November 28, 2009 was celebrated as Gita Jayantiday. This was the very day more than 5000 years back that Lord Krishna spoke the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita to his dearest friend and disciple Arjuna. It was spoken at a time when Arjuna was completely baffled by the circumstances in his life and was all but ready to give up his kshatriya duties. After hearing the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna was ready to go on with his duties in the right perspective, without bothering about happiness or sadness, loss or gain; in equanimity, keeping Krishna in the centre. Even after 5000 years Lord Krishna's explanation of the truths of life is so profound that the Bhagavad Gita's wisdom can be adapted to the present and provide solutions to life's problems.The Bhagavad Gita Mahatmyam explains the glories of studying the Bhagavad Gita -One who attentively hears and sings the glories of thepurport of the gita, or reiterates that purport to others such a person attains to the supreme destination. (Text 26) A person who studies
the Gita at the time of holy festivals days especially Ekadasi such a person, whether awake or asleep, moving or still, is never defeated by enemies. (Text 20) Srila Prabhupada translated and wrote his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, and aptly titled it "As It Is" since it includes the insights of his predecessors in disciplic succession. Accordingly, Prabhupada's Gita was the first English edition to bring people to Krishna consciousness, to make them devotees of Krishna, which is the book's intended purpose (Bg. 18.65). Over the years Prabhupada's Gita has become one of the most important editions in the modern world, often outselling both popular and scholarly translations. Claiming millions of readers in some fifty-five languages, from Polish to Japanese, German to Azerbaijani,Danish to Croatian, English to numerous Indian languages, Srila Prabhupada's Gita is a phenomenon.It can be found in homes, bookstores, research libraries, and academic institutionsaround the world.Thousands of devotees in ISKCON temples all over the world dedicate the month of December to distributing 'Bhagavad Gita As It Is' to those who are seeking spiritual insights in their lives. Thus providing a great opportunity to one and all to receive and gift Bhagvad Gita to their relatives,friends, colleagues, neighbours and general public.The Bhagavad Gita Mahatmyam further says,"One who, with respect and devotion and according to scriptural regulations makes a gift of this holy book, the Gita, such a person will have a devoted wife, and without doubt will attain fame, fortune, and good health.According to Sri Vaisnaviya-tantrasara- Verse 69, "The potency of presenting the Gita as a gift is such that the soul, having achieved a place in the planet of Lord Vishnu for a period of seven millenniums, then associates with the Supreme Lord Vishnu in divine ecstasy.
Whether you are young, old, child, male, female, working, non working, professional, non-professional, retired or a simple housewife - who ever you are - please contact your nearest ISKCON centre and reap the eternal benefit that comes from buying/
gifting the Gita.
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