BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
Instruction Division
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Date: 01-August-2014
COURSE HANDOUT (PART II)
In addition to part I (General Handout) for all courses appended to the Timetable), this
portion gives further specific details regarding the course.
Course No. : HSS F334/HUM C383
Course Title : SRIMAD BHAGAVAD GITA
Instructor-in-Charge: K Haribabu ([email protected])
Instructor : Shyama Hari Das
1. Course Description:
This course introduces students the timeless wisdom spoken by Lord Krishna in the
Bhagavad Gita and enables themto appreciate and apply those in daily life. Beginning
with the fundamentals of the science of soul, the content includes various types of yogic
practices, viz., karma-yoga (action in Krishna consciousness), jnana-yoga (philosophical
research for truth), dhyana-yoga (meditative practice), astanga-yoga (eightfold yoga
system) and culminates with bhakti-yoga (devotional service to Krishna). Adopting a
topical approach, the course also touches upon these subject matters: the most
confidential knowledge, three modes of material nature, nature, enjoyer and the
consciousness, divine and demoniac qualities, and the perfection of knowledge.
2. Scope and Objective:
Meant for anyone who wants to make his or her life peaceful, blissful and perfect by
aligning oneself to the principles set forth in Srimad Bhagavad Gita, the prime objectives
of this course are to understand our relationship (sambhandha) with Krishna, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, the process of reviving that relationship (abhidheya),
and the goal of that process (prayojana).
3. Text Books:
i. Prabhupada, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta. Bhagavad Gita As It Is. Mumbai:
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 2009.
ii. The Bhagavad Gita. Gorakhpur: Gita Press, 2007.
4. Reference Books:
i. Prabhupada, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta. Isopanishad. Mumbai:
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 2002.
ii. Dasa, Bhurijana. Surrender Unto Me. Vrindavan: Vrindavan Institute of Higher
Education, 1997.
iii. Prabhupada, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta. The Science of Self-Realization.
Mumbai: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 2002.
BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
Instruction Division
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5. Lecture Plan:
Learning
Objective
Lecture
#
Topics
References
(Chapter # and sloka
# indicated)
Introduction
to Bhagavad
Gita
1
Srila Vyasa Deva: compiler of Srimad
Bhagavad Gita; His selfless
contribution: compilation of Vedas,
classification; unique position and
glories of Bhagavad Gita in Vedic
literature
Class notes and
T1: Introduction
2-3
Setting the scene; subject matter of
Bhagavad Gita; infallible Vedic
knowledge-four defects, ways of gaining
knowledge; sanatana dharma; practice
to study Srimad Bhagavad Gita
T1: Introduction
R1: Introduction
Dilemma in
the material
world
4-5
Arjunas dilemmas and doubts;
perplexities of life in this world: birth,
death, disease and old age, three-fold
miseries; material relationships:
temporary, cause misery; the only
solution: spiritual relationship
1.26-46, 8.15, 5.22,
7.14, 13.9, 2.6-7,
10.9, 9.33
Bringing life
under
spiritual
guidance
6
Absolute necessity of spiritual
relationship with a bona fide spiritual
master/teacher; qualifications of a
spiritual master; check and balance
through Guru, sadhu and sastra
2.7-8; 2.56-61; 4.1-
3; 4.34-35, 1.43
7 Qualifications of a disciple/student
4.34, 13.8-12, 16.1-
3
8
Ascending knowledge vs. descending
knowledge; importance of hearing;
process of hearing
2.53, 7.1, 4.3, 4.26,
13.26
R1: Mantra 10
BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
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Instruction Division
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Science of
soul (jiva)
9-10
What is soul? Proof of existence of soul,
its nature and individuality; the
doctrine of life comes from life;
activities in knowledge of science of
soul
2.12-30, 7.4, 7.5
11
Cause of suffering in this world;
constitutional position of living entity
7.27, 15.7, 15.10,
15.16-18
Supreme
Lord (isvara)
12-14
Knowing Krishna, the Supreme
personality of Godhead; Krishna as the
source of both material and spiritual
energies, and the supreme controller;
understanding the position of God, His
expansions and living entities
