Bhagavad-gita on 45 Cards

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38 of 45
1971
 
guno said:
so where does Ganesha the elephant god fit in
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Ganesh is NOT a God. There is only "one" God. Ganesh can be called a Deva (demigod) and thus akin to a demagogue.
Ganesh is Shiva's son and the western Idea of Myth does not apply here. Mythology is well known in the west and in the jungle backwater dwellers of yore ie all of northern Europe etal.
Ganesh is an Historical Persona and due to long held affection for the mysteries of his life Ganesh is kept in the minds of the Shivite as the least of the least that is recalled in the texts of the Purana's that contain Ganesh's history.

Ganesh imo can be compared with Congregations that dance with snakes. Ganesh's father is Shiva and Shiva's Father is Brahma. And Brahma was born from the navel of MahaVishnu.
MahaVishnu is the plenary expansion of Godhead's "External energy" [Maya Prakriti] ---Godhead's expansions underlie the manifest creation; to afford conditions for the Conscious Spirit souls to take birth; so the soul can experience freewill along with all its trappings.

Godhead's self-existence is the source of all six personal opulences: Godhead is the wellspring of all beauty, strength, wealth, fame, intelligence, and renunciation. All else in the Spiritual And Material creation are expansions of these six wellspring opulences ---later comes the period table's elements and planets and priciples of duality and birth, death old age and disease and death scenarios we call life.

Sorry I am digressing...
 
mak2 said:
So what is your point?
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"The Vedanta-sutra states, athato brahma jijnasa: 'Now (in the human form of life) one should inquire about Brahman - The absolute truth, the transcendental, spiritual nature'"

What does 'athato Brahma jijnasa' mean? - Quora

Athato brahma jijnasa: "Now is the time to inquire about the Absolute Truth." The human form of life is especially meant for this purpose, and ...

means that in order to get out of the bodily conception, one has to increase attachment to or inquiry about Brahman.

The first aphorism in the Vedanta-sutra is athato brahma jijnasa. In the human form of life one should put many questions to himself and to his intelligence.
 
In Hinduism, cow urine has a special significance as a medicinal drink. Sprinkling of cow urine is said to have a spiritual cleansing effect as well. Cattle were a basic economic unit in ancient India, and cows are holy in Hinduism and their slaughter is restricted.

When a religion wants you to partake in sacred cow pee, not eat yummy meats, and other things that make you feel like you're being punked. Count me out.
 
Pig urine was used by the Chinese to create gun-powder.

Chemists derive many medicines from vegetation and cadavers too.

So many people think that Cow Urine is medicinal as being fantastical ...while they promote their love of baby back ribs at a firemen's barbecue.


Jade Dragon said:
In Hinduism, cow urine has a special significance as a medicinal drink. Sprinkling of cow urine is said to have a spiritual cleansing effect as well. Cattle were a basic economic unit in ancient India, and cows are holy in Hinduism and their slaughter is restricted.

When a religion wants you to partake in sacred cow pee, not eat yummy meats, and other things that make you feel like you're being punked. Count me out.
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Thank you Swami, I will count you out.

Which brings to mind the so-called caste system:

The tradition is called "Varna Ashrama" [as known in the west as the caste system]

In the social construction of "Varna Ashrama" there are four Varnas + four Ashrams ---each person is described by one of the varnas; and yet, all persons pass must through all 4 of the ashrams.

In the holistic structure of "Varna Ashrama" there are four Varnas or 'natural' divisions of civic job-titles:

Intelligencia (brahmins),
Administration (kshatriyas),
Mercantile (vaishyas),
Artisan (sudra) . . .

ALL FOUR MUST Pass throught the Four "Ashrams" [ideally, for those who are strictly-orthodox]:

Studentship (brahmacari),
Householder-ship (grihasta),
Retirement (vanaprastha),
Renunciant (Sannyasa) . . .

All the four (particular) secular 'varnas'; and, all four of the (common) spiritual 'ashrams' must be passed through . . . So as to, provide all concerned parties a natural (near-effortless) progession toward moksha.

Each concerned party must faithfully perform their individual dharma (alloted occupational duties) for all of society to be happy and functional.

"Varna Ashrama dharma" refers to divisions of actually work, occupational work, a mode of work that is preformed by those with a natural propensity to do such work.

So naturally, a Doctor would want his son to be a doctor also . . . but, if the son has no such proclivity to preform such work and its requisite study . . . then that son should not be recognised as 'qualified to be called a doctor' ---alas, many would assume to falsely ascend to and advertise themselves and to profit from the status of a higher 'Worker' without qualification ---and worse still, due to placing other petty goals in front of their alloted occupational duties.

Lack of preforming one's own alloted occupational duty is called neglegence.

