ॐ श्री गमेषया नम:
शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् ।
प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥
Shukla Ambara Dharam Vishum Shashi Varnnam Chatur Bhujam |
Prasanna Vadanam Dhyaayet SarvaVighnopashaantaye ||
Meaning:
He who wears white clothes, who is all-pervading, moon-coloured and with four hands and has a pleasing countenance, to him I pray so that all the obstacles are removed from my path.
We embark upon the first phase of our spiritual journey with invocation to Lord Ganesha, the removal of all obstacles.
The most important source of Hindu philosophy is a group of three major spiritual works known as Prasthanatrayi (प्रस्थानत्रयी), literally, three sources (or axioms), which refers to the three canonical texts of theology having epistemic authority, especially of the Vedanta schools. It consists of:
A. The Upanishads, known as Upadeśa Prasthaana (instructive texts), Vedas are known as Shruti Prasthaana (the starting point or axiom of revelation), as they have not been written or conceived by anyone. They were delivered from the heavens and heard by the rishis and kept in circulation by mouth-to-mouth instruction. Vyasa classified these great pieces of wisdom into four Vedas. Each Veda in its end has Upanishads and hence they are called Vedanta (the end or the ultimate purpose of the Vedas.)
The Upanishads are believed to be in 109 in number although even more are classified as Upanishads. Among them, the following ten are considered as Principal Upanishads as they cover every aspect of Sanatana philosophy. They are: 1. Brihat-Aranyaka Upanishad 2. Chandogya Upanishad 3. Taittiriya Upanishad 4. Aitareya Upanishad 5. Kena Upanishad 6. Katha Upanishad 7. Isa Upanishad 8. Mundaka Upanishad 9. Prasna Upanishad 10. Mandukya Upanishad
Two more Upanishads are also considered at par with the above in terms of importance. 11.Kaushitaki Upanishad 12. Svetasvatara Upanishad
B. The Bhagavad Gita a part of Mahabharatha is known as Sādhana Prasthāna (practical text). This falls into the scriptures known as the Smṛti Prasthāna (the starting point or axiom of remembered tradition). These are composed by great rishis. They are not written down anywhere and are memorized by generations and generations of disciples.
C• The Brahma Sutras, known as Sūtra Prasthāna (formulative texts) or Nyāya Prasthāna or Yukti Prasthāna (logical text or axiom of logic). These short, concise aphorisms are 564 in number composed by Vyasa to clarify the meaning of Brahman as declared by the Shrutis. It is divided into four chapters, each of them having four sections.
Srimad Shankara Bhagvatpada , determined to write Bhashyams (भाष्यं, commentaries) and asked one of his disciples to bring the palm leaf manuscript of one of the Upanishads. He was surprised to note that his disciple had brought Bhagvat Gita instead. He sent him back, but the same thing happened. He then sent a senior monk and once again Bhagvat Gita landed up in the Guru’s hands. He then knew that it was providence telling him that he should begin with Bhagvat Gita. This seemed justified as Bhagvat Gita itself at the end of each chapter contains a colophon (pushpika):
Om tatsaditi srimad bhagavadgitaasu upanishatsu brahmavidyaayaam yogasaastre sri krishnaarjuna samvaade chapter name naama chapter no adhyaaya.
It means: thus —the chapter entitled — is in srimad bhagvadgita, which is Upanishad containing brahmavidya (the knowledge of Brahman) and yagasashtre (all the spiritual authorities) in the form of dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna
Gita mahatmiyam, shloka no. 4 says:
सर्वोपनिषदो गावो दोग्धा गोपालनन्दन:
पार्थोवत्स: सुधीर्भोक्त दुग्धं गीतामृतं महत्
sarvopanishado gavo dogdha gopalanandana:
parthovatsa: sudheerbhoktha dugdham gitamrutam mahat
All upanishads are (likened to) cows. The milker is the son of the cowherd, Krishna; Arjuna, son of prutha, is the calf; the wise are the drinkers and the milk is the supreme nectar of Gita.
We are ready now to plunge into the ocean of the wisdom of Sri Krishna with devotion and get blessed by drinking the nectar awaiting there.