Bhagavad Giitaa Tattvam

TRANSLATED BY:

ROHINI NANDANA SWAMI

This book ‘Bhagavad Giitaa Tattvam’ Translated by Rohini Nandana Swami is

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I N D E X

INTRODUCTION OF AUTHOR

INTRODUCTION

THE ESSENCE OF HINDU CULTURE

CHAPTER-1

ARJUNA VISHAADA YOGA: LINKING OF JIIVAATMAA WITH PARAMAATMAA THROUGH SORROW AND PERPLEXITY

CHAPTER-2

SAANKHYA YOGA: LINKING JIIVAATMAA WITH PARAMAATMAA THROUGH ANALYTICAL STUDY OF MATTER AND SPIRIT

SUMMARY

CHAPTER-3

KARMA YOGA: LINKING JIIVAATMAA WITH  PARAMAATMAA THROUGH ACTION

CHAPTER-4

JNAANA YOGA-LINKING JIIVAATMAA WITH  PARAMAATMAA THROUGH KNOWLEDGE

CHAPTER-5

KARMA SANNYASA  YOGA-LINKING JIIVAATMAA  WITH PARAMAATMAA THROUGH  RENOUNCING DOER-SHIP OF ACTION

CHAPTER-6

DHYANA YOGA: LINKING JIIVAATMAA  TO PARAMAATMAA THROUGH MEDITATION

CHAPTER-7

JNAANA VIJNAANA YOGA: LINKING JIIVAATMAA  WITH PARAMAATMAA THROUGH  KNOWLEDGE AND REALIZATION

CHAPTER-8

AKSHARA BRAHMA YOGA: LINKING JIIVAATMAA  WITH PARAMAATMAA THROUGH  IMPERISHABLE SPIRIT  (SPIRITUAL ABODE, THE HOME, OF GOD)

CHAPTER-9

RAAJAVIDYAA RAAJAGUHYA YOGA:  LINKING JIIVAATMAA WITH PARAMAATMAA THROUGH THE KING OF KNOWLEDGE, THE KING OF SECRETS

CHAPTER-10

VIBHUUTI YOGA: LINKING OF JIIVAATMAA  WITH PARAMAATMAA THROUGH GOD’S GLORIOUS PART EXPANSIONS (MANIFESTATIONS)

CHAPTER-11

VISVARUUPA DARSHANA YOGA: LINKING JIIVAATMAA WITH PARAMAATMAA  THROUGH VISUALIZATION OF  THE UNIVERSAL FORM OF GOD

CHAPTER-12

BHAKTI YOGA: LINKING JIIVAATMAA WITH  PARAMAATMAA THROUGH LOVE,  DEDICATION AND SERVICE

CHAPTER-13

KSHETRA-KSHETRAJNA VIBHAAGAYOGA  LINKING JIIVAATMAA WITH PARAMAATMAA  THROUGH DIVISION OR DIFFERENTIATION OF  MATERIAL BODY AND SOUL OR OF  PRAKRTI AND PURUSHA OR OF  THE GREAT UNIVERSAL FEMALE PERSON (DURGAA) AND THE GREAT UNIVERSAL MALE PERSON (MAHAA VISHNU) OR OF THE SUPREME SPIRITUAL FEMALE PERSON (RAADHAA, THE SUPREME GODDESS) AND THE SUPREME SPIRITUAL MALE PERSON  (KRSHNA, SUPREME GOD)

CHAPTER-14

GUNATRAYA VIBHAGA YOGA: LINKING JIIVAATMAA WITH PARAMAATMAA THROUGH THE DIVISION AND DIFFERENTIATION OF THE THREE QUALITIES BORN OF GODDESS PRAKRTI

CHAPTER-15

PURUSHOTTAMA YOGA: LINKING JIIVAATMAA TO PARAMAATMAA  THROUGH THE HIGHEST, MOST SUPREME AND BEST AMONG PERSONS

CHAPTER-16

DAIVAASURA SAMPAD VIBHAAGA YOGA:  LINKING OF JIIVAATMAA WITH PARAMAATMAA THROUGH DIFFERENTIATION OF DIVINE AND DEMONIAC (SATANIC OR WICKED) NATURES ATTAINABLE FOR JIIVAATMAA

CHAPTER-17

SRADDHATRAYA VIBHAGA YOGA: LINKING JIIVAATMAA WITH PARAMAATMAA THROUGH DIVISION AND DIFFERENTIATION OF THE THREE TYPES OF FAITH AND WAYS OF LIFE

CHAPTER-18

MOKSHA SANNYASA YOGA: LINKING OF JIIVAATMAA WITH PARAMAATMAA THROUGH LIBERATION BY RENUNCIATION OF DOERSHIP OF ALL ACTIVITIES

