Bhagavadgitha – discussion-Aravind Malagatti
Dear Mr. Shreyas,
I said I would call you after a
while, when you called me. Later I saw
missed calls from your side. I
am sorry that I could not pick the call then. Here are my answers to your
questions.
Regards- Aravind
malagatti
1 With your studies on Geeta, do you believe BG strongly
propagates sectarianism?
-yes, Bhagvadgeeta does
a job of sowing the seeds of sectarianism(varna) in the readers
mind and preaches inequality. Caste system is the product of varnashrama, which
lord Krishna claims to have created.- Chaturvarnyam maya srushtyam guna karma vibhagasha-
[4-13]
2 According to Hindu scholars Geeta preaches perfect way of life
for the universe, what is your take on it?
-
Of course, it preaches the perfect way of life
– jeevana dharma , for one sect of
Hindus. Way of thinking of other sects have not been taken in its fold.
3 What is your interpretation of chapter 4, verse 13, a line of
which says, caste is determined by character and works not by birth
(chaturvrana maya sisthtam gunadharma vibhagasah)?
The shloka is not
clear in its connotation. There are three gunas , satva, raja, and thama. On the
basis of these three, there are four
varnas! There are six karmas[shatkarmas] adhyayana, adhyapana, Yajna, yajana,
dana, pratigraha.[these are meant for Brahmins] .what combinations of these
must have resulted in four varnas?
Lord Krishna suggests hierarchy
in gunas. [14-8].Same hierarchy is implied in varnas also. Jatidharma and
kuladharmas are also mentioned in bhagavadgita.[1-42]
4 Can slow evolving of Indian society attributed to inculcating
teachings of Geeta in way of life. Can this deeply rooted cast system in India
eradicated?
Geetha was not known to many hindus, as
education was denied to shudras and women. Popularizing it now will hinder the
progress of the society. There are folk ramayanas and folk mahabharathas , but
not folk geetha, indicating that it was not popular among the common people.
Caste system can be eradicated
through intercaste marriages. But, bhagavadgitha opposes varnasankara.
5 What are the impacts the modern Indian society is bearing due
to Geeta’s teaching?
Geetha contains
certain good preachings also, that
should be practiced , instead of reciting. But contents regarding hierarchy of varnas and
subordination of women, vaishyas and
shudras should never impact the society.
6 Has Geeta still remained as a book of upper cast, specifically
Brahmins, in terms of interpretation of Sholkas of Geeta?
-Geetha doesn’t
contain way of thinking of non Brahmins.
7 Do you feel, in the rapid socio cultural changes due to
information age, Brahmins in future
retain control over interpretations of Geeta?
-As a book, it has to be interpreted by all
interested people. There is no question of retaining control over the
interpretation.
8 Is Geeta not at all worth reading in the present context of
social life?
- It is worth, excepting the contradictory issues in it.
9 Is it true or you believe, in the argument of Kedar Joshi, who
says Geeta is nothing but the example of Hindu terrorism?
-
I have not read Kedar Joshi.
10 The views that lower cast, who have sinful birth go to the
highest goal in the shelter of Krishna is shear symbol of slavery?
-
Going to the highest
goal is not a symbol of slavery. But identification of women, vaishyas and
shudras as those of sinful birth is questionable. [refer 9-32]
11 Who is this Krishna, by the way? Brahmins’ creation to hold
monopoly of knowledge and economy
-Monopoly of knowledge
and economy can’t be held through religious texts.
12 Is it time of the
youths of India to renounce all religious scripts?
-Definitely not.
Nothing is useless. Retain all old, religious works in order to understand the
lapses in them and to construct new and relevant way of life.
