In present days, the word “jayanti” is loosely used for someone’s birthday. However, this word is not meant for mortal beings. What most people don’t know about Gita jayanti is, when Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, it was not the first time that He spoke it. Gita jayanti is not the birthday of Bhagavad Gita. It is the day when Bhagavad Gita was spoken the first time on this planet during this particular yuga cycle.
This is clearly mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita itself when Lord Krishna says:
imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam
vivasvan manave praha manur iksvakave ‘bravit
Translation: The Blessed Lord said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Ikṣhvaku. (B.G. 4.1)
In the very next verse Lord Krishna says that the knowledge he imparted to King Ikshvaku through parampara, or disciplic succession, got gradually lost. “This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.” (B.G. 4.2)
This shows the message of Bhagavad Gita is eternally present and Lord Krishna delivers it in its original form as and when it needs to be revived.
In recent days, after the revolutionary preaching on the teachings of Bhagavad Gita by ISKCON’s founder-acharya Srila Prabhupada, Gita Jayanti has become one of the most important festivals across the world.
Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, which is Srila Prabhupada’s translation of the original Sanskrit text along with purports, has been translated in practically every language of the world and millions of copies have been distributed.
On Gita Jayanti day, especially in India, people spare a few hours to read all 18 chapters of Bhagavad Gita. Devotees also offer oblations in fire sacrifices (yajna) and distribute prasad to devotees.
There are some mental speculators who try to define Gita in their own ways by comparing it with human body saying the battlefield of Kurukshetra actually refers to our body, five Pandavas are five senses of the body, and so on. This less intelligent people forget that the place where Lord Sri Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to His dear devotee Arjuna, Kurukshetra, is still present in North India and millions of people visit this holy place in memory of that historical event and offer their homages.
Comments
Hari Bol....
did you know THIS about gita jayanti?
quotes on "Gita-jayanti"
The most auspicious constellation of stars takes place during the
appearance of the Lord in this material world, and it is specifically
called jayanti, a word not to be abused for any other purposes.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.12.12
jayanti is reserved for the day when the Lord appears on the earth.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.9.45
BBT Stylebook
bbt publications should also avoid the term Gita Jayanti, since it was
disapproved by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. An acceptable
alternative is "Advent of the Bhagavad-gita."