Bhagvad Gita Maha Yajna

Sunday 23 December 2007

The entire Bhagvad Gita will be read. 11.00am onwards.

100 GREAT Websites on Hinduism and Bhagavad Gita

See the article on

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hinduinfo/message/828


Post your links here.



Previous 50 websites listed were
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hinduinfo/message/121

This list is in alphabetical order.


1. A TRIBUTE TO HINDUISM

http://www.atributetohinduism.com/index.htm
One of the GREATEST website on Hinduism. If not the BEST.



2. ARISE ARJUNA

http://www.hindubooks.org/david_frawley/arjuna/arise_arjuna/page1.htm
Part of the Hindunet website. This is quite an inspiring book and needs to be allocated as a separate website. A book written by David Frawley.


3. Association of Grandparents of Indian Immigrants (AGII)

http://www.agiivideo.com/
Association of Grandparents of Indian Immigrants (AGII), a registered nonprofit organization, is dedicated to the production of audiovisual materials for the families of Indian Immigrants.


4. ASTRO JYOTI

http://www.astrojyoti.com/sriramastuti.htm
INTRO
http://www.astrojyoti.com/aboutastrojyoti.htm



5. BHAGWAT SHAH'S WEBSITE

http://www.geocities.com/athens/7830/index.html
A personal reflection.

http://www.geocities.com/athens/7830/thoughts.htm
Bhagwat Shah


6. SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM

http://www.bhagavata.org/index.html



7. BHAKTISANGEET

http://www.bhaktisangeet.com/




8. Celextel's Online Spiritual Library

http://www.celextel.org/home.html
Here you would find the Online Books of Vedanta Literature and other Indian Spiritual Books.



9. CHARITIES IN INDIA A LIST

http://www.indianngos.com/listofngos.htm





10. CRYSTALCLARITY –

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI an online book

http://www.crystalclarity.com/yogananda/
The single greatest book you will ever read.





11. CUISINE and CULTURE
http://www.cuisinecuisine.com/HomePage.htm


12 Dal Sabzi for the Aatman
http://www.dalsabzi.com/




13. THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY
http://www.dlshq.org/
They have some great books to download and questions answer chapters which you will find fascinating.

Also see

http://www.divinelifesociety.org/




14 GANDHI

http://www.mkgandhi.org/index.htm



15 GITA SOCIETY

Home of "Free Gita".
http://www.gita-society.com//


16. The Global Oneness Community
is open for everyone wanting to work for global oneness.
http://www.experiencefesti val.com/community/index.php




17. HINDUISM Links to all things Hindu

http://www.allspiritual.com/Hinduism.php3





18. HINDUISM Links to all things Hindu

http://www.hinduism.co.za/
This web site is dedicated to understanding
SANATAN VED DHARMA (Hinduism).


An award-winning site from South Africa

Our website hinduism.co.za/ has been awarded
1.The Study Web Excellence Award
2.The Internext Gold Site Gold Medal award
3.The Elite Site Award
4.William Rainey Harper College (USA), Geography Student's
Top Ten Internet Sites - Spring 1999
5 The Encyclopaedia Brittanica : Best of the Webs (May 2000)




19. HINDUNET the ultimate guide to Hinduism

http://www.hindunet.org/




20. HINDU ORG

http://www.hindu.org/

The goal of www.hindu.org is to publish and connect all Hindu organizations, leaders and resources such as news, events, publications, Vedic sciences, art, music and culture on the Internet's World Wide Web.




21. HINDUWEBSITE.COM

http://www.hinduwebsite.com/
Hinduwebsite.com provides comprehensive information on Hinduism and Hinduism resources. Apart from Hinduism and Hinduism resources, Hinduwebsite also provides information on other major Indian religions like Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. There is a section devoted to Zoroastrianism and the teachings of Zarathushtra, which had a significant connection with the Vedic culture of ancient India.





