Preparing for Gita Week

KRISHNA Janmashtami is observed on the 8th Thithi in Krishna Paksha (dark half) of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (August-September).

According to scriptures (such as the Srimad Bhagvatam), Shri Krishna made his appearance in Mathura during the Dwapara Yuga (Iron Age).

The objective of Krishna assuming human form was to free the Earth of evil.

Shri Krishna himself says in chapter 4 of the Bhagavad Gita: “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself.

“To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to re-establish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.” During the build-up to Krishna Janmashtami, devotees engage in spiritual activities.

The singing of bhajans and kirtans (devotional songs in praise of God), and reading and discussion of Srimad Bhagvatam and Bhagavad Gita are some of the spiritual activities that devotees engage in to prepare for the auspicious moment of Lord Krishna’s appearance.

For several days prior to the auspicious moment of midnight of the appearance of the Lord, devotees are engaged in creating the right mood and atmosphere for the appearance of the Lord.

In many temples in South Africa, the reading and the studying of the Bhagavad Gita takes place.

The teachings of the Bhagavad Gita are based on the Upanishads. The Bhagavad Gita provides the concise conclusion of the millions of verses in all the Vedic scriptures.

In just 18 chapters containing 700 verses, Sri Krishna answers all questions about the duty of the living entity. In glorifying the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Siva says in the Gita Mahatmya (Padma Purana) that it is sufficient to lead one to liberation.

The Mahabharata also sings the glory of the Bhagavad Gita. It tells us that the Gita is the essence of all Hindu scriptures.

We should make a careful study of the Gita because the words of the Gita are those of Shri Vishnu himself. Just as Hari (God) is the Supreme, and Ganga is the foremost among places of pilgrimage, in the same way the Gita is the foremost among Hindu scriptures. Those who recite with devotion the four names, Gita, Ganga, Gayatri and Govind, will attain liberation.

Gita Week starts on Monday and will culminate with Krishna Janmashtami. LOKESH RAMNATH MAHARAJ, the chair of the Priests Council of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha, explains the significance of Krishna Janmashtami