Relevance and Importance of Bhagawad Gita in the modern society

I need not tell you that in this 21st century, every one is going after modern amenities. Mostly, we do not like things which are old.  What is your opinion?  If your kid is given toys which your father used, will your kids enjoy it?  Obviously, not.  Why?  Because, their interest and way of playing has changed a lot.

So if we are given a book or knowledge which was originally introduced 5000 years ago, will we like it?  Yes, I can hear it.  You said a "no".  That does not mean that you are not suitable for that knowledge, only thing is you are not used to it and you are not interested in it.  

That is why when the youngsters are asked to read the scriptures, they start criticizing.   We can't blame them.  They are not used to the scriptures such as Vedas or Bhagavad Gita.  They do not know the importance or relevance of Bhagavad Gita.  That's all.  The younger generation do not know that, Bhagavad Gita, even though 5000 years old, can give answers to all the problems which can arise in a person's life - family life, business life, social life- any field.

Do you know, Sri Sankaracharya has mentioned about Bhagavad Gita in his Gita Mahatmyam?

Ekam shastram devaki putra gitam

Eko devo devaki putra eva

Eko mantras tasya namani yani

Karmapy ekam tasya devasya seva

(Gita Mahatmyam 7)

meaning:

Let there be only one scripture - Bhagavath Gita by the son of Devaki.

Let there be only one God- Son of Devaki- Sree Krishna

Let there be only one mantra or hymn - The name of Sri Krishna.

Let there be only one work, act or Karma - Service of the Supreme Personality of God head- Sri Krishna.

Sarvopanishado gavo

Doghda gopala nandanah

Partho vatsa sudhir bhogtha

Dugdam gitamritam mahat

(Gita Mahatmya 6)
meaning:

Bhagavath Geetha is the essence of all Upanishads.  All Upanishads are like a cow.  Sri Krishna, son of Nanda is milking that cow.  Arjuna is like a calf.  The nectar of Bhagavat Gita is the milk.  Krishna is milking the cow and giving the essence of all Upanishads i.e Bhagawad Gita to his devotees.  The best gift that God has given to humanity is ‘The Bhagavad Gita’.  

The words given in Gita Mahatmyam shows that Bhagavad Gita is relevant even today.

The best way to understand God is to become a pure devotee.  By being surrendered to Lord Krishna and being ready to blindly follow his instructions one can easily understand the holy book of Bhagavad Gita.  No one else can understand Lord Krishna or Bhagavad Gita better than a devotee.  Bhagavat Gita contains transcendental knowledge.  Each time one reads it, the insight which we get will be different.  Of course, we need the Lords mercy for understanding Bhagavat Gita.  For that, we have to surrender completely to Lord Krishna and allow His will to happen.  Bhagavad Gita can give the solution of any doubt we have in our life.  If you have problems in your personal life, for education, for job, regarding business, any annoying daily life problem - there is solution in Bhagavad Gita.  Reading Bhagavat Geetha daily can help in self improvement and personality development.

Why Arjuna was chosen to be delivered Bhagavat Gita? 

Have you ever wondered about the relationship between Krishna and Arjuna?  Have you thought why Krishna did not give the knowledge of Bhagavad Gita to eminent men like Bheeshma or Yudhishtira?  Why did not Sri Krishna choose some body else to understand Bhagavad Gita?  Why was Arjuna selected for this?  Was there no other educated person who could be delivered the secret of Bhagavad Gita?  

1.  We know Arjuna was a friend of Lord Krishna.  Most important is that Arjuna was ready to do what ever Krishna tells him to do.  So to understand Bhagavad Gita, one must have a relationship with the Lord, the Supreme soul.  One must be devoted to understand the scriptures.

2.  Arjuna was ready to accept Sri Krishna as his guru or teacher.  Arjuna was ready to accept the Lord without any doubt.  He had fully surrendered to Krishna.  So only a person totally surrendered to the Lord, one who does not doubt him and is ready to obey him will be able to understand Bhagavat Gita.

Even though Bhagavad Gita was delivered by Lord Krishna 5000 years ago, all the words in it are relevant even today.  It is a guide which can give solution and advice to all the problems that you may find in your daily life.  Bhagawad Geeta is a good reference for philosophers and knowledge seekers.

Learn to recite Vishnu Sahasranamam in a month.

Find difficulty in reciting Vishnu Sahasranama?  Here I am discussing some tips which I tried and succeeded in learning to recite Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra.

Tips to learn Vishnu Sahasranama soon.

• First get a copy of the lyrics.  Lot of books are available in our temples and book stores.  You can also download the lyrics from the internet.  It is available in English so that the pronunciations are easy to repeat.                                                                                                                              


• Next you need an audio version like MP3, CD or cassette.  It is also available online. 


•  You can play the audio while you are at home.  Play it once daily in the morning and in the evening.


•  If you drive to your office, make it a practice to play the audio while you are driving.  So you can play it at least once while driving.  That make it three times a day without spending extra time for it.


• Try to recite along with the audio at the portions wherever you know.  Daily read along with the audio with the help of the lyrics once as part of your daily prayers.  So a total of four times a day. 


• Practice it daily and within one month you will be able to by heart it and recite it without the help of a book.