Gita Jayanti: Celebration of the Timeless Dialogue Between God and Man
"When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and I see not one ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to Bhagavad Gita and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow.”
-Mahatma Gandhi
We often find ourselves in moments where the mind is clouded with stress and indecision. Our inner strength trembles and the future looks bleak.
Over 5,000 years ago, the great Kuru warrior, Arjun, faced a similar situation in the battlefield of Kurukshetra. He was fortunate to receive Lord Krishna’s guidance, who spoke to him ‘the eternal song of God’: Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
Maharishi Ved Vyas recorded this dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjun in the Bhishma Parv of the epic-poem Mahabharat. Every year, the sacred day when Sri Krishna delivered the teachings of Srimad Bhagavad Gita is celebrated as Gita Jayanti. It is observed on the Shukla Ekadashi (eleventh day of the bright fortnight) in the Margashirsha month.
Arjun, Kurukshetra and Sri Krishna: It’s More than what Meets the Eye
The Srimad Bhagavad Gita is set on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, where the massive armies of the Pandavas and the Kauravas are about to clash. There are deep layers of meaning in this dramatic setup.
The doubting warrior—Arjun—symbolises the eternal seeker, faced with inner conflicts. Like all of us, he is confronted with difficult choices between right and wrong, attachment and duty, and emotion and reason. Kurukshetra is the battlefield of life and mind where all our struggles play out. The opposing armies represent the constant tussle between virtues and negative tendencies.
Arjun is seated in the chariot, which represents the human body, the vehicle through which we undertake life's journey. The five horses pulling the chariot are the five senses, and the reins of the mind control them. Sri Krishna is the divine guide, our inner self (Atman), and the charioteer who provides clarity and spiritual direction.
Through the chapters of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, you can trace Arjun's journey from a doubting warrior to a self-assured fighter for Dharma and a surrendered devotee. He asks questions and gains insight with Sri Krishna's answers. This shift from hesitation to determination reveals the essence of 'nishkama karma' (action without attachment to results). Undoubtedly, Arjun's path is the path all seekers have walked across yugas. And, this is what makes the Srimad Bhagavad Gita relevant in all ages and times. Its deep but practical lessons resonate with people across the world.
The Four Yogas: Ancient Wisdom for a Modern World
Srimad Bhagavad Gita presents ‘yoga’ as a design for living. Most people think of ‘yoga’ as a form of exercise. However, the sacred book reveals that yog is something we practice knowingly or unknowingly. It is a path of union with the divine through mental equilibrium.
jitātmanaḥ praśhāntasya paramātmā samāhitaḥ
śhītoṣhṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣhu tathā mānāpamānayoḥ
(Srimad Bhagavad Gita: 6.7)
The above verse offers a powerful picture of the individual, 'Jitātmanaḥ' (self-controlled), the one who has gained accurate control over the mind. That person has found inner peace and realised the Supreme Lord. Such a person remains unaffected by changes like cold and heat, pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor.
The Srimad Bhagavad Gita offers paths suited for all ages and temperaments. The four yogas are not separate disciplines. They are different dimensions of one's life. In Karma Yoga, where every act is done without attachment converts the ego's energy into compassion. Mahatma Gandhi, who followed this path, had said "In no way it means indifference to result. Renunciation means absence of hankering after fruit, because attachment, worry, haste affect our nervous system and upset the balance of our mind."
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Mirabai found their path through Bhakti Yoga. Theirs was the way of love towards the Divine.
Jnana Yoga, or the path of knowledge, is similar to modern physics. Both peel back the layers of illusion through self-inquiry and scientific investigation, leading to the same understanding: interconnectedness in the Universe.
Albert Einstein (a famous theoretical physicist) had quoted, "When I read the Bhagavad Gita and reflect about how God created this universe, everything else seems so superfluous."
And lastly, Dhyana Yoga, or Raja Yoga, is the path of meditation and mental discipline. The seeker learns to control the mind and senses for inner focus and realisation. Swami Vivekananda is a fine example of this path.
A Universal Scripture for a Global Society
In our times, Srimad Bhagavad Gita continues to inspire thinkers and leaders across cultures. Former U.S. President, Barack Obama, has spoken of it as a source of reflection during tough times. Sunita Williams (the Indian-origin American astronaut) carried Srimad Bhagavad Gita with her to space and called it a guide that provided perspective.
Celebrating Gita Jayanti
The sacred occasion of Gita Jayanti reminds us of Sri Krishna’s timeless message. We can turn confusion to clarity, fear to duty and actions to worship. Sri Krishna imparted knowledge not as a scripture but as a song. And that’s what life is —a song. Some sing it with love, others stick to rules. God has bestowed us with intellect, mind, and senses. Using these faculties, we create our songs with unique tunes, words, and rhythms. May this Gita Jayanti bring clarity, courage, and inner harmony.
Celebrate Gita Jayanti on Sadhana App by chanting the Krishna Gayatri Mantra. You can also sign up for the upcoming Vishnu Sahasranaam Sadhana. This sadhana will be available from 15 Dec. ’25 to 23 Jan. ’26. You can do this sadhana for 3, 11, 21, or 40 days, starting any day.
