Gitanidarsana: Similies of the Bhagavad Gita

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna employs various teaching methods to aid Arjuna’s comprehension and to remove his misunderstandings. He often explains a difficult statement with the aid of a simile drawn from everyday human experience and the Bhagavad Gita contains some of the most suggestive and beautiful similes in the entire sacred literature of Hinduism. The similes of Krishna add a beautiful visual dimension to words and invite reflection and exploration.

In this text, Prof. Rambachan has chosen twelve similes for reflection. They deal with diverse but interrelated matters such as the nature of the self, death, scriptures, self-control, peace, wisdom, and the nature of God. These similes offer an exciting entrance into the Hindu worldview and the author invites us to explore the inexhaustible richness of each image.

Review(s)

“…Each of the similes contains an inexhaustible richness of meaning to which the author adds significant classification. The similes open up an easy entrance to the basic Hindu thought which otherwise could be elusive for easy comprehension. An inte

About the Author(s)

ANANTANAND RAMBACHAN is an Associate Professor of Religion at St. Olaf

College in Minnesota. A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Rambachan earned

his Ph.D. at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. He was awarded

Trinidad’s second-highest national honor, the Chaconia Gold Medal, for

public service in 1987.

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