DEVOTION, KNOWLEDGE AND SERVICE

Gandhi’s Interpretation of the Gita

Authors

  • Namarta Sharma IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
  • A K Behura IIT(ISM) Dhanbad

Keywords:

Ahimsa, Anasakti, Devotion, Gandhi, Knowledge, Service, Swadharma, Truth

Abstract

Human beings are involved in a battle with-in and a battle with-out. They do not comprehend the main motive of their life and clash with one another over petty material gains. Society needs the light of knowledge to end this, and Gandhi addresses it with his interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita (the Gita). The Gita helps human beings to come out of the dilemmas of their life. Gandhi advocates Anasakti (non-attachment) yoga as the way of life to liberate oneself from suffering. This paper focuses on Gandhi’s understanding of the Gita as a treatise on Anasakti yoga, and establishes that only through devotion a human being can attain knowledge and develop Anasakti yoga. A devotee realizes the value of service to the humanity. She/he develops the knowledge of ‘Vasudevam sarvamiti’ (whole universe is a manifestation of God). It is thought that in the journey of realizing the supreme goal of life, one acquires the qualities of devotion, knowledge and service.

Author Biographies

Namarta Sharma, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad

Namarta Sharma is a PhD research scholar at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. She has 15 years of teaching experience and authored a book, Syama Prasad Mookerjee: Ek Shikshavid, Delhi: National Book Trust, 2017.

A K Behura, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad

Dr A. K. Behura is Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad. His research interests are in Environmental Ethics, Ethics in Scientific and Technological Research, Engineering Ethics and Indian Philosophy

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Published

2019-12-31

How to Cite

Sharma, N., & Behura, A. K. (2019). DEVOTION, KNOWLEDGE AND SERVICE: Gandhi’s Interpretation of the Gita. Journal of Dharma, 44(4), 405–426. Retrieved from https://dvkjournals.in/index.php/jd/article/view/221