanya. ब्रह्मणो हि प्रतिष्ठाहममृतस्याव्ययस्य च । शाश्वतस्य च धर्मस्य सुखस्यैकान्तिकस्य च ॥ 14.27॥ I am the basi...