Bhagavad Gita Flashcards
What does “Bhagavad Gita” mean?
“Song of the Lord”
What larger text is the BG a part of?
Mahabharata
When did the Mahabharata come into literary form?
between the 5th century BCE and 3rd century CE
In the BG, what is dharma?
right ordering that supports the cosmos; natural law, social order, the sense of duty that attaches to each caste, and the right ordering of the human heart (conscience)
WHat are the 3 major themes of the BG?
knowledge, action, and love
When does the BG date?
Between 200 BCE and 200 CD
Who is the battle between in the BG?
The five Pandava brothers against their cousins, the Kauravas (who have cheated the Pandavas of their rightful KIngdom)
Who are the main characters of the BG?
Arjuna (a Pandava brother, warrior and archer) and his charioteer, Krishna (who is secretly God)
How was the BG originally passed on?
Via oral tradition
What does “Puranas” mean?
Old stories
What does “smriti” mean?
“remembered” tradition
What does “Shruti” mean?
heard or revealed tradition
Who produced the most popular commentaries on the BG and when?
Shankara (8th century CE), Ramajuna (11th Century CE), BG Tilak and Gandhi and AD Bhaktivedanta and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (20th Century CE)
What are the main ideas discussed in the “knowledge” section?
the eternal soul–unlike the body–cannot be slain; distinguishing the eternal from the transient (ultimate wisdom); acquiring ultimate wisdom via cultivating the steadiness of mind; attaining mental stability via practice (meditation) and yoga postures
WHat are the main ideas in the “action” section?
Renouncing the fruits of action; bringing steadiness of mind into actions (“skill in action”); the four goals of life are: karma (desire/passion), artha (wealth/power), dharma, and moksha (freedom)
