The Bhagavad Gita of Suddha Dharma Mandalam
The Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the one supremely holy book in the proud possession of Aryavarta for millennia. This sacred book has attracted the admiration and adoration of scholars and laymen alike in both the East and the West.
This Supreme Dharma, otherwise known as Pranava Shastra or Gayatri Dharma or Yoga Brahma Vidya, is the Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
The Suddha Dharma Mandalam Edition of Srimad Bhagavad Gita (with 26 adhyayas and 745 slokas) was first published in 1917 by the late Dr. Sir S. Subramanier and the late Pandit K. T. Sreenivasacharya. They were enabled to do so by some of the Elders of the Suddha Dharma Mandalam, who graciously secured the Manuscript of this Text, along with those of other philosophic works, from Their safe keeping in the archives of Suddha Kosha in the Maha Guha in Northern India, known to a few among the members of Suddha Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita, as we now have it from Vyasa's pen and as reported by Sanjaya (who witnessed this sacred event through his divine faculty of vision), comprises the expressed Slokas of the Lord and Arjuna. The said dialog was read by Sanjaya from the high impressions on the etheric (akashic) tablet of their inward interchange of question and response.
The antiquity of this Text is evident from the fact that more than thirty commentators have based their learned commentaries on it, including Hamsa Yogi (fifth century A.D., i.e., prior to the three Acharyas of the Vedanta school) who makes elaborate quotations in his own monumental commentary, of which the Upodghata and that of the first two chapters have been published.
Also, the authority of the Suddha system of Philosophy is amply borne out not only by the united consent of them all, but also by the intrinsic excellence of its utter catholicity and singular freedom from sectarian and class bias of any kind whatever.
It is needless to say that an honest study of it will stimulate intensive research in the reader, finally inclining him to take to its practice.
— From the Teachings of the Masters
The Philosophy of Suddha Dharma Gita
The Nature of Brahm (OM / A.U.M.)
The chapters of the Suddha Dharma Gita represent aspects of Brahm:
- Chapter 1 (Vyasty): Represents Brahm in its manifested aspect of A.U.M. (A: Spirit/Atman, U: Matter/Prakriti, M: Shakti/Divine Power).
- Chapter 26 (Samasthi): Represents Brahm in its unitary aspect of OM.
Structure of the Suddha Dharma Gita (26 Chapters)
Sankhya is the oldest system of Hindu philosophy (darshan), dealing with the theory of liberation and often called "the enumerators" because sankhya means "number" or "enumeration".
| Kandam | Division | Ch. | Topic / Swaroopa |
|---|---|---|---|
| SANKHYA KANDAM | Gnana | 2 | Nara Narayana |
| 3 | Avatara | ||
| 4 | Adhikara | ||
| 5 | Siksha | ||
| 6 | Karana | ||
| 7 | Kaivalya | ||
| Bhakti | 8 | Swaroopa | |
| 9 | Sadhanatraya | ||
| 10 | Maya | ||
| 11 | Moksha | ||
| 12 | Brahma Swaroopa | ||
| 13 | Bhakti | ||
| Karma | 14 | Pranayama | |
| 15 | Paramatma | ||
| 16 | Akshara | ||
| 17 | Rajavidya | ||
| 18 | Paramahamsa | ||
| 19 | Samnyasa | ||
| YOGA KANDAM | Yoga | 20 | Atma |
| 21 | Prakriti | ||
| 22 | Karma | ||
| 23 | Bhakti | ||
| 24 | Gnana | ||
| 25 | Yoga |
Kevala Sankhya vs. Suddha Sankhya
Kevala Sankhya
- Has not yet experienced Unity (spiritual or mental comprehension).
- Goal is a God who is a "donor of blessings and goods" for personal desires.
- Worship is done through the predominant exercise of one faculty (Gnana, Bhakti, or Karma)—without synthesis (yoga).
- Search for and experience the goal as separate entities (Gods, Spirits, etc.).
Suddha Sankhya (The Unitary Vision)
- Has a unitary vision (Eka Bhāva).
- Worships the Supreme God; all knowledge, devotion, and acts are directed to Him.
- Known as a Gnana Yogi, Bhakti Yogi, or Karma Yogi.
- Practices Bhavana (Concept of Unity) daily.
- Described in verses such: II-13, XII-7, VII-4, XVIII-9, and XX-20.
The Concept of Unity (Bhavana)
"I think with love… that all things ... and beings... were born into the Universal spirit… which comprises everything … sustains everything … in a constant (unchanging) order … and in eternal life … therefore, both the inferior and the superior beings … Participate of the same life … forming in the infinite space… an unique cosmic body … where everything is GOD (Brahman) Everything has the same nature of GOD, hence everything is necessary."
— Daily exercise of the Suddha Sankhya disciple
Trigunas' Influence on Human Faculties
The concept of Unity is achieved as a result of the efforts to purify our nature through the predominance of Sattwa. This summary illustrates the Trigunas' influence over the three human faculties.
SATWA (Goodness/Purity) (Ref: X-4, XI-13)
- Gnana (Knowledge): Unitary & collective conception. Illumination, Harmony, Rhythm.
- Iccha (Desire/Bhakti): Happiness, Purity, Subtlety, Austerity.
- Kriya (Activity): N/A (Predominantly mental/internal focus).
RAJAS (Passion/Activity) (Ref: X-5, XI-14)
- Gnana (Knowledge): Diverse and separatist conceptions.
- Iccha (Desire/Bhakti): Restlessness (uneasiness), Passion, Avarice, etc.
- Kriya (Activity): Impetus (impulse) of action.
TAMAS (Inertia/Ignorance) (Ref: X-6, XI-15)
- Gnana (Knowledge): Ignorance and the consequent fascination. Smallness, etc.
- Iccha (Desire/Bhakti): Sadness, Fear, etc.
- Kriya (Activity): Indolence, inactivity, Laziness, etc.
*References (X-4, XI-13, etc.) indicate the Chapter and verse from the Suddha Dharma edition of the Bhagavad Gita.