Evolving Hinduism

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the reasons and events that led to the introduction of Bhagavad Gita, which means 'Song of the Lord,' a religious branch of Hinduism. In the evolving world of Indian religion, the Bhagavad Gita, and with it the adulation of Vishnu, can be seen as a reaction to previous and concurrent forms of worship. The Bhagavad Gita built itself in partial opposition to the older teachings laid down in the Upanisads, yet another branch of Hinduism. The writer of this paper discusses the Bhagavad Gita's revolutionary text that grew out of the Hinduism that came before it and which compared favorably with emerging traditions in its own period. The writer of this paper examines the similarities and differences between the Upanisads, Vishnu and Bhagavad Gita belief systems as well as the historic significance of each form of religion.

From the Paper:

"In its most basic form the Bhagavad Gita is exactly what the title translates to-'Song of the Lord'. Though in her introduction to the translation Barbara Stoler Miller writes that it is more of a "philosophical poem" than a song. This poem, then, relates the philosophical conversation of Arjuna the warrior and his chariot driver Krishna (an avatara of the god Visnu) on the battlefield. Divided into 'teachings' the poem moves through the methods in which one can best serve the lord god Visnu. Almost every teaching reiterates the ones that come before it in miniature and then elaborates the teaching from something old and recognizable into something new and reactionary."

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