Gita-Jayanti - 3rd Dec 2022

Warm Greetings on Mokshada Ekadashi and Gita Jayanti!

So, Gita Jayanti is basically the birthday of the most sacred and important holy Hindu book 'Bhagavad Gita'. It falls in the month of November or December and Shukla Ekadashi of the Margashirsha month as per Hindu calendar. This year we celebrate Gita Jayanti on the 3rd Dec 2022. It is considered as the sanctified day when Lord Krishna taught Arjuna about Karma Yoga and the reality of life in the battlefield of Kurukshetra during the Mahabharata.

Almost around 3137 BC, when both the armies of Pandavas and Kauravas assembled in Kurukshetra for the urge of war, at that time, Arjuna asked Lord Krishna, his charioteer to bring him in the center of the battlefield to have a look at both the armies and afterwhile all of a sudden he got very overwhelming and emotional in himself, and was shaking from inside due to the fear of killing his own family members. Then, Lord Krishna appeared in his 'Vishvarupa' avatar in front of Arjuna, told him about 'Karma Yoga' and guided him to prosecute his 'karma' being a kshatriya and most importantly, a human being. Ultimately, 'Bhagavad Gita' was initiated from the point Lord Krishna explained the meaning of life to Arjuna. And, finally Arjuna understood the ultimate meaning and karma of his life and the ever catastrophic war started.

On this day, all the devotees and followers of Lord Krishna come to Kurukshetra for a holy bath. Many people are involved in fasting also. In the temples of Lord Krishna all over the world, Puja is performed and sweets are distributed in the form of 'prasad'. Many people serve the poor with food on this holy day.

On this auspicious day, the 'Bhagavad Gita' is read and discussed by the great priests and scholars. People are taught the essence of Bhagavad Gita & how they can bring its teachings to their own lives. The main aim of celebrating this day of 'GITA JAYANTI' is to recall the life changing words of Gita, apply them in daily life, guide common people about the actual essence of 'True Dharma', and make their lives meaningful.

Gita Jayanti is also known as Mokshada Ekadashi, Mauna Ekadashi and Vaikunta Ekadashi, which is one of the auspicious cultural occasions according to the richest Indian culture. This holy day is dedicated to the sustainer of life, Lord Vishnu who's the one for the liberation from the cycle of life and death.

According to some ancient scriptures, Mokshada Ekadashi is the day when Shri Krishna spoke the verses mentioned in the Hindu holy book, Bhagavad Gita, to the Pandava prince, Arjuna. On this day, the God of Damodar is worshiped with incense sticks, ghee lamps, flowers, and other holistic stuff.

There is also an exciting story behind this immense Hindu day which was narrated by Lord Krishna to the Pandava King, Yudhishthira in the "Brahmanda Purana" about a king named Vaikhanaas, the ruler of a city called Champakanagar.
Lord Krishna also told Yudhishthir that no other day can be as better as Mokshada Ekadashi to open the doors for Chinta-mani and Moksha after death.

That's why, people use to fast on this day in honor of Lord Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, to relieve their ancestors and themselves from all the sins and banes they have practiced during their lifetime and attain the ultimate 'Moksha.'
It is also believed that whoever fasts on Mokshada Ekadashi, elevates straight to the God and never returns back to this material world.

The complete fast is believed to be from sunrise to dawn the next day. As it's Ekadashi, hence, the fasting people aren't allowed to consume rice, beans, garlic, and onions; only vegetarian food like sweet potato, potatoes, Barnyard Millet, fruits, milk products, and nuts are consumed.

'Mokshada Ekadashi' is also considered as the best day to gift someone a 'Bhagavad Gita' as it is believed that the almighty Lord Krishna showers his blessings on both the giver and the receiver. That's why, on this auspicious day, Bhagvada Gitas are distributed and exchanged by many all over the nation.

Actually, 'Bhagavad Gita' has a very great impact on this modern epoch too. Today whatever situations or problems we face, Bhagavad Gita is having the answers to all of them. It helps humans to know the actual value of their lives.

One of my favorite quotes from the Bhagavad Gita is :

“You are what you believe in…….You become that which you believe you can become”

Being born as a human being in this universe serves some or the other kind of crucial importance for every being. In the modern times, Bhagavad Gita carries all the solutions to everything from our mental instabilities to anger issues, from relationship problems to spirituality, finding meaning in life, and whatever a human should and must know.

*Bites*

Gita Jayanti or Mokshada Ekadashi is the day when Lord Krishna presented all the teachings of "Bhagavad Gita" to Arjuna at the battlefield. That's why, Bhagavad Gitas are gifted on this day & Lord Krishna is worshiped. The term 'Bhagavad Gita' means "Song of the Spirit" and it serves for providing the timeless and universal message, i.e., 'expression of truth' to the people.

One of the teachings of Bhagavad Gita that stays with me is "The only thing constant in life is
'Change'."

What teachings of Gita inspire you, Do let me know in the comments....