CONCLUDING NOTES

INTRODUCTION OF AUTHOR

Rohini Nandana Swami Alias Dr. Ramasubramanian P Viswanath., B.Tech, Metallurgical Engineering, IIT Mumbai, 1965; Ph.D. Material Science, University of Minnesota. 1971. Born on Ram Navami 1942, Swami engaged in disciplined spiritual practices right from his childhood under the guidance of his grandparents, parents, and other spiritual practitioners. By the age of ten Swami started attending upanyasams in Bombay. Particularly Swami was very much influenced by the upanyasams on Ramayanam and Bhagavatam by Anantharama Dikshitar. Swami was initiated into the spiritual order of life (Upanayanam) at the age of 13. Swami was very regular in Sandhyavandanam along with vedic recitations particularly PuruSha Suuktha, Rudra Japa etc., Swami learnt Sanskrit in school. He practiced these spiritual disciplines until the age of 36, and then began in-depth study of the spiritual aspects. Swami dedicated himself full time in spiritual study and activities and helped Kiirtanaananda Swami Bhaktipaada who initiated him into the Sanyasa order of life at the age of 45. Until then Swami was engaged in worship of Archa Vigrahas. After the age of 45 Swami turned inside and engaged himself in the worship of Paramaatma through jiivaatmaa.

Swami travelled widely in India, visiting various Ashrams and holy places. Swami spent considerable time in Vraja Bhuumi where Raadhaa, KRShNa and their associates performed many pastimes. The places of interest such as Yamunaa, Govardhan, Raadhaa KuNDa, shyaama KuNDa and so on mentioned in the ancient scriptures are present there even today, and he realized that whatever is said in the scriptures such as Bhagavatam, Brahmavaivarta puranam etc. are true.

Swami engaged in preaching activities and spent considerable time reading Vedic literature. Swami completed study of almost one hundred and forty Upanishads by reading the original Sanskrit version and by the grace of Lord KRShNa, Swami was getting confirmation from the scriptures that what Lord KRShNa says in Bhagavad Giitaa is indeed the essence of all scriptures. Swami also read several puranas such as Srimad Bhagavatam, Ramayana, Matsya Purana, Vishnu Purana, Shiva Purana, Padma Purana, Narada Pancharatra, Garuda Purana, Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, Brahmavaivarta Purana, Devi Bhagavatam and so on, and after analyzing all these scriptures and through communications with the Lord Paramaatmaa in the heart, Swami came to the conclusion that Bhagavad Giitaa and Brahmavaivarta Purana will provide the essence of all scriptures to Hindus and will give a perfect understanding of Hinduism and of the Hindu culture which hardly anyone currently seems to be knowledgeable about. The concluding message of the scriptures is that both jiivaatmaa and Paramaatmaa are present within the material body and the aim of the jiivaatmaa is to realize, and establish a relationship and constantly engage in worship and service of that Paramaatmaa within himself and all others. Thus, every living body is a temple where jivaatmaa is the pujaari and Paramaatmaa is the deity. Currently all these temples are abandoned. Swamiji’s goal is to rejuvenate the billions of abandoned temples.

Swami is now engaged in the translation of these scriptures and his goal is to make the pure and simple translations of these scriptures available to each and every household in the respective regional language. All of mankind will derive both material as well as spiritual prosperity by regularly reading and practicing the easy-to-practice tenets of these scriptures.

PRAYERS TO UNIVERSAL GURUS

Vasudevasutam devam

Kamsa CaaNuura mardanam

devakiiparamaanandam

KRShNam vande Jagadgurum

Vyaasa-prasaadaat shrutavaan

etadguhyamaham param

Yogam Yogeshvaraat KRShNaat

SaakShaat Kathayatah svayam

Yatra Yogeshvarah KRShNo

Yatra Paartho dhanurdharah

tatra shrii vijayo bhuutir

dhruvaa niitir matir mama

I offer obeisance to Supreme God KRShNa, the son of Vasudeva, who killed Kamsa and CaaNuura, who is the Supreme Transcendental joy of devakii and who is the aboriginal, transcendental, spiritual teacher for the countless, unlimited number of universes. By the grace of Vyaasa I (Sanjaya) have heard this extremely secretive and transcendental process of Yoga from the very mouth of KRShNa who is the Supreme Lord of Yoga, speaking Himself Personally. Wherever there is KRShNa who is the Supreme Lord of Yoga, and Paartha wielding his bow, ever ready, dedicated and determined to perform, there all fortunes, victory, justice and happiness will certainly prevail. This is my firm conviction.

