[Advaita-l] ISHVARA GITA - THE ORIGINAL BHAGAVAD GITA

[Keshava Mahadeva]

Hi All,

ISHVARA GITA is a part of Kurma Purana.

One interesting fact of *ISHVARA GITA* which most people do not know is
that it is the *ORIGINAL BHAGAVAD GITA*.

In the end of ISHVARA GITA, Vyasa Maharishi talks about how the knowledge
of ISHVARA GITA was transferred from Sage Sanat Kumara to Vyasa Maharishi.
At one place it is said that:

*Kurma Purana 2.11.131-132:*

*Vyasa said: Lord Narayana, Hari, the son of Devaki, himself gave this
excellent knowledge to Arjuna.*

This confirms the fact that Ishvara Gita given by Lord Shiva was passed on
by Lord Krishna as Bhagavad Gita.

Also one more beautiful reference from the same Purana:

*Kurma Purana 1.30.59-62:*

Vyasa said: You are blessed favorite with the Lord. In all the three worlds
there is certainly no other person like you who is a devotee of Shankara
and the conqueror of enemies cities.

*You have directly perceived that Lord Rudra who has universal vision, has
faces all round, who is the very embodiment of the universe.*

*That divine lordly knowledge has been precisely understood by you. The
eternal Hrishikesha himself has recounted it to you, out of delight.*

Do you go to your own abode. It does not behove you to grieve over it. With
the greatest devotion seek refuge in Shiva worthy of being the refuge.

*Kurma Purana 1.30.65:*

Excepting the son of Satyavati and Krishna, the son of Devaki, neither
anyone has been, nor will be born who is equal to Arjuna in the matter of
devotion to Shambu.

These references confirm 2 facts:

1) Bhagavad Gita was originally spoken by Lord Shiva to Lord Narayana and
all the sages.

2) Vishwaroopam that was shown in Bhagavad Gita was that of Lord Shiva.

MAHAPERIYAVA in his DEIVATHIN KURAL also says "It was SHIVA who showed the
Vishwaroopam. BG 11.8: pashya me yogam aishwaram Krishna says to Arjuna: I
will show you the mystic opulence of Ishwara."

BG 11.32: Time I am, the great destroyer of the worlds.

At a later point of time, when Arjuna asks Vyasa who was that personality
who was slaying all his foes in battle even before Arjuna could slay them
and Vyasacharya says "Thou hast, O Arjuna, seen Sankara, that First cause
from which have sprung the Prajapatis, that puissant Being endued with
great energy, he that is the embodiment of heaven, earth and sky, the
Divine Lord, the protector of the universe, the great Master, the giver of
boons, called also Isana. O, seek the protection of that boon, giving
Deity, that lord of the universe. He is called Mahadeva (the Supreme
Deity), of Supreme Soul, the one only Lord, with matted locks (on head),
the abode of auspiciousness".

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07197.htm
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07198.htm

MAHAPERIYAVA FURTHER STATES:

Bhagavad Gita Verses:

18.61: īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
hṛd-deśe ’rjuna tiṣṭhati
bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāni
yantrārūḍhāni māyayā

The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is
directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a
machine, made of the material energy.

18.62: tam eva śaraṇaṁ gaccha
sarva-bhāvena bhārata
tat-prasādāt parāṁ śāntiṁ
sthānaṁ prāpsyasi śāśvatam

O scion of Bharata, surrender unto Him utterly. By His grace you will
attain transcendental peace and the supreme and eternal abode.

Krishna asks Arjuna to surrender to Ishwara (Lord Shiva). BG 18.61 matches
exactly with a verse in the Vedas: “ishaanha sarva vidyaanam ishvarah
sarvabhutanam brahmaadhipatir brahmanodhipatir brahma shivo me astu
sadasivom” This mantra in the Vedas is for the fifth face of Lord Shiva.
This mantra exactly matches with BG 18.61 (īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ). This
clearly says that Krishna is referring to Lord Shiva and this becomes
obvious when in the next verse Krishna asks Arjuna to surrender unto
Ishwara to attain supreme peace and enlightenment.

Also MAHAPERIYAVA further states that, Krishna himself says that Moksha can
be given by Lord Shiva if surrendered to Lord Shiva and if anyone
surrenders to him, he can just remove the sins. Because 18.66, he says
"aham tva sarva papebhyo moksha ishyami ma sucah" which means I will
deliver you from all sins, he doesn't talk about Moksha. Whereas in BG
18.61, 18.62 he talks about SHIVA being Antaryami of every living entity
and in the next verse he says that only if surrendered to SHIVA, Arjuna can
attain the PARAMA SHANTI (eternal peace).

