The Social Role of the Gītā: How and whyThe present work is a new perspective on the Bhagavad-Gita, supported by through research, for it focuses attention on the social relevance of this famous Hindu scripture. Part 1 provides a penetrating analysis of how new interpretations of the Gita palyed a significant role in the social history of India during the ninteenth and twentieth centuries. The illustrative material consists of five case studies relating to : Raja Rammohun Roy, Swami Vivekananda, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Aurobindo Ghose and Mahatma Gandhi. Part II expalins how the social applications of the Gita are linked with its most important teaching for the modern age, viz.,Loksamgraha- the good of the society. Lokasamgraha is a sanskrit term occurring in the Gita but not in Upanishads and a modern interpretation of the lokasamgraha-approach is the inculcation of social values and a sense of social responsibility in each individual. |
Contents
| 3 | |
| 15 | |
Institutionalizing the Karma | 49 |
Lokasamgraha | 89 |
Extending Lokasamgraha with | 137 |
Lokasaṁgraha and Satya | 187 |
Expanding the Social | 239 |
THE SOCIAL IDEAL | 257 |
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Common terms and phrases
according action activities Ahimsā Arjuna aspect attachment attain avatāra B.G. Tilak Bal Gangadhar Tilak Bengal Bhagavad Bhagavad-Gītā bhakti Brahman Brahmo Samaj British called chapter concept D.S. Sarma dānam desire devotion dharma divine doctrine duty freedom fruit Gandhiji Gītā Gita Rahasya Gītā-Rahasya give goal Gokhale harmonization Hindu Hinduism human Ibid ideas important Indian interpretation jñāna kāma karma Karma-yoga knowledge leaders Loka Lokasaṁgraha Lord Mahābhārata Mahatma Gandhi Majumdar means mind modern mokṣa movement Naren nature niṣkāma karma non-violence one's Panikkar path perfection performed person philosophy political practical Purushottama Radhakrishnan Ramakrishna Mission Rammohun Roy reference reform religion religious renunciation role sacrifice samatva Sannyasa sättvika Satyagraha says scriptures selfish selfless Shivaji social society spiritual śreyas Sri Aurobindo Śrī Kṛṣṇa Sri Ramakrishna Sthitaprajña supreme suttee suttee-advocates svadharma Swami Vivekananda tapas teaching tion tradition Upadhyaya Upanisads Vedānta Vedic verse Vinoba virtues wanted widow words worship yajña yoga