7.4-7.12, 7.13-14,
9.10, 10.8, 15.7,
4.5, 5.29
15
Lords descent: His love, purpose and
mission; Paramatma: our ever well
wishing best friend
4.6-9, 9
th
chapter,
10.9-11, 3.23, 15.15,
18.61, 5.29
16
Inconceivable nature of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, His qualities
and pastimes; cultivating spiritual
relationship: the only way to
understand Him
9.4-6, 9.11, 10.1-3,
11.54, 18.55, 4.3,
18.65, 9.34, 7.1
17
Is God personal or impersonal? Three
aspects of the Absolute Truth; path of
personalismvs. path of impersonalism
14.27, T1: 2.2
purport, 12.1-7,
5.29, 10.2 4.9, 4.3,
2.12, 4.10-11, 9.4-5,
7.7, 7.24
18
Demigod worship: universal
administration; demigods and their
relationship with Krishna; right way to
approach demigods
3.10-12, 7.20-23,
9.21, 9.25, 10.2
Yoga
(Connecting
with Supreme
Lord)
19-20
What is yoga? Types of yoga dhyana,
karma, jnana, bhakti; limitation of
asthanga yoga in kali yuga; gradual and
direct method - bhakti yoga; pure
devotional service; the topmost yoga
system
2.47; 2.48-51;
6.10-14; 6.33-34;
6.47, 8.28,
chapter 7-12
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21
Different platforms of worship: fear,
desire, duty, love; difference between
platform of love and other platforms;
awakening love of God being superior to
doing social service
2.47, 6.47, 4.7,
7.16, 7.19
Material
Nature
22
Three modes of material nature:
conditioning of the living entity;
characteristics of goodness, passion and
ignorance; how the modes bind us; free
will and destiny; Working for Krishna
and working for maya; Supreme Lord is
transcendental to modes; liberation
from three modes
14.5-25, 17.1-28,
14.26, 9.13, 2.45,
7.12-14, 3.5, 3.27,
3.29, 3.33, 4.13,
4.23, 5.14, 15.2,
18.19-41
Karma and
karma yoga
23-24
Why bad things happen to good people?
Law of karma: good karma, bad karma
and akarma; how to become free from
karma and reincarnation; karma kanda:
flowery language of Vedas; karma yoga
and its importance; contemporary
relevance of karma yoga; sakama and
nishkama karma yoga
4.16-18, 2.42-43,
2.48
3
rd
and 5
th
chapter, 2.22,
6.41, 6.42-44
25
Peace formula: proper and artificial
renunciation; defining quota; proper
utilization of quota that is given to us;
three point peace formula
5.29, 3.9-11
R1: Mantra 1
Kala 26
Time (kala) and its influence; impact of
this understanding on our heart (nimita
matra bhava svaya sachin)
11.32, 8.17-19, 13.6-
7, 11.33
Bhakti yoga
(Pure
devotional
service to
Krishna)
27-28 Knowledge of the Absolute
7.1-7.7, 7.18-19,
7.25-30
29-31 Attaining the Supreme 8.5-8, 8.14-16
32-34 The Most Confidential Knowledge 9.1-34
35-37 The Opulence of the Absolute 7.4-11, 10.1-34
Divine and
demoniac
natures
38
Four types of people who surrender to
Krishna; four types of people who dont
surrender to Krishna; difference
between transcendental and demoniac
qualities; returning to our divine nature
7.15-19, 16.1-24;
BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
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Instruction Division
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Conclusion
39-40
Qualities which endear one to Krishna;
Krishnas concluding instructions;
Arjunas understanding and
realizations.
12.13-20; 18.65-66;
18.73
41
Sanjayas realizations; way to be
victorious.
18.74-78
6. Evaluation Scheme:
# Component Weight Duration Date and Time Remarks
1 Mid-semester Test 22% 1 hours 8/10 2:00 - 3:30 PM Closed-book
2
Comprehensive
Examination
40% 3 hours 4/12 FN
Partly open-
book type
3
Home assignment
and Oral examination
25% -
To be announced
later
-
4 Course Quiz 13% 30-40 min.
To be announced
later
Closed-book
7. Grading Policy:
Award of grades would be guided by the histogram of marks and course average. If a
student happens to be in the borderline of two grades, the decision on the final grade will
be based on his/her regularity in attending classes and participation in discussions.
8. Make up policy:
For a foreseen absence, make-up request should be made personally to the Instructor-in-
Charge, well ahead of the component. Reasons for unanticipated absence that qualify a
student to apply for make-up include medical emergencies or personal exigencies only. In
such an event, the student should contact the Instructor-in-Charge at the earliest.
9. Chamber Consultation Hour:
Thursdays 4:30 to 5:30 pm, in cubicle 3222-A.
10. Notices:
All important course notices shall be displayed on the notice board of Faculty Division-I.
Instructor-in-Charge
HSS F334/HUM C383
