In the traditional calendar, this is the Ekadasi day of the Shukla Paksha or the moon's bright half, in the month of Mrgashirsha. The month falls in November-December. This year, it is from Friday, November 22 to Saturday, December 21.
The custom at temples across India and in many homes on Gita Jayanti is to conduct a recital of the Gita's 700 verses. If we would like to somehow share this, we could look up and recite even one verse, just to consciously mark the day.
Many also fast as Ekadashi has been iconic since olden times as a public detox day. We are meanwhile expected to develop our conscience, give generously of our affection and resources, behave politely, and work hard for the greater good.
That, anyway, is the mega life plan the Gita suggests-and after allowing everybody the longest rope, somewhere along the way, the book likes to catch us with its karmic quotient, that as we do, so we reap.
It's usual for people to speedily acquire favourite verses, for the Gita has such a profound and poignant quality, it touches hearts and inspires people to live brave, decent lives despite the fraud squad that works overtime around us in this Kali Yuga.
The Gita wastes no time and is good to go from its first verse: "dharmakshetre kurukshetre samaveta yuyutsavah mamaka pandavaschaiva kim akurvata samjaya". This means, "On the battleground of Dharma, on the field of the Kurus, when my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled eagerly to fight, what did they do, Sanjaya?"
This story is from the December 16, 2024 edition of The New Indian Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 16, 2024 edition of The New Indian Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Engineering the Actor Within
Parvati Nair talks about her latest film Mr Rani, her career so far, and multiple projects on her plate.
It's a Bling Thing
From preppy fashion accessories to elevated essentials, designer Tiara Dhody's latest chic bijouterie works as a serotonin booster
The Sun and Stars of Inside Living
A home is a compelling personal statement of the owner's personality. How doing it up by zodiac sign can unleash the full potential of colours, shapes and textures
More than Just History
Though the writing begins with a little uncertainty, the author hits her stride quickly building on extensive research
The Black Book of 1975
Whoever said one should not let Whoever said one should not leted story has not read PK Sreenivasan's novel Midnight Knock.
How the Mesopotamians Imagined Earth
The Mesopotamian civilisation, which civilisation, arose around 3400 BC, was one of the earliest urban civilisations.
Her Cakes, Her Cakewalk
Mumbai's queen of confectionery completes two inspired decades of baking sweet somethings for movie stars and celebrity tycoons who get their sugar hit from her little empire.
The Power to Rise Above Loss
Children, some people say, \"We lead an ethical life. We do not betray or harm anyone.
Wild and High
Tucked away from the well-worn tourist paths of Madhya Pradesh's Kanha and Bandhavgarh lies Satpura's hidden gem the Denwa Backwater Escape.
Hands-on Learning for Under Graduates
Hoffman had won the Nobel prize in Medicine in 2011.
