Hinduism for Schools

Bhagavad Gita for Schools

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Background

Bhagavad Gita ~ A spiritual dialogue at the start of a battle

Bhagavad Gita is a text in the form of a spiritual dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. The background is apt, as the dialogue concentrates on the use of religious teachings in everyday life. Arjuna is torn between his duty to fight for justice, and love for his kinsmen. He becomes dejected and tries to debate with Krishna that war is not justified. Krishna however convinces him that religion has to be put into practice and this sometimes requires standing up for righteousness.

Bhagavad Gita is the book of authority for the Hindus. The term Bhagavad Gita literally means the ‘Song of the Divine’. It appears in the epic the Mahabharata, it is given the status of a Shruti, or a text of authority, since it contains the essence of the Shrutis, the Upanishadic teachings. It has seven hundred verses set in eighteen chapters.

Portrayal of Hindu beliefs in the Gita

The Gita brings into focus various beliefs of the Hindu tradition. Apart from talking about the essential nature of the universe as Brahman, the essential nature of man/woman as Atman, it also brings into focus Hindu teachings about Samsara, Moksha and the Law of Karma. It also comments on the role of Avatar or God descending to earth for the good of mankind. The most important aspect of the Bhagavad Gita is its promotion of pluralism, or different ways of thinking about and progressing towards God.

Page	1 Background	2 Devotion	3 Action	4 Knowledge	5 Meditation	6 Concl.	7 Glossary	8 Resources
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