Caste refers to "Stratum of Work".

Each MUST do their obliged work ---and mutually provide for each other.

The caste divisions allow for the protections of ideal freedom "To Work" ---beyond ideologies.

The caste divisions directly address the social need for government to provide work for persons with all levels of occupational skills.

The western school books refer to castes in India as the the 4 secular divisions:
Brahmin
Kshatreeya
Vaishya
sudra

The western schools refer to these 4 secular divisions WITHOUT EVER MENTIONING the 4 spiritual "ashrams" ---that all 4-Secular castes must go through.

Together [4 secular "varnas" + the 4 spiritual "ashrams"] they are synonymous with "Sanatana-dharma" ---it is known as 'Varnashram Dharma'.

Again weather one works as a Brahmin, Administrator/Warrior, merchant, artisan ---one MUST progress through all 4 of sacramental stages of life ['samskaras'], known as, brahmacharee, grihasta (housholder), vanaprasta, sannyas.
 
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guno said:
list of hindu gods

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_deities
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Yes and those devatas are in two groups of philosophy: Theists and Atheists [Suras and Asuras].

They are the landed gentry that live in the celestial abodes where they are big machers living the good life to the manor borne whence their resources are leased and caretaken by commoners.

The devatas are the superintendents of the material cosmic functioning. Common folks take for granted the administrator's that provide all the faculties for civil human prosperity.

Often generations pass without ever knowing that there are higher authorities.

But just like when a fighter pilot is shot down and survives while floating in the ocean awaiting, with firm faith, that higher authorities are on their way to his rescue.

The devatas are the superintendents of the material cosmos ---when the cosmos is desolved during Brahma's sleeping kalpa epoch all the Devas lose their existences...and their common souls are tally among with the karma that keeps the world go round.

We are living in the material world and every aspect of this world is being managed and maintained by intelligent persons. That is our experience here. If you go into some large department store it is not that everything is going on automatically. No. There is a managing director, and he has many department managers and all the department managers have a group of workers they supervise and in this way all the activities of the big department store are going on.

Krishna manages this universe in a similar way. Krishna appoints a managing director [Lord Brahma] and Brahma has many departmental managers who are responsible for the many different departments of the material world. These managers of the material world are called ‘demigods.’

Many materialistic persons become attached to worshiping these demigods to get some temporary, materialistic benefits. Krishna discusses this demigod worship in Bhagavad-gita:

“Those whose minds are distorted by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.” (Bhagavad-gita 7.20)

Less intelligent people who have lost their spiritual sense take shelter of demigods for immediate fulfillment of material desires. Generally, such people do not go to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because they are in ignorance and passion and therefore worship various demigods. Worshipers of demigods are motivated by small desires and do not know how to reach the supreme goal.

I am in everyone’s heart as the Supersoul. As soon as one desires to worship the demigods, I make his faith steady so that he can devote himself to some particular deity. (Bhagavad-gita 7.21)

God has given independence to everyone; therefore, if a person desires to have material enjoyment and wants very sincerely to have such facilities from the material demigods, the Supreme Lord, as Supersoul in everyone’s heart, understands and gives facilities to such persons. As the supreme father of all living entities, He does not interfere with their independence, but gives all facilities so that they can fulfill their material desires.

Some may ask why the all-powerful God gives facilities to the living entities for enjoying this material world and so lets them fall into the trap of the illusory energy. The answer is that if the Supreme Lord as Supersoul does not give such facilities, then there is no meaning to independence. Therefore He gives everyone full independence–whatever one likes–but His ultimate instruction we find in the Bhagavad-gita: man should give up all other engagements and fully surrender unto Him. That will make man happy.

Both the living entity and the demigods are subordinate to the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore the living entity cannot worship the demigod by his own desire, nor can the demigod bestow any benediction without the supreme will. As it is said, not a blade of grass moves without the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Generally, persons who are distressed in the material world go to the demigods, as they are advised in the Vedic literature. A person wanting some particular thing may worship such and such a demigod. For example, a diseased person is recommended to worship the sun-god; a person wanting education may worship the goddess of learning, Sarasvati; and a person wanting a beautiful wife may worship the goddess Uma, the wife of Lord Siva. In this way there are recommendations in the sastras (Vedic scriptures) for different modes of worship of different demigods. And because a particular living entity wants to enjoy a particular material facility, the Lord inspires him with a strong desire to achieve that benediction from that particular demigod, and so he successfully receives the benediction.

The particular mode of the devotional attitude of the living entity toward a particular type of demigod is also arranged by the Supreme Lord. The demigods cannot infuse the living entities with such an affinity, but because He is the Supreme Lord or the Supersoul who is present in the heart of all living entities, Krishna gives impetus to man to worship certain demigods.