22. HISTORY OF INDIA

http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/timeline/timeline.htm
SEE the TIMELINE
http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/timeline/timeline.htm



23. GAYATRI PARIVAR

http://www.awgp.org/english/mission/mission.html
Fantastic website ALL WORLD GAYATRI PARIVAR

Why not join their yahoo group at the same time.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gayatri_parivar/



24. INDIAN GOVERNMENT WEBSITE

http://indiaimage.nic.in/
Government of India

http://www.india.gov.in/
The President of India

http://www.india.gov.in/outerwin.htm?id=http://presidentofindia.nic.in
Overseas

http://www.india.gov.in/overseas.php





25 INDIA DIVINE

http://www.indiadivine.org/




26. INDIAN HERITAGE

http://www.indian-heritage.org/









27. INDOlink supports AGII in its dedication to Indians worldwide.

Below is a link to INDOlink's website.

http://www.indolink.com/
and

http://www.indolink.com/Kidz/index.php






28. INDUSLADIES

http://www.indusladies.com/customs/index.php

Great website for women




29. ISKCON

http://www.iskcon.com/




30. KAMAT'S POTPOURRI

Homepage
http://www.kamat.com/
see this wonderful and easy to use sitemap
http://www.kamat.com/goaround/sitemap.htm


INDIAN ART
http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/art/index.htm

BHAKTI ART
http://www.bhaktiart.com/?page=index

INDIAN LANDSCAPE
http://www.kamat.com/database/content/landscapes/index.htm

India has had a particular fascination for travelers from far off lands through the ages. They have been incongruous mixture of pilgrims, and missionaries, merchants and envoys, soldiers of fortune and adventurer of all types.

…………….many of them have left highly informative and vivid accounts of their travels. They have given us delightful descriptions of different facets of Indian life -- social customs and institutions, religious practices and beliefs, trade and commerce, government and administration.

Surprisingly, there is no evidence of any picture of India until almost the end of 18th century. ………………..

……………………………….Their sketches gave outside world - in fact even the Indians themselves - the first visual pictures of the wonderful monuments in different parts of the country.

Life in India as expressed by some of India's best known artists
http://www.kamat.com/picturehouse/bharat/index.htm



19th Century India
http://www.kamat.com/database/content/19th_century/index.htm

Women of India
http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/women/index.htm




31. MAIL MINDER

http://mailerindia.com/
Mailerindia is now expanding its research wing by employing more vedic scholars to do a detailed study of our vedas and siddhas. We welcome you to assist us by contributing liberally for the noble cause.



READ THE DISCLAIMER FIRST
http://mailerindia.com/agree.php

READ THE DISCLAIMER
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."

All the contents of our portal are based upon the Vedic guidance rendered by the great sages, scholars and learned authors through sastras, satsangs, literature, books and advices. However the practice of the same is to done by the individuals as per their own best judgment. We do not guarantee or assure the correctness of the contents by the scale of the modern science.



Hindu Gods
Hindu way of life
Slokas & Mantras
Astrology
Numerology
Vaastu Sastra
Adult
Thiru Mantram
Temples India
Samskaras & Almanac
Get Arudam
Discover India
NavaGrahas
Contact Us




32. MAHATMA GANDHI
http://www.mkgandhi.org/index.htm


33 MAPS OF INDIA
http://www.mapsofindia.com/

Unusual website to suggest but it has some good historical maps.
http://www.mapsofindia.com/history/index.html




34. MYSTIC MOUSE
http://www.gurudeva.org/resources/children/mystic_mouse/pdfs/



35. OM-GURU.COM
http://www.om-guru.com/



36 PARENTING FOR INDIANS
http://www.indiaparenting.com/

Everything you wanted to know about children, teen issues, parenting, life and more.
A comprehensive website on Parenting with in-depth advice, links and forums.
Planning a Baby, Expecting ParentsParents of BabiesParents of Pre-schoolersParents of School goersParents of TeensIndian CultureIndian Stories & LegendsIndian PrayersIndian ReligionsIndian FestivalsRhymes & SongsHome & DecorLove & RelationshipsHealth and FitnessAlternative HealingBaby ZoneDoctors on CallCooking ClubBeauty & GroomingWomen's HealthOvulation CalculatorWomen's Issues




