Many Gitas in Hinduism

 

               

                               Many Gitas in Hinduism

Many of us are familiar with the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, which translates to the ‘song of God’. It is a conversation between Krishna, acting as a charioteer, and Arjuna, an archer, on the eve of the battle at Kurukshetra. Commonly known as the Gita, its origins are dated to around 300 BC, although some suggest it could be as early as 800 BC, during the period of the Upanishads. The Bhagavad Gita consists of 18 chapters and 700 verses and encapsulates the essence of Hindu wisdom.

"Gita" refers to a divine song or a powerful spiritual message conveyed from a Guru (teacher) to a Shishya (student). These conversations cover how to conduct oneself or face situations during testing periods. The clarifications or solutions provided during such periods are referred to as Gita.

The Hindu tradition included spiritual debates (Shastrartha) among intellectuals at different times. In the Sanatana Dharma, there are numerous Gitas, such as the Bhagavad Gita, Astavakra Gita, Udhhav Gita, Bhisma Gita, and Avadhoot Gita. Apart from the Bhagavad Gita, there are more than one hundred known "gathas" from Sanatan literature.

Some of the less familiar are mentioned below:

1. Anu-Gita: is a significant part of the Mahabharata. The prefix 'Anu' means 'after', so Anu-Gita literally signifies a continuation, alongside, or subordinate to the Gita. The lesser-known Anu-Gita is a component of the Ashwamedha Parva in the Mahabharata. Anu-Gita retells some of the ethical principles of the Bhagavad Gita through legends and fables.

After the battle of Mahabharata, Sri Krishna preached the Anu Gita to Arjuna once peace was established in the Kingdom under the rule of Yudhisthira. The Anu Gita discusses the duties of a good human being.

2. Ashtavakra Gita: is a dialogue between King Janaka of Mithila and his guru, Ashtavakra. Ashtavakra, which means "eight bends," had eight physical handicaps from birth, symbolizing the message that even the most unattractive form is filled with God's radiance. The body is insignificant, while the Self is of utmost importance.

The text is believed to have been written in either the eighth century by a Shankara follower or as late as the fourteenth century. It serves as a guide for achieving self-realization, providing a direct path in three steps: (1) repeatedly hearing and reading it, (2) reflecting and understanding it, and (3) meditating, assimilating, realizing, and applying it to life. The book consists of 20 chapters.

3. Avadhutha Gita: It was sung by Lord Dattatreya and dated back to the 8th or 9th century. Dattatreya, as the symbol of the highest yogi and monastic life, describes the journey of self-realization and, thereafter the nature and state of a person who lives in his soul's truth.

4. Bhikshu Gita: It is a dialogue between King Parikshit and Sage Suka and is a brief exposition of the Vedanta philosophy, Brahman, and the Atma. It is based on rich men who turned into beggars.

5. Brahmana Gita: It is a part of the Anu Gita where Krishna is represented as the ultimate controller of the universe.

6. Bodhya Gita: It is a conversation between Rishi Bodhya and King Yayati in Mahabharata.

7. Brahma Gita: The Brahma Gita is contained in Chapter 35, slokas 96 & 97 of Chapter 37, and Chapter 38 of Brahmapurana (Part I) spoken by Lord Brahma.

8. Devi Gita: It is part of the Devi Bhagavatham written by the great sage Vyasa. It tells us about an incarnation of the Devi wherein she describes her own nature, the nature of her worship with meditation, yogic practices, rituals, and other austerities.

9. Ganesha Gita: It is from Ganesh Puran, which is modeled on the Bhagavad Gita where Ganesha is given the divine and central role. It is a discourse between King Varenya and Lord Ganesha in the form of Gajanana.

10. Gopika Gita: It is the song of the Gopis or the cowherd girls of Brindavan and their deep and selfless love for Lord Krishna. This is in the tenth chapter of the Bhagavat Puran which is the story of Lord Vishnu as told by the great Sage Suka to King Janamejaya.