The demigods are actually different parts of the universal body of the Supreme Lord; therefore they have no independence. In the Vedic literature it is stated: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead as Supersoul is also present within the heart of the demigod; therefore He arranges through the demigod to fulfill the desire of the living entity. But both the demigod and the living entity are dependent on the supreme will. They are not independent.”

Endowed with such a faith, he seeks favors of a particular demigod and obtains his desires. But in actuality these benefits are bestowed by Me alone. (Bhagavad-gita 7.22)

The demigods cannot award benedictions to the devotees without the permission of the Supreme Lord. The living entity may forget that everything is the property of the Supreme Lord, but the demigods do not forget. So the worship of demigods and achievement of desired results are not due to the demigods but to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by arrangement. The less intelligent living entity does not know this, and therefore he foolishly goes to the demigods for some benefit. But the pure devotee, when in need of something, prays only to the Supreme Lord. Asking for material benefit, however, is not a sign of a pure devotee.

A living entity goes to the demigods usually because he is mad to fulfill his lust. This happens when something undue is desired by the living entity, and the Lord Himself does not fulfill the desire. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is said that one who worships the Supreme Lord and at the same time desires material enjoyment is contradictory in his desires. Devotional service of the Supreme Lord and the worship of a demigod cannot be on the same platform because worship of a demigod is material and devotional service to the Supreme Lord is completely spiritual.

For the living entity who desires to return to Godhead, material desires are impediments. A pure devotee of the Lord is therefore not awarded the material benefits desired by less intelligent living entities who prefer to worship demigods of the material world rather than engage in devotional service of the Supreme Lord.

Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet. (Bhagavad-gita 7.23)

Here it is clearly stated that the worshipers of demigods go to the different planetary systems where various demigods are situated, just as a worshiper of the sun achieves the sun or a worshiper of the demigod of the moon achieves the moon. Similarly, if anyone wants to worship a demigod like Indra, he can attain that particular god’s planet. It is not that everyone, regardless of whatever demigod is worshiped, will reach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is denied here, for it is clearly stated that the worshipers of the demigods go to different planets in the material world, but the devotee of the Supreme Lord goes directly to the supreme planet of the Personality of Godhead.

If one knows that both the demigods and himself are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, his knowledge is perfect. But if he does not understand this, he achieves different planets where the demigods reside. This is not the same destination the devotee reaches.

The results achieved by the demigods’ benedictions are perishable because within this material world the planets, the demigods and their worshipers are all perishable. Therefore it is clearly stated in this verse that all results achieved by worshiping demigods are perishable, and therefore such worship is performed by the less intelligent living entity.
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HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

OTOH there are countless lists of names of those that come and go:

germany-berlin-old-telephone-books-waiting-to-be-recycled-AMAK84.jpg
 
You have been in the material world since time immemorial.
Isn't it time you read an ancient mystical book from India?

Come on people there's lots of pictures!
 
Dude we've been down a rambling road a long long time.

There is the Bible,
There is the Koran,
and
There is the the Gita.


Yeah yeah trown in all the sutras ya can find too.


But here is grand superlative 5000 year old ancient epic's quintessential 700 verse chapter.
THE BHAGAVAD-GITA (The Song of God)

Illuminated by moi.
 
The Bhagavad Gita [Sanskrit, lit. "The Song of God"] is a
700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of
the epic Mahabharata
(chapters 23–40 of Bhishma Parva),
commonly dated to circa 3102 BCE.

The Gita is set in a narrative framework of a dialogue between Pandava prince Arjuna and his guide and charioteer Krishna.
At the start of the civil war) between the Pandavas and Kauravas, Arjuna is filled with moral dilemma and despair about
the violence and death the war will cause in the battle against his own kin.

He wonders if he should renounce and seeks Krishna's counsel, whose answers and discourse constitute the Bhagavad Gita.
Krishna counsels Arjuna to "fulfill his Kshatriya (warrior) duty to uphold the Dharma" through "selfless action".
The Krishna–Arjuna dialogues cover a broad range of spiritual topics, touching upon ethical dilemmas and
philosophical issues that go far beyond the war Arjuna faces.
Krishna is also said to be the first motivational speaker in human history.

The Bhagavad Gita presents a synthesis of Hindu ideas about dharma, theistic bhakti, and the yogic ideals of moksha.
The text covers jnana, bhakti, karma, and Raja Yoga (spoken of in the 6th chapter)
incorporating ideas from the Samkhya-Yoga philosophy.

The Bhagavad Gita is the best known and most famous of Hindu texts, with a unique pan-Hindu influence.

The Gita's call for selfless action inspired many leaders of the Indian independence movement including
Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi; the latter referred to it as his "spiritual dictionary"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita


BONUS LINK:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata
 
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