Summarized by Prasanna Kumar:
We started with prayanam and meditation and then Recap
We talked about the two paths before us at the time of leaving earth. Krishna Gati the path of darkness and Suklah Gati the path of light.
Also mentioned is the significance of time of the day or time of the year of one’s departure from this earth.
Uttarayana is referred to as the day of new good healthy wealthy beginning. In the Mahabharata, this day marks the death of Bhishma. Bhishma had the ability to choose the time of his death and although mortally wounded in war during Dakshinayana , he chose to delay his death until uttarayan.According to the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture, those who die when the Sun is on its e northward course (from south to north) attain nirvana.This explains the choice made by Bhishma to wait until Uttarayana to die. But was that the real reason for Bhishma’s wait ?.
From the point of Srimad Bhagavatam he waited for so long because Bhishma knew that Shree Krishna wanted him to perform a service. He wanted Bhishma to see the ultimate triumph of those whom he loved, who were virtuous, who followed the path of Dharma — The Pandavas. At another deeper level, Shree Krishna wanted to glorify his devotee Bhishma. Even though some people may think that Bhishma was short shortsighted in siding with the Kauravas and that it did muddle his intellect but that was not the case. The war had not affected his clarity of thought, his intelligence and his virtuosity. So when Yudhishthira became disconsolate grieving terribly for having being the cause of bloodshed in the Kurukshetra war, no body was able to convince him. Not even Lord Krishna but it was only Bhishma who was able to do it. He gave deeper and meaningful instructions to Yudhishthira on statesmanship and duties of a King. He also gave Vishnu Sahasranama , thousand names of Lord Vishnu, during this time to him. Shree Krishna, in this way, wanted the world to know that Bhishma’s wisdom was greater than everyone else. Then Krishna offered him the perfect departure by being at his side at that time . This is the ultimate success of a devotee. By beholding the Lord by his side in front of him externally, by meditating the Lord inside his heart internally, he left this world with certainty that he will unite with the Supreme . Shree Krishna wanted him to wait so that the depth of his wisdom can be known, his clarity of consciousness despite pain of 100s of arrows can be known, his virtuosity can be known. In this way, Supreme Lord Shree Krishna orchestrated the perfect departure for Bhishma!
According to the Hindu tradition the six month period of Uttarayana is equivalent to a single day of the Gods, while the six month period of Dakshinayana is equal to a single night of the Gods. Thus a year of twelve months is single day of the Gods. This refers to the six months of single day at the North pole and concurrent six months of night at the south pole.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 8, Verse 23-26
Commentary ( reference holy bhaghavad-gita.org)
In these verses, Shree Krishna continues to answer the question Arjun had asked in verse 8.2, “How can one be united with God at the time of death?”
Shree Krishna explains that there are two paths—the path of light ( Shuklah Gati) or the path of darkness (Krishna Gati). Where light; is symbolic to knowledge and darkness; is for ignorance.
The bright daylight, the moonlit fortnight of śhuklaḥ or the bright ascending moon, and the uttaraayan, the northern course of the sun, are all considered the time of light. The God-conscious souls; who detach from worldly attachments and depart by the path of light (knowledge and discrimination) attain God. They are liberated from the wheel of samsara, the cycle of life and death, and reach the divine Abode of God.
The ignorant souls who are attached to the world remain entangled in the bodily concept of life. They forget their relationship with God. Such souls depart by the path of darkness. Hence, continue to rotate in the cycle of life and death. However, those who may have undertaken some Vedic rituals, as its fruit, go to the celestial abodes. But this position is also part of the material world, thus temporary. When their merits are exhausted, they have to return to earth. Ultimately all humans born on earth, upon death, have to pass along either of the two paths, the path of light or the path of darkness. It is their karmas that decide which path they would take eventually.
Verse 27
Those relentless souls who strive for Yog or union with God are true yogis. They recognize themselves to be tiny fragments of God and His eternal beatitude. They also realize the temporary nature of the material world and the futility of a materialistic life. Therefore, instead of running behind sensual pleasures, they endeavour to enhance their love for God. Such souls are on the path of light.
On the other hand are the ignorant souls, who are under the influence of maya, the material energy. They recognize themselves as only the body and the material world around them as the source of their pleasure. They continue to live through the miseries of material existence, being disdainful toward God or His eternal opulence. Thus, such souls are on the path of darkness.
In this verse, Shree Krishna urges Arjun to recognize the difference between these two paths and choose the path of light, thus become a yogi. It is not that many of us do not take the path of light, but after some time are back on the path of darkness.
For instance, someone wishes to go east and walks one mile toward the rising sun in the morning. He rests in the afternoon for a while. Then he starts walking again toward the sun, which is now in the west. He walks for two miles only to find in the evening that he is one mile farther in the west from where he had started. Similarly, treading on the path of light only for some time will not work; it needs to be a constant process, else one will slip back into darkness again. Therefore, in this verse, Shree Krishna adds the phrase, “at all times.” It is for us to recognize the importance of being a yogi at all times. And avoid the danger of sliding back into the path of darkness.
In Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 8, Verse 28,( from copilot)
Lord Krishna imparts profound wisdom. Let’s explore the commentary on this verse:
Sanskrit Verse (8.28):
वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तप:सु चैव दानेषु यत्पुण्यफलं प्रदिष्टम् | अत्येति तत्सर्वमिदं विदित्वा योगी परं स्थानमुपैति चाद्यम् || 28 ||
Translation:
“The yogis, who know this secret, gain merit far beyond the fruits of Vedic rituals, the study of the Vedas, performance of sacrifices, austerities, and charities. Such yogis reach the Supreme Abode.”
Commentary:
In this verse, Lord Krishna reveals that those yogis who follow the path of light reap rewards beyond what other processes can bestow. Even though one may undertake Vedic sacrifices, perform austerities, engage in charity, or accumulate knowledge of the self, without devotion to God, it is not the path of light. The Ramayan states:
“You may engage in good conduct, righteousness, austerities, sacrifices, ashtanga yoga, chanting of mantras, and charity. But without devotion to God, the mind’s disease of material consciousness will not cease.”
All these good deeds can only yield temporary material rewards. However, devotion to God leads to liberation from the bondage of the material world. Therefore, the yogis who have realized this truth detach their minds from the material world and attach them to God alone. By treading this path of light, they eventually attain eternal happiness.
This verse emphasizes the importance of devotion and spiritual realization in transcending worldly limitations and reaching the Supreme Abode.
🙏Om Shanthi!
