The Truth About the Gita (Paperback)

V.R. Narla

ISBN 10: 1616141832 / ISBN 13: 9781616141837

Published by Prometheus Books, Amherst, 2010

About this Item

Paperback. This is an intelligent critical examination of "The Bhagavad Gita", one of the most famous Hindu sacred texts. "The Bhagavad Gita" is one of the most famous works of Hindu scripture, ranking in importance alongside the Vedas and the Upanishads as a key sacred text. Considering the popularity of this historical epic and the deferential feelings toward it, intellectuals in India have been reluctant to examine the text from a critical standpoint, as scholars in the West have done in regard to the sacred texts of Christianity and Judaism. One exception to this kid-gloves attitude is this iconoclastic examination of "The Gita" by journalist and humanist advocate V.R. Narla. Taking a rationalist, sceptical approach, Narla critiques "The Gita" on many levels, pointing out the improbability of the historical events recounted, the logical inconsistencies in the work, and, above all, the retrograde moral perspective represented by the characters. "The Bhagavad Gita" is one of the most famous works of Hindu scripture, ranking in importance alongside the Vedas and the Upanishads as a key sacred text. This title presents an examination of "The Bhagavad Gita". Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781616141837

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Truth About the Gita (Paperback)
• Publisher: Prometheus Books, Amherst
• Publication Date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1616141832
• ISBN 13: 9781616141837
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Taking a rationalist, skeptical approach, a journalist and humanist advocatecritiques the famous BhagavadGita on many levels. Among other things, he points out the improbability of the historical events recounted, the logical inconsistencies in the work, and, above all, the retrograde moral perspective represented by the characters. He emphasizes that the long dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and Lord Krishna (an incarnation of the god Vishnu) ends up by condoning violence, even wholesale slaughter. Furthermore, the work extols the Hindu caste system as noble and reinforces superstitions about reincarnation and karma. All of this was anathema to the author, who spent much of his career working for human rights and critical thinking.For students of Indian literature in both the East and West, this critical appraisal of a classic Hindu epic will prove enlightening.

About the Author

V. R. Narla (1908-1985) was an ardent skeptic and humanist advocate, who edited two Telugu daily newspapers in India—Andhra Prabha and Andhra Jyothi—and lectured in several Indian universities. Among his many publications was a book of his aphoristic sayings, