GITA MAKARANDAM#SWAMI VIDYA PRAKASHANANDAGIRI

 Makaranda means honey. The Bhagavad Gita is sweet and relishing like honey. So this work is entitled Gita Makarandam. Honey is a potent antidote to different kinds of bodily diseases. So also the Gita Makaranda is a powerful purifying agent which washes away the accumulated sins and bestows the supreme bliss of liberation on mankind

The bee collects honey from different flowers. Upanishads are the most beautiful flowers of Divine Knowledge and Lord Krishna drew the honey of the Gita from the Upanishads May the seekers of spiritual truth drew their inspiration and illumination from the Gita and fulfil the purpose of human existence. On the banks of the sacred river Swarnamukhi in Kalahasti (a pilgrim-centre in Andhra Pradesh-India) is situated a peaceful and beautiful hermitage well known as Sri Suka Brahma Ashram. The founder of that Ashram Swami Vidya Prakashananda is a saintly personality working with untiring zeal to spread the message of the Gita through his lectures and publications. He is the author of this illustrious book Gita Makaranda This book contains the text with explanatory introduction, word to word meaning, substance, elaborate commentary and questions and answers. This book was first published in Telugu in 1963. Since then it continued increasingly popular among the Telugu-knowing public A request came to the author from several quarters that his Telugu commentary on the Bhagavad Gita might also be rendered into English for the benefit of the larger non-Telugu knowing public. He has complied with the request and therefore we are enabled to bring out this English version. The meritorious services of Sri Durbha Ramamurty Professor of English, Nellore) need special mention here for his fine rendering of the original into English. We express our sincere thanks to him and to all those who have extended co-operation in publishing this eminent work.

PRAYER TO MOTHER-GITA

O Divine Mother Gita! Mother of the Universe! F ledge Incarnate! You have shown the way to peace th the horrid wilderness of Samsara where a thousand diffic harass our mortal existance. The darkness of ignorance is vanishing; The shack Samsara are breaking; The path of action is shining O Mother Divine! a thousand salutations to you! When Lord Krishna dropped his mortal coil, He sl you to us, as our guide, philosopher, and friend; you a living image of the Lord and in you we take refuge O M Gita! Blessed giver of Knowledge! The elders say never : man forget his creator, as well as the moral law and co conduct taught and prescribed by Him. Thus it is ou to remember you and follow the Dharma taught by you. Bestower of Self-realisation! Your message is uni No religion, no creed is denounced by you; you have proc to the world the great hope that the worst sinners al: attain the purest sainthood, that the weak and feeble-1 also can become strong and valiant by following your lav You have shown a thousand paths to mankind fc purification and celestail joy! Oh! Ganges of Kno everflowing and flooding the heart of mankind! Essence of the Upanishads! to us who are drifting aimlessly in th of Samsara, you are the ferry boat to take us across the pools of earthly trials and temptations! O Mother Divine! Bless us with devotion, knowled dispassion! Bless us with strength and power to serve yo and soul throughout our life! May your benedictions be always upon us this prayer to you, O blessed and blissful Mother!

External Links

GITAMAKARANDA BOOK ARCHIVE ORG. LINK: https://archive.org/details/gitamakaranda-englishversion-fullbook-part-1-of-2/gitamakaranda_englishversion_fullbook_part%201%20of%202/