11. Guru Gita: It was written by Sage Vyasa from Skanda Puran and is a dialogue between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in which she asks him to teach her all about the Guru tattva.

12. Hamsa Gita (also referred to as Uddhava Gita) is in Shrimad Bhagavat Puran, comprising more than 1000 verses, and consists of Krishna’s final discourse to Uddhava before Krishna leaves his mortal coil on Earth.

13. Hanuman Gita is the discourse that was given by Goddess Sita to Hanuman on their return from Lanka after the defeat of Ravana and the coronation of Lord Rama.

14. Haritha Gita: It is from Mahabharatha, Mokshaparva as a part of Shantiparva. It speaks of nonviolence in association with the Sanyasa ashram. It contains twenty verses attributed to Haritha Muni.

15. Ishvara Gita covers the first eleven chapters of Uttara Vibhaaga from Kurma Purana. It contains the teachings of Lord Shiva referred to as Ishvara and contains not only the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita but also other themes like worshipping the Linga, Patanjali’s eightfold yoga and its belief that Shiva and not Krishna is the ultimate goal.

16. Kapila Gita: It is from Shrimad Bhagavat Purana. It is the story of how Sage Kapila offers solace to his old mother Devahuti whose soul is in quest for spiritual knowledge.

17. Manki Gita: It is from Mahabharata. It is a story narrated in 50 verses of a saint named Manki and his two bullocks, the core message here is to give up desire and greed and develop compassion for all beings.

18. Pandava Gita or Prapanna Gita: It is called the Song of Surrender and it is a compilation of quotes from many great personalities from the Puranic age who have glorified Sri Krishna including all the Pandavas.

19. Parasara Gita: is from Mahabharata, and it is the longest of all the Gitas of the Shanti Parva. It consists of nine chapters. It is said to be a dialogue between Sage Parasara the father of Sage Vyasa and King Janaka.

20. Pingala Gita : is from Mahabharata. It is a beautiful story told by Shri Krishna to Uddhava about Pingala and her story of liberation.

21. Rama Gita: It is from Adhyaatma Ramayan which is a part of Brahmanda Purana in the 5th Sarga of the Uttara Khanda.

22. Ramana Gita: was written by Shri Ramana Maharishi in Sanskrit. It was recorded by one of his foremost disciples Shri Ganapati Muni who in the company of several other disciples received answers to 37 Questions which were put forward to Shri Ramana along the lines of the Bhagavad Gita and formed 18 chapters of 300 verses.

23. Ribhu Gita: It forms the sixth part of the Shiva Rahasya Purana and it is a dialogue between Sage Ribhu and Sage Nidagha in about two thousand verses on the Self and Brahman.

24. Rudra Gita: It is about the instructions given by Lord Shiva to Prachetas (Daksha). It contains verses dedicated to the glory and magnificence of Lord Vishnu. It eulogizes the worship of Vishnu to the path of liberation and self-realization and also talks about Hinduism and its teachings.

25. Sampaaka Gita: It is from Mahabharata. It consists of twenty-one verses in which Sampaaka, a learned and pious Brahmin gives the message that one could attain everlasting happiness only through renunciation.

26. Shiva Gita: It is from Padma Purana and is made up of 16 chapters. In this Gita, Sage Agastya consoles Rama when Ravana takes away Sita and advises him to pray to lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appears before Lord Rama and his teachings to Lord Rama form the Shiva Gita.

27. Sruti Gita: It is contained in chapter 87 of Srimad Bhagavatam wherein King Parikshit asks Sage Suka to explain the attributeless Brahman against the theory of the Gods with attributes.

28. Surya Gita: It is found in Guru Gyana Vasishta. There are three parts in this text namely Gyana Kanda (knowledge), Upasana Kanda (spiritual practice), and Karma Kanda (actions).

29. Suta Gita: It is from Skandha Purana, Adhyaayas 13 to 20 of Yagya Vaibhava Kanda. It refutes dualism and strictly advocates monism.

