Dharma kshetre Kurukshetra - Sri Judge uvacha - Bhagavat Gita discourse from Allahabad High Court
Justice S.N. Srivastava of the Allahabad High Court passed an interesting order a few days ago, which is making ripples all over. One of the questions framed by the judge was,
As the matter relates to Temple of Lord Krishna who has given Bhagvad Geeta to the mankind, whether Bhagvad Geeta propounds any thought or belief or Dharm common to all faiths, beliefs, way of worship (all religions born in India and part of Hinduism)?
The judge ordered,
Under Article 51-A(b) and (f) of the Constitution of India, BhagvadGeeta and its principles is synthesis and Dharma which inspired our national struggle for freedom right from the day of invasion of Mir Quasim on India in 712 upto 1947, it is the fundamental duty of every citizen and the State as a whole to cherish and follow the noble ideals of BhagvadGeeta and, thus, it is the duty of every citizen of India to protect our rich heritage.
He emotionally observed,
The history of India prior to Independence and after Independence makes it clear that religious institutions which include Temples were always subject to attacks and demolitions and constructions of Mosques and Madarasas in their places for the last more than 1200 years and such attacks are still continuing by such forces.
Attack/demolition and construction of Mosques and Madrsas in place of Temples and Religious Institutions had taken place for the last about 1100 years and is a part of Indian History from 712 A.D. In 712 A.D. Mohd BinQasim an Invador from Iraq attacked Sindh. King Dahir was defeated and forceful conversion of Hindus into Muslims took place and various Hindu religious institutions were demolished. History makes it clear that foreign Muslim invaders demolished thousands of Hindu Temples. In 1000 A.D. Mahmood Gazanavi attacked India and defeated Raja Jaipal. (He actually provided an exhaustive list of attacks!)
The judge quoted extensively from the Gita and cited several authorities and saints.
Concept of Dharma propounded by Geeta
1. EVERY ONE, CHILDREN OF GOD:
The immortal soul in the body is a part of mine and it is HE who draws the five senses and the sixth the mind that dwell in nature. All human beings are children of God.
2. PURPOSE OF THE HUMAN BODY: It hardly needs saying that since pious Brahmin and royal sages (rajarshi) attain to salvation, you should also renounce this miserable, ephemeral, mortal body and always engage in my worship. Although devoid of money and comforts, yet rare to gain, while you are in the human body worship me. The right for such worship is granted to all those in human body
3. ONLY TWO CASTES IN HUMAN BEINGS:
There are in the world, O' Parth, two kinds of beings, the pious, on whom I have already dwelt at length, and the devilish of whom you will now hear from me. There are only types of human beings, the 'Deva' (divine) of whom the heart is dominated by the noble traits, and the 'Asura' (devil) whose evil traits dominate the hearts. In this entire creation, there are no other types of human beings.
4. FULFILMENTS OF EVERY DESIRE THROUGH GOD:
Men who do pious deeds enjoined by the three Vedas, who have tasted nectar and freed themselves from sin, and who wish for heavenly existence through worshipping me by Yagya, go to heaven (Indralok), and enjoy godly pleasures as a reward for their virtuous acts. Though worshipping me, people aspire to reach the heaven and I grant it to them. Therefore, everything can be easily attained through the grace of Supreme Being.
5. ELIMINATION OF EVERY SIN BY TAKING REFUGE IN THE SUPREME BEING:
Even if you are the most heinous sinner, the ark of knowledge will carry you safely across all evils. Even the worst of all sinners can undoubtedly gain access to the Supreme Being by using the boat of wisdom.
6. KNOWLEDGE: Constantly resting is the awareness that is called adhyatmya and perception of the Supreme spirit who is the end of realization of truth are all knowledge and whatever is contrary to them is ignorance. Dedication to the wisdom of the supreme soul, and the direct perception of Eternal Wisdom, which is the manifestation of the Supreme Soul, constitute the components of the real wisdom. Any thing, other than these is ignorance. Thus direct perception of God is wisdom.
