6. Know About Many Gitas

By M. M. DIVAKARAN

We know about Bhagavad Gita but not aware of other Gitas which are scattered in the various Puranas.

1. BHAGAVAD GITA (the first) is mentioned in the Bhisma Parva of the Mahabharat and comprises 18 chapters. It contains the essence of Self-knowledge and divided into three sectors - Karma (work), Upasana (devotion) and Jnana (knowledge). This epic song is in the form of a question-answer session between Sri Krishna and Arjuna. The main teaching and advices of Bhagavad Gita is the attainment of Freedom by the performance
of one's duty in life. "Do the duty without an eye to the results thereof thus you should gain the purification of heart which is essential for Moksha."

2. BHAGAVAD GITA (the second) sung by Sri Krishna at the battle front in the Mahabharat war. When the Kurukshetra war was over Yudhistira was being crowned as the king. At that time Arjuna said Sri Krishna that he still had some doubts about the purpose of life and appealed to the Lord Krishna to enlighten him and Sri Krishna whole-heartedly agreed. This Gita is also in the question-answer form. It extols the four pathways to Knowledge - Action, Godhood, Love and Renunciation. When the first Gita was named as "Bhagavad Gita" Ved Vyasa called this Gita as "Anu Gita" i.e. Auxiliary Gita.

3. YAMA GITA is a part of Vishnu Purana which contains only 39 Slokas and describes the seven Manus and their certification to creation, maintenance and dissolution. This Gita sung by Vaivaswatha Manu as he heard it directly from Lord Yama. It extols the supremacy of Lord Vishnu, the various kind of branches of Knowledge, the duties of the several orders.

4. SHIVA GITA occurs in Padma Purana sung by Lord Shiva. It describes the various parts of the body, how they are formed and how the five elements affect the body and qualities that the body takes from them, the ten kind of Prana (Vayu) and the different Nidis. It also describes the five kinds of emancipation - Salokya, Saruypya, Saratya, Sayujya and Kaivalya followed by five sheaths - Annamaya kosa, Pranamaya kosa, Manonmaya kosa, Vignnamaya kosa and Anandamaya kosa. Then follows a description of Omkar, the mantras constituting it, the presiding deities, and their significance. It also describes duality leads to confusion and fear, and hence Advitha (oneness) is better. Shrouta Dharma (Shruti) is greater than Smarta Dharma (smriti)..

5. UDDHAVA GITA is the parting message of Sri Krishna to his beloved disciple Uddhava. It promotes a happier blend of Supreme Knowledge and Supreme Love and advocates the love towards the Lord and decries the love towards women and other sensual pleasures. Sri Krishna advise be free from attachment and ego, but perform your duties and be without pride and jealous. One who is compassionate, one who is a master of his mind, organs, feeling and desires, who has a balanced attitude and who seeks no name or fame, yet helps others to gain them and who has unquestioned faith in Me, is the best among people.

6. ISWARA GITA occurs in the later part of Kurma Purana which describes the supremacy of Lord Vishnu in its earlier portions and followed by Lord Shiva in its later portions. This extols the positive description of Atman then comes a description in negative terms (nethi). Atman and Universe are essentially different but by nature Atman is full of Bliss and also advise us the divinity resides in every aspect of creation and you should realise yourself.

7. SOOTA GITA occurs in the Skanda Purana and advices are given by Sage Soota to the assembly of Rishis (Saints). This describes of thirty six cosmic principles (5 Elements; the 5 Sheaths (Koshas); the 10 sense Organs; the 10 kinds of Prana (vayu); the 4 internal Entities i.e. Manas, Budhi, Chitha and Ahankara; Avidya (Ignorance) is the 35th principle and Jiva is the 36th principle.

8. RUDRA GITA occurs in Varaha Purana which is in the form of a dialogue between Lord Rudra and Sage Agastya. Lord Rudra tells that there is no difference between Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. They appear different whenever they engage in different activities. Only the Supreme manifests in all the three aspects of Creation, Maintenance and Dissolution. It also extols both the ways of Pravrithi and Nivrithi of Knowledge, leading to Brahma, the path of meditation to Lord Vishnu, the path of Bhakti and the path of Yoga.

9. DEVI GITA is described in Devi Bhagvatam and promotes the unity of all Devas. Devi alone identified as Brahman existed in the beginning and is endowed with three eternal entities - Soul, Action and Time (i.e. Atma, Karma and Kala) to cause the Universe. In the beginning subsidiary Devis is to be worshipped with external rites as given in the Vedas and then the Moola Devi internally through Pranayama.

10. SRI RAMA GITA is compiled by Veda Vyasa. It is the story of Lord Rama so it is called "Veda Vyasa Ramayana". This forms a part of the "Uttara Kanda" and is in the form of a dialogue between Lord Rama and Lakshmana. It promotes the vedantic doctrine of "Absolute Unity". Says Rama, this birth is the result of prior actions. Action increases attachments and it cannot destroy ignorance.

11. MANGI GITA is described in Santi Parv of Mahabharat. Mangi Maharshi was very greedy in wealth. His story was told by Bhishma lying on the bed that made of arrows.
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