Monday 14 October 2013

Shrimad Bhagvat Gita

Shrimad Bhagvat Gita
Many people consider Shrimad Bhagvat Gita to be one of the Smrutis (Smiritis). Shrimad Bhagvat Gita is found in The Mahabharata. The Mahabharata is one of the Itihasas (History i.e. Smruti). May be this is the reason why many people consider Shrimad Bhagvat Gita to be one of the Smrutis.

The sources of knowledge, Holy Scriptures, in Hinduism are divided into two categories:
·       Shruti; and
·       Smruti
Shrutis are the sources of knowledge which were revealed by The Parabrahm (The Supreme Being) himself. Men (Humans) have no control and authority over it. Men cannot alter the Shrutis. Like Muslims consider the Qur’an and the Christians consider the Bible, Shrutis are considered in Hinduism.

On the other hand, Smrutis are the sources of knowledge which were manufactured by humans. As Hinduism is a union of many religions such as Shaivism, Shaktism and Vaishnavism etc.; each sect of people believes that their respective devoted deity is the Parabrahm (The Supreme Being). Like the followers of Shaivism, the Shaivs believe that Shiva is The Parabrahm; the followers of Shaktism believe that Shakti is The Parabrahm and the followers of Vaishnavism, the Vaishnavas, believe that Lord Vishnu is The Parabrahm. Each sect has created (written) Puranas or other Scriptures in the name of their devoted deity. For example: Shiva Purana, Vishnu Purana etc.
Even if few Smrutis are not written in the name of any deity, they are manufactured (written) by humans i.e. men have the control and authority over it or men, at least, had control over them once. Men could alter or had altered Smrutis at any point in the past.
In this way, there is a difference between Shrutis and Smrutis.

Based on the definition of Shruti, it is very clear that even if Shrimad Bhagvat Gita is found in The Mahabharata which is one of the Itihasas (Smrutis), it is actually Shruti as it was revealed by The Lord himself. Humans NEVER had any control or authority over it. Humans will never have any authority over Shrimad Bhagvat Gita.
AND THAT IS WHY

Shrimad Bhagvat Gita is a Shruti along with Vedas and Upanishads.
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