37. PHILOSOPHY, LIFE, SCIENCE, SPIRITUALITY,
http://www.reflectionsindia.org/
Enlightenment, Awareness & Wisdom

The Reflections group was started by Dr. Haramohan Mishra on 1st January 2003.
The organization aims at a deeper understanding of the broad-based human predicament with its aspirations and objectives. It is a non-profiteering, non-sectarian, non-religious thinking group which extends its activities to the manifold human endeavors in the fields of philosophy, science, religion, literature, management studies, eco-awareness and social service vis-à-vis human values and the background of cosmic consciousness.

It tries to make the society aware of the great ideas behind all human activities that make living brighter, richer, happier and more fulfilling. Though the primary concerns of the organization are intellectual, it makes all efforts to spread awareness in the society through the arrangement of seminars, symposia and enlightenment campaigns.




38. SACRED-TEXTS

http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm

The Internet Sacred Text Archive CD-ROM includes electronic texts of nearly a thousand of the most important books and articles ever written, including over two hundred transcribed specially for sacred-texts. Years of extensive research and scholarship went into this CD-ROM: all the core texts of religion, mythology, folklore and the esoteric are on one disk.



Hinduism

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/index.htm

439 The Rig-Veda
440 Rig-Veda (Sanskrit)
441 The Sama-Veda
442 The Yajur Veda
443 The Atharva-Veda
444 A Vedic Reader for Students
445 The Upanishads
446 The Upanishads, Part I (SBE 1)
447 The Upanishads, Part II (SBE 15)
448 The Laws of Manu
449 The Sacred Laws of the Âryas, Part I
450 The Sacred Laws of the Âryas, Part II
451 The Institutes of Vishnu
452 Rámáyan Of Válmíki
453 The Ramayana and Mahabharata
454 Indian Idylls
455 The Bhagavadgîtâ
456 The Bhagavad Gita
457 The Vedântâ-Sûtras
458 The Vedântâ-Sûtras
459 The Vedântâ-Sûtras
460 The Devî Gita
461 The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
462 The Sánkhya Aphorisms of Kapila
463 Twenty-two Goblins
464 Indian Fairy Tales
465 Old Deccan Days
466 Journal articles: Hinduism
467 Songs of Kabîr
468 Works of Rabindranath Tagore
469 Sanskrit dictionary






39 SANATAN SOCIETY
http://www.sanatansociety.com/



40 SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY
A vedAnta perception
http://www.geocities.com/profvk/

On the web at this site: Gems from the Ocean of Hindu Thought, Vision and Practice.
The Complete contents are classified into 13 Beaches

Each BEACH has several WAVES
Each WAVE may have DROPS
And some DROPS have DROPLETS too.

BEACH 1: The First Prostration : Names of God and their meanings.

BEACH 2: First Steps on the Ascent to the Divine : Overview of Hindu Philosophy. Karma Yoga. Scriptures.

BEACH 3: Focus on Three Qualities of God : Upanishads. The Absolute. Conversation on Concept of GOD

BEACH 4: A Dose of Mythology : Cosmic Time. Cosmic Dance. Puranic stories.

BEACH 5: Devotees of the Lord : Apostles of God-intoxication. Superlative Devotion.

BEACH 6: The Guru : The Great Acharyas. Dakshinamurti Ashtakam.

BEACH 7: The Art and Science of Spiritual Love : Vedanta. Overview of Religious Worship. Narayaneeyam. Paramacharya's Soundaryalahari Discourses. Krishna's Raas Leela.

BEACH 8: One's Nature vis-à-vis one's Duty : The Varna System. The Secrets of the Gita

BEACH 9: Speak to God : Dhruva Stuti.

