Shreemad Bhagvad Gita popularly known as Gita I believe is the holy book of not only hindus but the entire humanity.When I started writing this editorial I knew I was risking the wrath of a lot of people.I knew I would have to tread a very fine line and I would set a lot of tongues wagging and many would brand me as a hindu fundamentalist.I know I am none of that.I merely want to put the record staright.When I talk about Gita I do not mean disrespect to other religions or their holy books.I believe they command the same respect as Hindu Philosophy respects Gita.I am a hindu in the broadest sense of the word and my credentials permit me to write what i believe is the best for hindus.
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Why Gita and nothing else would do? If you look at the facts carefully Vedas and Upanishads came five thousand or more years before Gita.They are accepted as the norms of the hindu philosophy.They form the very foundation of hindu religion in its broadest sense.If Gita is conservatively estimated to be 5000 years old,Vedas and Upanishads are more than 10000 years old.And yet I say Gita is the standard bearer of Hindu Philosophy.Let us examine the facts.
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There are no two opinions about the fact that Hindu Philosophy is the oldest in the world.If we look at the other religions in chronological order they have all come after hindu philosophy.(That does not make them less holy or less valid for their followers).If Vedas and Upanishads predate Gita why must we have this argument about the basis of hindu philosophy? The explanation is very simple.Vedas and Upanishads have been written by saints,sages and rishis.They represent the combined wisdom of the saints after centuries of their spiritual experiances and journey. In fact Krishna at one stage tells Arjuna that what I am telling you is nothing but what the rishis have told you in Vedas and Upanishads.And yet I believe Gita is the standard bearer of hindu philosophy.