30. Swaminarayan Gita or Yogi Gita: It is a selection of teachings and prayers of Shri Yogiji Maharaj who was the fourth spiritual successor of Swaminarayan and gives the attributes necessary for a devotee to practice to attain liberation and spiritual enlightenment.

31. Uttara Gita: It is said that Arjuna after enjoying all the pleasures of his kingdom and the materialistic world, a sense of detachment came over him as he grew older and he approached Krishna to impart to him the knowledge of the Brahman. It consists of three chapters and it gives answers to Arjuna’s questions.

32. Vallabh Gita: In this Gita, Shri Vallabh taught his disciples to seek the true goal of life which is liberation. It is a collection of sixteen works of Shri Vallabh in which a range of subjects have been discussed.

33. Vasishta Gita or Yoga Vasishta: It is a discourse given by Maharishi Vasishta to Prince Rama when Rama is said to be in a dejected state. It consists of 32000 shlokas and is associated with the principles of nonduality and Advaita Vedanta.

34. Vibheeshana Gita: This Gita is taught by Lord Rama to Vibheeshana on the battlefield of Lanka and advises Vibheeshana on the virtues of devotion, faith, and right values.

35. Vicakhnu Gita: It is from Mahabharata, Mokshaparva. It speaks about Ahimsa or nonviolence. It consists of eleven verses and it tells us about King Vicakhnu’s visit to a yagna where animal sacrifice is to be performed and his moving pleas for Ahimsa. This is narrated by Bhishma to Yudhisthira.

36. Vidura Gita: It is a dialogue between Vidura and King Dhritarashtra wherein Vidura not only advises Dhritarashtra about the science of politics but also values right conduct, fairness, and truthfulness.

37. Vritra Gita: It is from Mahabharat, Moksha Parva as a part of Shanti Parva. It is said to be a dialogue between a fierce demon Vritrasura and Shukracharya the Guru of all the demons (Asuras) and it consists of two chapters.

38. Vyaadha Gita: It is from Vana Parva Mahabharata and consists of the teachings given by a butcher(Vyaadha) to a monk which was related to Pandava prince Yudhisthira by Sage Markandeya. The arrogant monk is humbled by the simple butcher who teaches him ‘Nishkama Karma’.

39. Vyaasa Gita: It is from Kurma Purana, from 12th Adhyaaya onwards of Uttara Vibhaaga and Sage Vyaasa teaches the highest path to self-knowledge. It emphasizes the unity of faith and the philosophy of non-dualism.

40. Yama Gita: There was a king named Vajashrava. His son was Nachiketa. Vajashrava arranged for a wonderful sacrifice at which he gave away all his wealth.

Nachiketa asked, “Father, whom have you given me to?”

His father did not reply, but Nachiketa kept asking again and again. At this, Vajashrava became angry and said, "I have given you to Yama."

Faithful to his father’s word, Nachiketa decided to go to Yama’s abode. The road was difficult, but Nachiketa got there and waited for three days to see Yama. No one returns to the earth from Yama’s abode. But Yama was so pleased to have met Nachiketa that he granted him the boon that Nachiketa could return to the earth. Nachiketa however, had no desire to accept such a boon. Instead, he wanted to know from Yama the true nature of the atman. The instructions that Yama gave to Nachiketa have come to be known as the Yama Gita.

It is an unknown fact that there are a total of Eighteen Gitas in the Mahabharata, including the Bhagavad Gita.

Anu Gita, Atathya Gita, Bhagavat Gita, Bodhya Gita, Brahmana Gita,Dharma Vyadha Gita,Hamsa Gita,Harita Gita,Kama Gita,Manki Gita, Parashara Gita, Rishabha Gita,Shampaka Gita,Shanga Gita, Vamadeva Gita,Vichakhnu Gita,Vritra Gita, Yajnavalkya Gita.

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