BEACH 10: Hinduism for the Next Generation : Elementary presentations for the beginner and the neophyte

Includes a long dialogue about Free Will and Divine Will

BEACH 11: Live Happily - the Gita Way : Comprehensive overview of the Gita with Happiness as the Theme

BEACH 12: Advaita Dialogue For Beginners : A First exposure to advaita from scratch in an 1008-step conversation

BEACH 13: Bhagavatam and Advaita bhakti : Overview of Shrimad Bhagavatam. Cosmic Genealogy as per Bhagavatam




41. SHAIVAM Worship of Lord Shiva

http://www.shaivam.org/index.html
Website dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva
The Great Women of Shaivism
http://www.shaivam.org/adwomen.html





42 SIVASHAKTI
THE SIVASAKTI.COM SPIRITUAL DIRECTORY
http://sivasakti.com/links.html



43 SHRI VEDA BHARATHI Learn SANSKRIT http://www.shrivedabharathi.in/


44 STEPHEN KNAPP
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/index.htm
This has become a huge site with lots of information for the promotion of personal and social spiritual development, especially by using the Vedic path. This site has something for everyone interested in Spiritual Enlightenment, Eastern Philosophy, the Vedas, Vedic Culture, Yoga, Hinduism, reincarnation, or life after death. It also deals with traveling to the holy places of India, the science of the soul, understanding God, vegetarianism, as well as global peace.





45. SULEKHA GROUPS

http://www.sulekha.com/groups/
the largest online discussion forums for Indians worldwide, featuring over 1.5 M posts and hundreds of groups.



46 SWAMINARAYANA (BAPS)

http://www.swaminarayan.org
Another superb very informative and vast website. You must visit it.



47. THE CHOPRA CENTER
http://www.chopra.com/siteindex.asp

"My country has been enriched by the contributions of more than a million Indian Americans, which includes Dr. Deepak Chopra, the pioneer of alternative medicine."
President William Clinton, March 21, 2000 – State Dinner - India


Deepak Chopra is one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century, and credits him as "the poet-prophet of alternative medicine."
Time Magazine, June 1999.

"A renowned physician and author, Deepak Chopra is undoubtedly one of the most lucid and inspired philosophers of our time."
Mikhail Gorbachev, Citation of the Medal of the Presidency of the Italian Republic awarded by the Pio Manzu International Scientific Committee.


Acknowledged as one of the world's greatest leaders in the field of mind body medicine, Deepak Chopra, M.D. continues to transform our understanding of the meaning of health. Through his creation of The Chopra Center for Well Being in California in 1995, Dr. Chopra established a formal vehicle for the expansion of his healing approach using the integration of the best of western medicine with natural healing traditions.



48. URDAY

http://www.urday.com/



49 VEDANTAQUEST is dedicated to the Advaita Vedanta Philosophy of Adi Shankaracharya

http://www.vedantaquest.ind.in/



1. Introductory Advaita Vedanta Course: This is a short introductory course to Advaita Vedanta. It is aimed at introducing the aspirant to Vedanta terminology and explain the basic concepts of Advaita Vedanta philosophy. The course is of 7 days duration with 2 Hrs. session daily. Medium of instruction is English.

2. Advanced Advaita Vedanta Courses: These courses cover the three Prasthanas viz. the Bhagavad Geeta, the Brahmasutra and the Ten Upanishads along with the commentary of Adi Shankaracharya on these three. Each of the three Prasthanas is dealt with separately. The course on Bhagavad Geeta is of 15 days duration with 2 Hrs. session daily. The Brahmasutra and the Upanishads are taken up in 30 days courses each with
2 Hrs. session daily. The medium of instruction is English.

3. Short Sessions and Guest Lectures on Advaita Vedanta, in English, are also taken up on special requests.

4. Online Advaita Vedanta Courses for the aspirants.



50 VIVEKANANDA CENTRE LONDON http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/

Happy Diwali from Leicester

Glorious Hindu Art

Diwali in Leicester

Dussehra preparations in Leicester

The making of Ravan.


Starting from the begining.





