Masonic, Occult and Esoteric Online Library
Gods and Heroes of the Bhagavad Gita
By Geoffrey A. Barborka
Foreword
Most Theosophists are aware of the fact that it was H. P. Blavatsky's especial wish that a selection from the Bhagavad-Gita should always be read at commemoration services held on the day of her passing, which she desired to have known as White Lotus Day. There must have been a potent reason for thus singling out this ancient work, and we have her words stating that the 'Gita' is an esoteric work. A clue to this is the fact that the very first word of the Bhagavad-Gita (in the Sanskrit text) is Dharmakshetre, meaning 'on the field of Dharma,' and indicating that what is about to be recounted occurs not only 'on the field of the Kurus' (i. e., Kurukshetre - the second word of the text), but on the field of moral law (dharma), and is to be interpreted in a cosmic sense.
W. Q. Judge's high regard for the book is well known, and an interpretation is suggested by him in his 'Antecedent Words' to his recension.
Readers of the Bhagavad-Gita have doubtless pondered upon the signification of the many Sanskrit words and names appearing in this philosophical work. Perhaps some, having been deeply impressed by the teachings inculcated, have commenced a study of the background of the work, and have thus acquired a knowledge of the main events in the great epic of India - the Mahabharata - in which the episode of the Bhagavad-Gita occurs. But the task of looking up all the characters mentioned, and finding a satisfactory meaning of the terms, is a difficult one. To meet this need the present book is offered, as a means of gaining a deeper understanding of the work.
The Bhagavad-Gita is pre-eminently an ethical treatise. It inculcates teachings applicable to daily life, suited to the time in which it was written. These are considered from the standpoint of two highly philosophical systems of thought which were then prominent, namely, the Sankhya and the Yoga. Furthermore there is a philosophical and religious background which is not very prominent in the theme, yet is always present: this is the mythology of ancient India, a consideration of which is necessary for a complete understanding of the Bhagavad-Gita. It is information along this line that the present handbook supplies.
It would seem from a study of the mythology of Hindusthan that it may be divided into three main periods: (1) the Vedic period, containing the original exposition of the deities, etc., as found in the Vedas; (2) the post-Vedic period, consisting of The Laws of Manu and the two great epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana; (3) the post-Mahabharatan period, as found in the Puranas.
Pursuing this line of thought one finds that along with the modifications which the deities undergo during these three periods, there is a corresponding change in religious outlook. As religious ideas and beliefs do not change suddenly but arise slowly and only after considerable lapses of time, the conclusion naturally follows that great periods of time must have elapsed between the production of the Sanskrit works above enumerated; and the works themselves indicate the trend of thought of the time in which they were written.
The characters and terms used in the Bhagavad-Gita represent the religious outlook and mythology of the Mahabharatan-period. Nevertheless the information given in this handbook in regard to the deities comprises the three periods above outlined. This plan has been followed in order to give as complete an explanation as possible.
Although there are voluminous commentaries upon the ancient Sanskrit literature, written by Eastern sages, the keys to an interpretation of the mythology of India were not known in the West until Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (the founder of the modern Theosophical Movement) published her books. Such keys are not easily accessible, however, as they are scattered throughout her works. The effort in this handbook has been to place this information before students. Wherever possible the inner meanings which H. P. Blavatsky gave to terms or to deities have been included herein (with references subjoined). These esoteric explanations are of inestimable value, as they give a means of understanding the Bhagavad-Gita in a new light. Witness the following citation: the author is referring to the story about Vaivasvata-Manu as told both in the Mahabharata and the Puranas:
All this, which seems a jumble to the profane, is full of philosophical meaning to the Occultist. On the very face of the narrative a secret and sacred meaning is perceivable, all the details, however, being so purposely mixed up that the experienced eye of an Initiate alone can follow them and place the events in their proper order.
The story as told in the "Mahabharata" strikes the key-note, and yet it needs to be explained by the secret sense contained in the Bhagavad Gita. It is the prologue to the drama of our (Fifth) Humanity. - The Secret Doctrine, II, 139
The best information about the characters occurring in the Bhagavad-Gita is the Mahabharata itself, for the stories about the gods and heroes are therein told in detail. This epic was used for the background of the compilation. Verification was made by use of Monier-Williams's Sanskrit Dictionary, and the systemic spelling for the names and terms adopted; also the orthography. The labor of preparation has been materially aided by access to this standard authority. Further, material has been drawn from Dowson's Classical Dictionary. Due acknowledgment is given to these works, as well as to the Theosophical works of H. P. Blavatsky and G. de Purucker for the illumination and clarification which Theosophy brings to an understanding of the Sanskrit terms employed in its literature.
Root-meanings of Sanskrit words have been placed in parentheses at the conclusion of articles, because the root-meaning of a Sanskrit word provides the key to its correct understanding.
The names and terms in this book are those that appear in the recension of the Bhagavad- Gita made by William Q. Judge (the work principally known to Theosophists), and his latest edition (the sixth) was used in regard to pagination - which the 1939 Point Loma edition also follows.
GEOFFREY A. BARBORKA
Theosophical University,
Point LomaCalifornia
May, 1939.
