Bhagavad Gita has always been one of those books for which I had a strong desire to read but some of my initial attempts went down the drain when I started having a hard time understanding the true essence of the Sanskrit words being used in it, which made me realize that my understanding of the Sanskrit language is not enough to see through the mystery & wisdom which the holy book offers. I tried reading the translations, both Hindi & English, and was able to somewhat dip my head in the sea of knowledge & wisdom the book brings with it but still, some parts of the book were too complicated for my understanding, and I needed someone who can explain it to me. So when I came across Akshara Bhagavad Gita: Imperishable Bhagavad Gita book on Amazon, I immediately felt like my prayers were answered and this was what I was looking for. I purchased it right away and have been reading it for a few days. Today I'll be posting my review for the book.
My Rating out of 5: ★★★★
The official description of the book reads;
How were the rules framed? They were framed based on the parameters. How was Parameter identified and on what authority? Parameters were identified based on the attributes of the Gita. The authority too is derived from God/Gita. Isn't the identification process obsolete and unscientific? There isn't anything more scientific than the Gita. Just see the explosion of Artificial intelligence applications, be it Drones, Siri, Echo, or Robots. They are all non-human but endowed with intelligence.
So what is this book about? When I picked up the book, I thought that it will be like any other Bhagavad Gita translation, maybe trying a different approach to convey the message of the holy book, but I was wrong. This book takes a whole new approach, It uses storytelling and has its own set of characters living in a modern world and working modern jobs, they take you on a stroll with them and on the way help you understand the Bhagavad Gita in a simpler and self-understanding way. The story is based on today's world, the characters and the challenges they face will be very relatable to the readers, the story takes its own path and does not impose the views and words of the Bhagavad Gita on you, instead, the reader gets to choose what he understands and the morals he/she gets by reading it. The storytelling approach helps the reader understand the Bhagavad Gita in a very different way, the understanding will come automatically to the mind of the reader, this is what makes this book different from other translations available in the market.
I really liked the concept of the book, it felt like reading any other storybook with interesting characters and an engaging plot. Instead of simply explaining the meanings of shloka and verses of the Bhagavad Gita, the author's experiment with the storytelling approach helps the reader in finding his own understanding and truth, which in a way will be more engaging and easier to understand for the new generation. I loved the writing style, the characters, and the overall narration of the story, the author did his research well and that is easily visible in each chapter you read. Most of the parts in the book are in the form of conversations and debates between characters, where they question perspectives, theories, and concepts in such a way that it rose my curiosity to another level but the explanations are very simple to understand and easy to absorb by the readers.
My favorite quote from the book
"The Lord's legacy is not material wealth which is finite and exhausts on anybody appropriating it. It is an ocean and inexhaustible where anybody can draw upon to whatever extent he/she is capable."
Overall the book is a fantastic approach and something everyone must read for a deeper understanding of life and the universe through the Bhagavad Gita. The storytelling approach keeps you engaged whilst you learn the secrets of life and the teachings of the holy book through your own understanding. I would recommend aKsara Bhagavad Gita book to people who want to open their minds to a different level in a most engaging way and simply understand what the ancient holy book has to offer.
Reviewed by Jimmie Luthra
on
3:01 PM
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