Making the Body



Fitting the Arms






Fitting the Head





Nearly There










All Done

Bhagvad Gita Chapter1 sloka 3

pasyaitam panduputramacharya mahateem chamoom
vyuddham dhrupadaputrena tava sishyena dheemata--------------3.

“Behold, master, the mighty army of the sons of Pandu arrayed for battle by your talented pupil, Dhrstadyumna, son of Drupada.”------------------ 3

21]
The first words uttered by Duryodhana are in praise of the opposing
army but perhaps at the same time spoken with pride and arrogance.
Pride and arrogance in the sense that he thinks he has a better army.

There is also a hint of taunt "Look at the army of your former student"
and in comparison "Look at the army of your disciple standing next to you".

The taunt directed at his master Drona, as he even reminds him who Dhrstadyumna is. The son of Drupada, as if Drona did not know that already.

He is inflaming the rage of his master by reminding him of his enemy Drupada and also his assassin Dhrstadyumna.
Duryodhan is thus inciting his teacher and taking advantage of his predicament to make him fight to kill the Pandavs.

Do we sometimes use others in this way?
Does your wife constantly remind you of how she was treated by your family back when she first set foot in the house?
Does your children remind you of the time you didn’t let him do what he wanted?
Didn’t Draupadi kept inflaming the minds of the Pandavs for 13 years in the forest about her treatment in the gambling Hall?

Your hatred and resentment for someone is a powerful tool for others to use against you. Are you going to let them use that tool? Will you allow yourself be subject to that bribery? How are you going to deal with such situation? Become inflamed or keep your balance.


22]
Perhaps Duryodhana simply wanted his teacher to be proud of him.
"Look this is the end result of your student Dhristudymanya"
But "Look at the end result of MY achievements"!

If you achieve in getting your promotion at work or get your Doctors
Degree or make some other achievements, would you not want your
teacher or parents to be proud of you?
Would you just rather that no one praised you?
Don't you expect some praise? A congratulations card?

If Duryodhan is simply wanting praise, is it so wrong?


23]
Is this an ego?
Perhaps someone feeling proud of their achievement is different to
ahangkar or ego of `mine is better then yours'.
But since we know the characteristics of Duryodhan we can be more certain that he is trying to rile his teacher.


24]
The words in the Gita and actions of the characters in the Gita are
interpreted differently by everyone.
I don’t claim to be a specialist on this subject. I thus use the word `Perhaps'
quite often. I hope this enables others to correct me or give their own
interpretations on the sloka.


25]
Like father like son.
Duryodhan too say “…….the mighty army of the sons of Pandu.” He too has distanced himself from any relationship he held with his uncle.

Even if we can forgive Dhrithrastra for speaking as he did, since he was the elder of the two brothers and he doesn’t have to show respect, but how can we forgive Duryodhans ill manners? Pandu is older then him and he has no respect when speaking of his Uncle.



26]
One last thought. The lesson in the art of fighting is "Know your enemies. Know
their strength and know their weaknesses"

Perhaps in this final minutes Duryodhan is reinforcing to his
soldiers and to his Guru and to all soldiers listening; the weakness
of the opposing army and then telling of the strength of their army,
thus giving them a psychological boost.
In a war it is important to keep the moral of your soldiers very high.

Similarly in life keeping moral high and giving encouragement plays
a very important role in the lives of a commander, a leader, a
teacher, your boss, a Minister, a father to his son, a coach to his
trainer, a Prime Minister to his nation, a husband to his wife and
vice versa.
Without this encouragement Duryodhans army could easily loose faith
and be frightened of the equally mighty army facing them.

He reinforces the might of his army in sloka 10.

The lesson to take away here is ENCOURAGEMENT.
A little praise to the people you touch in your lives will go a long
way to their happiness and building good relationship.

Again we will see an excellent form of encouragement from Bhisma in
sloka 12.