namahshivaabhyaam

navayauvanaabhyaam

parasparaashliShTa

vapurdharaabhyaam

nagendra kanyaa

vRShaketanaabhyaam

namo namah

shankaraPaarvatiibhyaam

Yogaadhaara Yogaruupa

Yogajna YogakaaraNa

Yogiisha Yoginaam biija

Prasiida Yoginaam Guro

I offer my obeisance to the pair of spiritual, freshly youthful female and male personalities having the forms of shivaa and shiva respectively, which personalities are engaged in mutual embrace. I bow down to the two personalities, Paarvatii who is the daughter of the king of mountains and shankara, Lord shiva, the well-wisher of all beings, who are mounted on the bull (nandi) who has become their vehicle. I bow down to Lord shiva who is the very base and support of Yoga, who is the very Personified form of Yoga, who is the Lord of all Yogis, and who is the very seed of Yogis. Oh Guru of all Yogis! Kindly bestow your Grace on me.

naaraayaNam namaskRtya

naram caiva narottamam

deviim sarasvatiim vyaasam

tato jayamudhiirayet

When one offers obeisance to sages nara who is the best among human creations, and naaraayaNa, to Goddess Sarasvati and sage Vyaasa, one is certain to find success in all endeavors.

Jayati jagati maayaam

yasya kaayaadavaste

vacanaracanamekam

kevalam caakalayya

dhruvapadamapi yaato

yadkRpaato dhruvo'yam

sakalakushala paatram

Brahamaputram nato'smi

I offer my obeisance to naarada, the son of Brahma by whose utterance of one single mantra, the five year old dhruva, the son of Suniiti, and the step-son of Surucii, and whose father was Uttaanapaada, was able to overcome the Goddess of illusion in the material creation and obtain his own permanent transcendental abode, the dhruvaloka; and who (naarada) is the very abode of welfare for all.

Nama Om ViShNupaadaaya

KRShNapreShTaaya bhuutale

shriimate Kiirtanaananda

Swamin iti naamine

namaste Bhaktipaadaaya

Prabhupaadapriyaaya te

LiilaakShetram Param dhaamam

sthaapitam yena pashcime

I offer my Obeisance to shrii Kiirtanaananda Swami Bhaktipaada who is always situated at the Lotus Feet of ViShNu, who is very dear to shriiKRShNa, who is very dear to Prabhupaada, and who created a Transcendental Abode where all kinds of transcendental actions of Shrii Raadhaa and KRShNa take place constantly.

In addition to Lord KRShNa's personal presentation, Sanjaya's confirmation about the Yoga process, grace of Lord shiva, and naarada, Guru Shrii Bhaktipada's two transcendental books, "conversation with the Lord in the heart'' also, inspired Rohininandanaswami to pursue the True Message, Bhagavad GIITAA Tattvam.

Four-handed KRShNa and a baffled Arjuna in the battle-field

My nature has been stolen away by weakness. I am confused as to what is right. I ask you. Please tell me categorically what is best. I am a disciple of yours and I have taken shelter of you

KRShNa showing his universal form to Arjuna

Seeing this form of Yours, never before seen, I am delighted, but my mind is trembling with fear. Therefore Oh Abode of the universe, Controller of gods! Be merciful to me, Lord! Take me back and show me that same original form. I like to see You as You were before with crown, holding mace and wheel in Your hands. Oh Lord having Universal Form! Oh Thousand Handed One! Please assume that same four handed form of Yours as You had before

Form of Paramaatmaa and Paramaatmikaa in the heart.

"Understand that PuruSha (My male Personality) is for ever Eternal and similarly Goddess PrakRti (My Female Personality) also is, for ever, Eternal. Those two Personalities always remain embraced to each other (appearing to be as though one). Oh shiva! Understand that those two Personalities are the Mother and Father of all. By their own free will, they are with form, without form and also the form of all (they manifest their forms, remain unmanifest and remain within all as Paramaatmaa and Paramaatmikaa).

Rohininandanaswami revealing the presence of both Jiivaatmaa and Paramaatmaa within the material body

The name Ramasubramanian Viswanath represents the material body of the author. Rohininandanaswami is the name of Paramaatmaa who is the combined form of Raadhaa and KRShNa within that body. As you can see in the picture, the gopi, cowherd girl offering worship to Raadhaa and KRShNa in the heart, is the jiivaatmaa. The jiivaatmaa is always engaged in worshipping the Paramaatmaa (her Lord and Master KRShNa with His eternal consort Raadhaa) who constantly gives immense joy to the jiivaatmaa.

The learned souls see with equal vision, a BrahmaNa endowed with knowledge and humility, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-consumer. They see the same one faultless Paramaatmaa, the Supreme Spirit (God) present in all of them.

The Real Tree, Spiritual World and Existence

Unreal Reflected Tree, Worldly Body-centered Material Existence

Lord KRShNa describes material world as upside down Banyan Tree. When we see reflection of a tree in water, we see it upside down. It appears like it is there in water. But it really is not there. If we try to pluck a fruit from the reflected tree, it is impossible. Similarly, all are trying to enjoy material world. However, it is short lived and ever changing, Just as reflected tree below is in water, the worldly material-body-centered-existence is also in water known as Samsara Sagara, the ocean of miserable worldly existence.