This aligns with the words of Lord Narayana in Suta Samhita. In Suta
Samhita Yagnya Vaibhava Khanda 25th Chapter, Lord Narayana says to Satya
Sandha:











**naaham samsaaramagnaanaam sakshat samsaara
mochakaha**brahmaadidevataashchaanyaa naiva samsaara mochakaahaa**aham
brahmaadidevaascha prasaadaat tasya shulinah**pranaadyaiva hi
samsaaramochakaa naatra samshayaha**naamatashchaartha tashchaapi mahaadevo
maheshvaraha**tadanye kevalam deva mahaadevaa na te anagha**mahaadevam
vinaa yo maam bhajate shradhayaa sah**naasti tasya vinirmokshaha
samsaraajjanma kotibhihi**

Lord Narayana says to Satya Sandha: I, Brahma and all the devas cannot
grant moksha. It is only Mahadeva who can grant Moksha. One who is my
devotee but who doesn't worship or chant the name of Maheshwara cannot
attain Mukti even after billions of births. Lord Shiva says the same thing
to Rama in Shiva Gita that after doing virtues for billions of births one
will get the knowledge of attaining Shiva Gati.

There is also one more reference from Padma Purana: Padma Purana contains
chapters about the glorification of Bhagavad Gita. Just like Kurma Purana
links Bhagavad Gita with Lord Shiva the Vishwaroopa Darshan of Bhagavad
Gita with Lord Shiva, here also in Padma Purana Narayana himself links
Bhagavad Gita with Lord Shiva.

**In Padma Purana, Lakshmi Devi asks to Narayana about what is higher than
him.**

***Padma Purana: Uttara Khanda: 175: 14-15:***

“O Hrishikesha! You alone are always to be meditated upon by the
self-controlled ones. Therefore, I have a great curiosity to hear from you,
about that which is higher than you. O Achyuta, tell me if there is
something different from you who are the lord, the creator, and the
destroyer of the worlds”.

He replies saying the nature of the self is the nature of Ishwara (Shiva).
He also talks of that he eternally contemplates on Pancavaktra form of
Shiva in Padma Purana: Uttara Khanda: 175: 20–26. He also goes on to say
that Bhagavad Gita is the form of Lord Shiva.

***Padma Purana: Uttara Khanda: 175: 16-18:***

“[Lord Vishnu said]: ****O goddess, this my body is illusory and not real,
and is augmented with the mass of the acts of creation, maintenance and
withdrawal. O dear one, the nature of the self is different form this. It
is without duality and unity. It is free from existence and non-existence;
and without beginning or end. It is pure consciousness, has acquired
luster, is beautiful due to great joy, is the form of the Ishvara (lord),
can be known only through the unity with the self, and this is what is told
in the Gita”.

***Padma Purana: Uttara Khanda: 175: 26–29:***

“[Lord Vishnu said]: O you, beautiful lady, I’ll tell you about my firm
existence in the Gita. The five chapters are the five faces in order. The
(next) ten chapters are the (ten) hands; one is the belly, and the
(remaining) two are the lotus like feet. Thus the eighteen chapters are the
divine forms of words. It, destroying great sins, should be known through
knowledge only. Therefore, he, the very intelligent one, who studies a
chapter, or half of it, or a verse of a half-verse is liberated like
‘Susharma’”.

Well the being with five faces, ten hands, a navel and two feet is none
other than SADASHIVA.

AS THE VEDAS SAY “SHUDDAH SPATIKA SANKAASHAM TRINETRAM PANCAVAKTRAKAM
GANGAADHARAM DASHA BHUJAM”

Lord Shiva is described as pure crystal consciousness, with 3 eyes, five
faces, have 10 hands and ganga on his head.

Moreover 10 Upanishads are talking about the five faces of Lord Shiva:

   1. Pancha Brahma - exclusively talking about the five faces of Lord Shiva
   2. Kalagni Rudra
   3. Jabali
   4. Brihat Jabala
   5. Bhasma Jabala
   6. Rudraksha Jabala
   7. Maha Narayana - contains the mantras dedicated to each of the five
   faces of Lord Shiva (38 mantras)
   8. Suka Rahasya
   9. Annapurna - mention of Sadyojata
   10. Tejo Bindhu - mention of Sadyojata


This 18 is something really special.

   - Mahabharata War happened for 18 days
   - Mahabharata contains 18 cantos
   - Bhagavad Gita is 18 chapters
   - Isha Upanishad contains 18 slokas [There is also a place in Shiva Gita
   where Lord Shiva says whoever studies Isha Upanishad will merge into him]
   - 18 Puranas
   - 18 Upa-Puranas
   - Upanishads are 108 (which is multiple of 18)
   - Pancha Brahma Upanishad [The Upanishad exclusively talking about the
   five faces of Lord Shiva] contains 36 slokas (twice of the number 18)

This 18 is nothing but the Pancha Brahma SADASHIVA MAHADEVA SVARUPA (five
faces, ten hands, a navel and two feet form of CHANDRASHEKARA SHIVA).

Enjoy reading Ishvara Gita:

Kurma Purana Canto 2 Contents PDF:

http://dspace.wbpublibnet.gov.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/10689/12944/2/Content.pdf

Kurma Purana ISHVARA GITA PDF (First 11 Chapters are Ishvara Gita):

http://dspace.wbpublibnet.gov.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/10689/12944/3/Chapter1_338-416p.pdf

The complete Kurma Purana can be downloaded from here:

Canto 1:

http://dspace.wbpublibnet.gov.in:8080/jspui/handle/10689/21487

Canto 2:

http://dspace.wbpublibnet.gov.in:8080/jspui/handle/10689/12944

Thanks & Regards
Keshava Mahadeva