But what is Bhagavadgita

The Bhagavad-Gita or the sacred song, is a Hindu poem with deep philosophy, spirituality and divinity embodied in it. It primarily is a wartime counsel between Krishna and his disciple/relative warrior Arjuna.
The Mahabharata war in this great book was only a pretext, he felt. It was an allegory. In fact, it represented a battle going on, within every individual. Mahabharata war might not be historical as it exists today. Poet Vyasa, used it as background to preach real dharma. Even winning the war did not bring happiness. Along with tremendous losses, it brought only regret and remorse to all. It proved that mere material gains never brought peace within. Bhagavad Gita is one of the most revered of Indian scriptures. Though it is much later than the Vedas, and does not constitute part of the revealed literature of the Hindus, it occupies a distinct and in some respects unrivaled place in Indian philosophical and religious literature. While it is almost conventional to view it is a separate text, it is in fact a part of the Mahabharata, and relays the teachings of Krishna to Arjuna. The occasion for these teachings was furnished by the Great War between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, who are also related to each other. As the battle is about to begin, Arjuna, one of the five Pandava princes, throws down his bow and arrow, and confesses his inability to kill his own cousins and kinsmen, as well as those revered teachers who had been the common tutors of the Kauravas and Pandavas. Krishna then delivers an oration, urging Arjuna to perform his duty, to be the warrior that he is, and it is these teachings that are encapsulated in the Bhagavad Gita, the Song of the Lord.The teachings of the Gita have been the subject of much interpretation. The Gita counsels us to retain our equanimity, and says unequivocally that the sthitha-prajna, or the being preserved in wisdom, is moved to neither excessive joy nor excessive sorrow. Krishna is understood as recommending that we must fulfill our duties, but never with an eye to being rewarded for our activities; and that whatever travails the flesh may be heir to, the soul is always immortal. Thus, truly speaking, we do not have it within our power to kill anyone, nor can we be killed by anyone; and if Arjuna should imagine that he has such power, he has failed to understand the nature of the divine. The Gita lays out several paths to emancipation: for those inclined towards activity or service to humankind through works, there is karma yoga, just as those inclined towards devotion can practice bhakti yoga. The intellectually inclined can veer towards jnana yoga, the path of knowledge and intellectual discrimination. The eleventh chapter contains some of the most celebrated verses of the Gita. As these teachings have been delivered by Krishna, who however appears in human form, and that too as as the humble charioteer of Arjuna, the Pandava prince must be brought to the realization that he is in the presence of the Lord himself. Krishna consequently reveals to Arjuna his cosmic form, and Arjuna is dazzled by the vision of the Supreme Deity.

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Srimad Bhagavadgita and Holy Ganga

The Gita is superior even to the Holy River Ganga. In the scriptures, liberation has been declared to be the reward of a bath in the Ganga. But he, who bathes in the Ganga, though he can obtain liberation himself, does not acquire the power of liberating others. He, however, who takes a dive into the Gita not only gets liberated himself, but also gains the power of liberating others. The Ganga has sprung from the feet of the Lord, whereas the Gita has emanated directly from the divine lips. Again, while the Ganga liberates him alone who goes to it and takes a plunge in it waters, the Gita finds its way to every home, and shows the way to liberation to every individual. These are the reasons why the Gita is declared as superior to the Ganga.

Origin of Ganga
Vishnu once heard Shiva play the flute and was so entranced by the music that his feet began to melt. Brahma caught the liquefied portion of Vishnu in a pot and from it created Ganga, the river-goddess. Hence Ganga is also known as Vishnu-padi (she-who-was-born-out-of-Vishnu's-feet).

Ganga is the most sacred river of India. She is depicted bearing a pot and riding a makara that is sometimes identified as a crocodile, sometimes as a dolphin and sometimes as a Capricorn like sea-monster that is half fish and half elephant.

Once she flowed in the heavens but then was ordered to go down to earth. Fearing that her forceful descent might wash away the earth, the gods sought the help of Shiva. Shiva broke the fall of Ganga by capturing her in his mighty locks. Since then, Ganga resides on top of Shiva's head as his second wife, the first being Parvati.

Summary of Bhagavadgita

Video Introduction to Bhagavadgita in English

A video introduction to Bhagavadgita in English

Sanskrit Introduction to Srimad Bhagavadgita

Chanted by Sri Brahmananda Swami of the Chinmaya Mission. Soothing for ears and soul.

Glory of the Gita (continued...)

The Gita is an epitome of all the scriptures. The essence of all the scriptures is to be found in it. And it would be no exaggeration, indeed, if it is called the very storehouse of all scriptural knowledge. for a mastery of the Gita may lead one automatically to a comprehension of the truths contained in the other scriptures and no separate study is required to obtain this knowledge.
The Mahabaharata also says

"The Gita comprises of all the scriputres"

But this statement too is inadequate. For all the scriptures have originated from the Vedas, the Vedas were revealed through Brahma's mouths, and Brahma himself took his descent from the Lord's navel. In this way, a great distance separates the scriptures from the Lord. But the Gita has emanated directly from the lips of the Lord; hence there will be no exaggeration if it is declared as superior to all the scriptures. The devine sage Vedavyasa himself says:

"The Gita alone should be sung, heard, recited, studied, taught, pondered and assimilated properly and well. What is the use of collecting other scriptures? Fro the Gita has emerged directly from the lotus like lips of God Vishnu Himself"

Glory of the Gita

The Bhagavadgita contains divine words emanating from the lips of God Himself. Its glory is infininte, unlimited. None can really describe it. Even Sesa, the thousand headed serpant-god, whose back forms the couch of God Vishnu, and Siva and Ganesa, cannot fully depict this glory. How can a puny mortal expect to do it?

The Epics and Puranas etc., have sung the glory of Gita at many places; but if all those words of praise are brought together, even then it cannot be declared that the praise of the Gita has been exhausted. The fact is that a full description of the glory of the Gita is never possible. For how can thing which can be fully described remain unlimited?

It at once becomes fininte and limited.

As a scripture, the Gita embodies the supreme spiritual mystry and secret. It contains the essence of all the four Vedas. Its style is so simple and elegant taht after a study man can easily follow the structure of its words; but the thought behind those words is so deep and abstruse that even a lifelong, constant study does not show one the end of it.