God said:

It is said that there is an imperishable banyan tree which has its roots upward and the branches go downward. Its leaves are the Vedas. One who knows this tree is the knower of Vedas. Its branches are spread upward and downward. It is nourished by the qualities of material nature; sense objects are its sprouts. There are secondary roots going downward and they are associated with activity in the world of men. Its form or shape is not visible, neither its beginning nor end nor its foundation. Cutting this deep-rooted banyan tree decisively by the weapon of detachment, the jiiva spirit souls have to seek that spiritual abode, after reaching where those souls do not return to this material world again. The jiiva soul has to take a resolve, ‘I take shelter of that Primeval Person (God), from whom all the creation has come forth and progressed’. 1-4, 15

Child KRShNa on Banyan leaf

Lord KRShNa said that the leaves of the upside down banyan tree are the Vedas. And He also says that He is the only one to be known from all the Vedas. There is reference in Srimad Bhagavatam of Child KRShNa lying on a banyan leaf floating on the causal waters at the time of dissolution. This Child lying on the banyan leaf (Vedas) shows that KRShNa is the subject matter of Vedas and that He is the One who is present in the Vedas} BG 15-1, 15

Child KRShNa is MahaaViShNu and is the begotten son born of Shrii Raadhaa and shriiKRShNa. At the beginning of Creation, the son was born and was discarded into the Causal Ocean formed from the sweat of Raadhaa and KRShNa as a result of their divine play. MahaaViShNu is the base and foundation of Creation. Within each pore of MahaaViShNu is present a universe. No one is capable of enumerating the number of universes present within Him. Because MahaaViShNU is floating on Ocean, all the universes present within Him are described as floating on Ocean, which is also known as Samsaara Saagara, the ocean of worldly material-body-centered existence. Vedas were sent into the creation as an instruction manual to live happily in creation. But the true happiness will come only when one understands that KRShNa is the subject matter of Vedas.

INTRODUCTION

THE ESSENCE OF HINDU CULTURE

Hindu culture in essence is seeing divinity everywhere, in everything and in everyone. Hindus worship the earth; Hindus worship water, tanks, lakes, rivers and oceans; Hindus worship mountains; Hindus worship plants and trees; Hindus worship animals, birds and even snakes; Hindus worship books, cars and other vehicles, machines and equipments; Hindus worship the air, fire, sky, the sun, moon and the stars. Hindu culture requires that one consider mother as God or rather as Goddess; consider father as God, consider teacher as God, elders as God, guests as God. It also requires us to greet one another by saying ‘namaste’ with joined palms. In general, it requires us to consider all females to be mothers, that is, as Goddesses.

Why does the Hindu culture teach us to see divinity everywhere? The Hindu culture is basically Vedic culture. In order to understand the Vedic culture we need to know the core essence of the vedas. The vedas proclaim the reality of spirit and the non-reality of matter.

What is matter and what is spirit?

UNDERSTANDING MATTER

A two or three year old child may not have seen a live elephant or a lion. But when the child sees and understands them through pictures, on hearing the words ‘elephant’ or ‘lion’, the child gets a mental picture of them. Later, when seeing them in a zoo the child automatically says, elephant, lion and so on. Similarly when we say ‘Brahman’ or ‘spirit,’ what is the clear picture that goes through our mind? In order to understand ‘spirit’ we first have to understand ‘matter’ properly. This universe is made up of the five material elements: earth, water, air, fire and ether. All the worlds from Brahmaloka to Paataalaloka are permeated by these elements. No one is clearly able to say or describe what these elements are. For the purpose of clarity let us consider ‘electrons, protons and neutrons’. No one is able to clearly pinpoint what these are. These are present in subtle forms in the air we breathe. They are present in our body. They are present in all objects we come across, on the ground, water, mountains, trees, animals, birds, insects-everywhere. But the special quality of these protons, neutrons and electrons is that they exist in forms only. They do not have unique, identifiable and independent existence as themselves. They exist as water, air, land, objects, as the bodies of living beings, etc. In the same way, the material elements also have their existence only in forms. Because of their subtle nature, they do not have their own individual, identifiable and independent existence. In this universe, the material elements earth, water, fire, etc. exist as air, water, land, sky, stone, insects, animals, birds, humans, trees, all types of different objects and so on. This is a special and prominent quality of the material elements in that even though they pervade the entire universe in subtle form, they can manifest their existence only through forms.

Now we will look into some of the major qualities of these subtle material elements. There are three major qualities for these elements.

1.      Forms made up of subtle material elements are temporary. Humans, animals, birds, trees, plants and other material objects are all temporary in their existence.

2.      All material forms are made up of darkness. If we get into a dark room, close tightly so that no light gets through from outside, shut off all