On the 13th of August 2022, more than 1,500 people, including students had chanted the Bhagavad Gita shlokas along with 700 fluent readers in the city of Dallas, (capital of Texas state) in United States of America. This event was called “Gita Sahasragala” by the mayor of the city. This grand event was organised by Shri Avadhoota Datta Peetham under the divine presence of Shri Ganpati Sachidanand Swami at the Allen Event Center. Swamiji is also the founder of “Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple” in Frisco. He also established the Gita Mahayagna program which aims to teach and memorise Sanskrit.
This sacred event and the mass chanting, a representative of the Guinee’s Book of World Records, presented Shri Ganpati Sachidanand Swami with a record of “largest and simultaneous Hindu text recital” The Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi has sent a letter of appreciation to Avadhoota Datta Peetham and he extended his wishes for this remarkable event. According to some reports, the practise process for this record was conducted over a year span.
The “Bhagavad Gita” is the most sacred and holy scripture in Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism). It is the primary holy book in “Vaishnavism” denomination of Hinduism along with the Shrimad Bhagavatam. It is a part of the larger Indian Epic “Mahabharata” written by Maharishi Vyasa. There are many sub sections of the Vaishnava Tradition such as: Nimbarka, Pushti Marg etc.
However, the credit for expansion of the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita has been popularised by Gaudiya Vaishnavism (originated in Bengal) and ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness). It is said that Lord Krishna instructed a dejected Arjuna who was not ready to take arms and fight his own kinsmen (Kauravas). Lord Krishna describes himself as “Swayam Bhagwan” and causes of all causes. He gives shelter to any one be it a beast, man or someone belonging to different social status. (poor/rich etc.). The most oft quoted verses from the Gita are:
“Whenever there is a decline in the Dharma, (righteousness) and increase in Adharma (unrighteousness) I take avatar age after age to restore Dharma.”
The present day Kurukshetra in Haryana is the place where the Gita was preached to Arjuna.
It is believed that the departure of Lord Krishna to his abode “Vaikuntha” marks the start of Kaliyuga. Calculations by many astronomers have provided us a tentative date (12th February 3102 BC) which was 5000 years ago at Bhalka Tirth in Somnath
The Bhagavad Gita has been translated into many languages and published by various publishing houses. The Gita Press of Gorakhpur is the leading publisher of Hindu Scriptures including the Bhagavad Gita. The most well read and recommended book on Bhagavad Gita is that of Srila Prabhupada. (The Bhagavad Gita as it is). Gita Jayanti is celebrated annually every December.