Kiran Parmar
3~'

Join
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Gita_dharshan/

SHRILA BHAKTI SWARUP MAHARAJ

SHRILA BHAKTI SWARUP MAHARAJ

28 October 2007 to 3rd November 2007

Venue Sanatan Mandir

Time 7.30pm to 8.30pm everyday

SAT KAIVAL CIRCLE (UK)

JAI MAADI

Param Pujya Jai Maadi is back in Leicester
on 30 September 2007.
A Horse & Carriage procession will take place at 1.30pm.
Starting at Nedham Street
Leicester.


see last years pictures on BBC website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/image_galleries/hindu_year_in_leicester_gallery.shtml?5

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/image_galleries/hindu_year_in_leicester_gallery.shtml?6

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/image_galleries/hindu_year_in_leicester_gallery.shtml?7

Ganesh Festival Leicester 2007

GANESH UTSAV

15th September to 25 September 2007
Shree Wanza Community
Pasture Lane
Leicester
LE1 4EY

With
DAILY GANESH KATHA
and
Prasad

Sri Hanuman Katha 3

Katha organised by Shree Swaminarayan Temple
Leicester (I.S.S.O)
139-141 Loughborough Road
Leicester
LE1 4EY
Phone: 0116 266 6210
Fax: 0116 266 6210
Email: leicester@isso.org.uk


at
Sanatan Mandir
Leicester

Watch the entire Katha on Aastha TV
http://www.aasthatv.com/

GANESH VISARJAN DAY

Nartan A Festival of South Asian Dance and Music

Sri Hanuman Katha 2

More photos from Day 2 and 3.
13 and 14th September 2007
Sanatan Mandir
Leicester

Watch the entire Katha on Aastha TV http://www.aasthatv.com/

First Hanuman Katha in Leicester

Bhagvad Gita Chapter 1 Sloka 2

Sanjaya Uvacha
drushtva tu pandavaneekam vyudam duryaodhanastada
acharyamupasangamya raja vachanamabraveet------------- 2.

“Sanjaya said: At that time, seeing the army of the Pandavas drawn up for battle and approaching Dronacharya, King Duryodhan spoke these words:” ---2


11]
After the first question we are taken to a point of time and place
that should be no surprise to anyone reading this. We go to the front
line of Duryodhana.
Why did Sanjay take him there?


12]
Sanjay is wise. Knowing the Kings desire he does not describe the
scenes of Krishna or Arjuna or Yudisthira (as much as he may want to)
but immediately takes him on the front line to Duryodhana.
Afterall it is his son to whom he had been attached to since the day he
was born.
Dhrithrastra had all these years been trying to fulfil the ambitions of his own lifetime through his son.
Is that ambition so wrong?
Before we judge the blind King too harshly perhaps those fathers
reading this will empathise with Dhrithrastra. Im sure one time or
another we have all tried to fulfil our own desires through our own
sons.
Not all fathers can be like King Bharata who put the good of the
nation before the good of his sons.
Not all sons can be like Bhisma who put his fathers happiness before
his own.



13]
"What did my sons do…..?".
Which father does not thirst of their sons News from any frontline
battles that is going on around the world today? So we should not
look upon too harshly at Dhrtirashtra.

Its not just a matter of the war.
A father thirst for News from a son who is on a business trip aboard,
a son on his first job, a son on his honeymoon, a son on his first
school trip out of the town, a son on his first driving test, a son
in his important exam, a son away at some university studying etc…..
What father would NOT be eager to know how his son is doing?

Understanding our own desires as fathers we can understand the desire
of Dhritrashtras thirst for knowledge and actions of his sons first.

Today the mobile phone has made our connection so much easier and
comfortable. Its so easy to forget the days without this facility.


14]
Just as we are blessed today by the invention of the radio (perhaps
listening to the imminent world cup cricket match result which we are
listening to in our cars as we journey home) Dhrithrastra too must
have felt blessed to know the commentaries from Sanjay of what is
happening on the battlefield.
Perhaps knowing the final result he might even have called it a curse.


15]
Sanjay was blessed by the Divine sight given by Ved Vyas.
Ved Vyas had offered it to Dhrithrastra but he had refused since he
had been blind all his life and how would he know who is who? Perhaps
he thought, what would be the point of seeing his sons only to see
them killed before his eyes.



