Bhagavad Gita is an important Hindu scripture that consists of 700 verses. It comprises chapters 23 to 40 of book 6 of Mahabharata known as Bhishma Parva. According to Hindu mythology, Bhagavad Gita was written by Lord Ganesha as dictated to him by sage Veda Vyasa. It dwells on topics like spirituality, moral and ethical dilemmas, and concepts of dharma, bhakti and moksha, among others.
At the beginning of the war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, Arjuna faces a dilemma of whether he should fight against his family members or renounce the war. So, he seeks the guidance of his charioteer Lord Krishna, who enlightens Arjuna about the necessity of the war and advices him to continue the battle in order to fulfil his Kshatriya Dharma. This conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna is encapsulated in the Bhagavad Gita.
Reading the Bhagavad Gita can help you get rid of doubts and fears, give you clarity of thought, raise your self-awareness, let you experience calmness and a sense of freedom, and help you embark on a spiritual journey. Here we look at some amazing advantages of reading Bhagavad Gita.
15 Benefits of Reading Bhagavad Gita
1. Reading the Bhagavad Gita can help you find the true purpose of your life.
2. Gita states that human life aims to ‘surrender’ through Bhakti (devotion). Following the Bhakti Marga can be life-changing, and can give you purity of thought and peace of mind.
3. Bhagavad Gita guides you on how to strike a balance in life.
4. It gives you the wisdom to attain knowledge, know the ultimate truth, and gain greater awareness of the self.
5. In the Gita, it has been said that your mind is your greatest friend if used correctly and your biggest enemy if not handled with care. Reading the Bhagavad Gita can enhance your understanding of the mind and help you achieve mind control.
6. As the Gita entails what is temporary and what is permanent and explains what real happiness means, reading the Bhagavad Gita can remove your fears and increase your inner strength.
7. It states that one must carry out his duties without worrying about the fruit. Reading about and practicing this principle of Gita in real life, can help you perform duties and take up responsibilities without worrying about the results. This can in turn imbibe selflessness in you.
8. Bhagavad Gita says that the soul is eternal and indestructible. Reading the Gita can help you understand the concept of ‘soul’ and let you know that there is something within you that cannot be conquered, thus boosting your mental strength.
9. Gita preaches you about righteousness and good behaviour, and thus can help you adhere to the path of virtue.
10. In the Gita, Lord Krishna says that happiness and sorrow are like seasons that come and go; they are passing phases which is why one should never lose his/her calm even in the toughest times.
11. Bhagavad Gita reading, when repeated multiple times, can help improve memory and concentration.
12. It is believed that those who read the Bhagavad Gita during the month of Kartik can get liberated from the cycle of birth and death and have a peaceful afterlife.
13. It is said that reading the Gita during Pitru Paksha can give salvation to your ancestors.
14. The Bhagavad Gita introduces various forms of yoga that, when practiced, can contribute to a more enriching and fulfilling way of life.
15. The benefits reaped by giving cows as charity or performing an Ashvamedha, can be obtained by reading Bhagavad Gita.
Thus, you can see that reading the Bhagavad Gita can enhance your mental abilities and inner strength, instill in you some good qualities like humility, compassion and composure, give you a sense of direction, and help you attain eternal peace.