7. EVERY ONE IS ENTITLED TO WORSHIP:
Even if a man of the most depraved conduct worships me incessantly, he is worthy of being regarded as a saint because he is a man of true resolve. Thus he shortly becomes pious and achieves eternal peace, and so, O Son of Kunti, you should know beyond any doubt that my worshipper is never destroyed. A great sinner even, if worships ME with onepointedness and single mindedness shall be transformed into a noble soul and shall attain the everlasting peace within. Therefore, a noble soul is the one who has dedicated himself to the Supreme Being.
8. EVERLASTING SEED IN DIVINE PATH:
Since selfless action neither wears out the seed from which it sprang nor has any adverse consequence, even a partial observance of this dharm liberates (one) from the dire terror (of repeated birth and death). Even a small amount of action performed with a goal of self realization shall elevate the seeker from the terrible fear of birth and death cycles.
9. THE ABODE OF THE SUPREME BEING: Propelling all living things that bestride a body which is but a contrivance by the maya, O Arjun, God abides in the hearts of all beings. Seek refuge with all your heart, O Bharat, in that God by whose grace you will attain to repose and the everlasting, ultimately bliss. God reside within the heart of every living being. Therefore, one must surrender himself totally to this Supreme Being with complete detachment. Through his compassion, one shall attain the ultimate bliss.
10. YAGYA:Yet other Yogis offer the functions of their senses and operations of their life breaths to the fire of Yog (self control)kindled by knowledge. As some offer their exhalation to inhalation, others offer their inhaled breath to the exhaled breath, while yet others practise serenity of breath by regulating their incoming and outgoing breath.
11. PERFORMER OF YAGYA: O the best of Kuru, the yogis who have tested the nectar flowing from Yagya attain to the eternal Supreme God, but how can the next life of men bereft of Yagya be happy, when even their life in this world is miserable? For the men, who do not possess the attitude of yagya, it is very difficult to obtain human form in the transmigratory existence. Therefore, everyone, in a human body is entitled to perform Worshipful Meditation (Yagya).
12. GOD CAN BE SEEN: O Arjun, mighty armed one a worshipper can know this form of mine directly, acquire its essence, and even become one with it by a total and unswerving dedication. It is easy to see Him face to face, know Him and even gain entry into Him through intense devotion. Only a seer, views the soul as a marvel, another one describes him as a marvel, and yet another hears him as a marvel, while there are some who hear him and yet know Him not. An enlightened sage could see this SOUL as a rare wonder. This is direct perception.
13. SOULD IS ETERNAL AND TRUE: The self, which cannot be pierced or burnt or made wet or faded is uninterrupted all pervasive, constant, immovable and eternal. Soul alone is true. Soul alone is eternal.
14. CREATOR AND HIS CREATIONS ARE MORTAL:
All the worlds from Brahmlok downwards are, O Arjun, of a recurrent character, but, O son of Kunti, the soul which realizes me is not born again. Brahma (the creator) and his creations, dev and demons are full of grief, momentary and mortal.
15. WORSHIP OF OTHER GODS: Driven by the properties of their nature, they who fall from knowledge desire worldly pleasures and in imitation of the prevailing customs, worship other gods instead of one single God. Those whose intellect has been robbed through enjoyment of worldly comforts, such foolish persons tend to worship other gods than the Supreme Being. Although even covetous devotees indeed worship me in worshipping other gods, their worship is against the ordained provisions and therefore enveloped by ignorance.
16. THE IGNOBLE: Those who, after forsaking the prescribed way of performing Yagya, but adopt ways without scriptual sanction, are cruel, sinful and ignorable among the human being.
17. ORDAINED PROCEDURES: He who departs from the body intoning OM, which is GOD in word, and remembering me, attains to salvation.
The intoning of OM, which is the synonym for eternal Brahm, remembering only the sole Supreme Being and worshipful meditation is guidance of enlightened sage
18. SCRIPTURE: I have thus instructed you, the sinless, in the most subtle of all knowledge because, by knowing its essence a man gains wisdom and accomplishes all his tasks.
The judgement has invited adverse comments from several sides, but certainly makes scholarly reading. While the Bhagavat Gita consists of such pearls of wisdom, certainly other scriptures like Koran and Bible too have them.
Karmanyevaadhikarasthe! You have the right only to do your duty!