16]
In the sloka it is written that ‘King Duryodhan’ approaches
Dronacharya.

Great respect is given to Duryodhan because here he is given the
status of a King.



17]
He does not go to his Commander in Chief of his huge army -the Great
BHISMA but instead he goes to his Guru.
There are a couple of thoughts that comes to mind.

Firstly we know that Bhisma was unable to kill the Pandavs and this
angered Duryodhan very much. Perhaps he thought there was no point in
talking to Bhisma about the war. Yet he also knew that he had to keep
Bhisma on his side because he was the most powerful man on that
battlefield and no warrior was capable of killing him.
Infact even Arjuna with all his might could only wound him
occasionally.
For 10 days Bhisma kept the Pandav army at bay.
Single handily he was winning the war.
It was only when the Pandavs decided to return his blessing of
Victory back to him did Bhisma show them the way of removing him from
the battlefield.
I use the word removing him --Not killing- because Bhisma had
the power to choose the time of his death.

So Duryodhana felt a little cheated here but there was nothing he
could do since Bhisma was also very popular throughout the land. And
because of his name and fame many Kings came to support Bhisma.
Duryodhana was able to gather such a huge army partly because of
Bhisma.
Without Bhisma he may have lost a lot of alliance.


The second thought that comes to mind is that perhaps it was his
sense of Duty to always to take blessings of his Guru first and all
else to take secondary precedence.

Or

Perhaps thirdly he just wants to please his teacher of his
achievement?
He perhaps wanted his teacher to be proud of his achievements. He
thought the war was already won because he had invincible warriors on his side.
The saying "Don't count your chickens before they are hatched" comes
to mind. Unfortunately this is exactly what Duryodhan was about to do.


These are just some of my interpretations of the event that is
unfolding before us.


18]
Just pausing to reflect on this thought.
We sometimes achieve something great in our life and we feel proud to
have achieved it. Do we not feel the urge to share it with others?
Is there anything wrong in that? Is then what Duryodhan was doing
wrong?

I think sharing your good news or fortune is not always a bad thing.
It just depends on how you go about celebrating it. Being boastful,
taunting or saying it with pride are the wrong ways to speak of your
achievements.

This then is another lesson we can learn from the Bhagvad Gita and
adopt it.




19]
Duryodhana had four people whom he could boast to about his army.
They were
1) His father,
2) Bhisma
3) Dronacahray and
4) Karna (his best friend).

Since Karna and his Father were not on the battle field he could not
tell them about his mighty army.
Bhisma he did not get along with, so he approaches his Guru.

If we were to come across such a situation in our lives who would we
go to first and why?
For example if we went to receive our graduation certificate at the
University. Who would you go and approach first with the graduation
certificate? Your parents, teachers or friends?


Perhaps Duryodhan is in this very same situation and he has chosen to
go to his Guru first. The Guru Disciple relationship is adhered to
even at times of war. Let us not forget Duryodhan was an intelligent
and generous man but unfortunately for him he fell into bad company
from birth, namely his mama Sakhuni.



20]
I want to expand on this situation which Duryodhan has put before us
from a different angle.
Hi ignores his commander and speaks to his Guru.

If someone did that to us, ie ignored us or told us some News lastly,
`How do we receive such NEWS?'

In Sloka 12 we infact see Bhisma is encouraging Duryodhana and is not
at all angry that Duryodhana did not approach him first.

Do we get upset if we are told some important news last? Perhaps a
wedding date of your neighbours children, invitation to a party told
last, promotion not told about, a new house someone bought but you dod not find out till many months later, some News you find out through gossip, etc etc

How do we receive certain News?
Was your ego playing up?
"You didn't tell us first. Are we not important to you?"
"You told us last when we should have been told first!"
"How is it that you told them first?"

The way receive the News is very important.
If we allow ourselves to get upset then I it will often results
in many unnecessary family arguments and ultimately break ups.




Kiran Parmar
3~'
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Gita_dharshan/

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