The Bhagavad Gita is contained in the great Hindu epic, Mahabharata, probably the longest poem in all of literature.The Gita was written between the fifth and the fourth centuries BCE and according to legend it is attributed to the sage, Vyasa. The Mahabharata tells the story of a civil war in ancient India between the sons of Kuru (Kauruvas) and the sons of Pandu (Pandavas) over the north Indian kingdom of Bharata. The Pandavas believe the claim to the kingdom was stolen from them by the cheating of the Kauruvas. Every attempt by the Pandava brothers to regain their kingdom without war has failed. As a result a great battle begins among them, the Bhagavad Gita is primarily a dialog between Arjuna, the third Pandava brother, and his charioteer, Krishna. Remaining neutral, Krishna allowed one side to use his army in battle, while the other side could have him as a charioteer although he would not fight himself. Arjuna wants to win the throne but cannot fight his relatives and turns to Krishna, his friend and spiritual advisor and asks him deeper questions about life. The Gita is krishna’s answer.

In the Gita, Krishna accepts Arjuna as his disciple and gives

The Gita is a classic summary of the core beliefs of Hinduism. It is a brilliant piece of literature, its seven hundred concise verses provide a definite guide to the science of Self-realization. No other philosophical or religious work reveals in such a profound and lucid way the nature of consciousness, the Self and life’s ultimate goal. The Gita has a significant influence far beyond Hinduism, it reaches out to all, even to other religions including Christianity, Islam, Judaism and many others. The Gita explains the ways of selfless action, passes into the way of self knowledge, and ends with the way of love; thereby focusing on all aspects of life. As stated by Mahatma Gandhi, “Any person who lives by the principles of the Gita will lead a happier and peaceful life.” This is true because just by taking Gandhi’s life as an example we see the evidence of inspiration that the Gita contains. The Gita’s message to all is to see the Lord in every creature and act accordingly.

Others might question whether the Gita justifies war, but in my opinion the dramatic setting of the great battlefield in the Gita is in every individual. That is the battle between the ego and the Self . When one becomes free from ego (selfish) attachments/desires they become one with the Self and are enlightened. This is the greatest goal of life, as Krishna mentions ‘But they for whom I am the supreme goal, who do all work renouncing self for me and meditate on me with single-hearted devotion, these I will swiftly rescue from the fragment’s cycle of birth and death, for their consciousness has entered me.(12:6-7-Bhagavad Gita by Eknath Easwaran). This verse in additi

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