Celebrating the Advent of the Bhagavad-Gītā
What is Gita Jayanti?
Gita Jayanti commemorates the day Lord Kṛṣṇa imparted the Bhagavad-Gītā’s eternal teachings to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra — the “Song of God” that remains the core scripture of bhakti, dharma and selfless action.
The Bhagavad-Gītā appears in the Bhīṣma-parva of the Mahābhārata as a divine dialogue between Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna at the moment Arjuna was overwhelmed with moral doubt. Classical commentaries and Vaishnava tradition treat this day as the enactment of the Gītā’s revelation — the perennial instruction for spiritual life and duty.
When is Gita Jayanti?
Gita Jayanti normally falls in late November or December (during the lunar tithi that corresponds to Mokṣa-Ekādaśī).
Why observe Gita Jayanti?
The Gītā’s message resolves anxiety, clarifies duty (dharma), teaches yoga (right action, knowledge and devotion), and points the aspirant to surrender and bhakti. Observing Gita Jayanti with sincerity — by hearing, reading, chanting and distributing copies of the Gītā — is traditionally said to grant purification of the mind and progress in spiritual life. Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava authorities, as well as Śrīla Prabhupāda, regarded the Gītā as the essence of Vedic wisdom and recommended widespread distribution and study.
How ISKCON and Vaishnava temples celebrate
1) Public recitation & group reading
Temples organise complete or selected recitations of the Bhagavad-Gītā, often accompanied by translation and purports (Prabhupāda’s Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is). Large congregational readings and chanting are central features.
2) Discourses & classes
Special lectures, panel discussions, and Gītā study courses help devotees understand the text’s practical application — karma-yoga, jñāna, and bhakti. Many ISKCON centres schedule multi-session Gītā courses on Gita Jayanti.
3) Distribution (Śāstra-dāna)
Giving copies of the “Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is” is a common and meritorious practice on this day. Temples often run Gītā distribution drives to reach the public. Śrīla Prabhupāda insisted on distributing the Gītā widely as a service to humanity.
4) Kīrtana, bhajans & prasāda
Congregational kīrtana, bhajan evenings and distribution of prasāda make the day devotional and accessible for families and newcomers.
Prabhupāda quotes
Śrīla Prabhupāda: “Fasting, hearing, chanting — these are all meant to help us develop devotion. The Bhagavad-Gītā is the perfect scripture to deliver mankind from nescience.” — (Prabhupāda’s lectures and introductory notes; use Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is preface and recorded lectures for exact sourcing).
Calls to action
Attend Gita Jayanti
Sponsor a Gītā Copy — “Donate to send a copy of Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is to a student or hospital.”
Volunteer for Gītā Distribution & Prasāda — “Help our team distribute books and prasāda in local communities.”
Join the Online Gita Course — “Daily 30-minute classes starting on Gita Jayanti — register for a certificate.”
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Donate for Bhagavad-gita distribution, Annadanam, Flowers, Goshala
Deposit donations
ISKCON
Canara bank account
0519101043190
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Online
https://give.iskconraichur.com
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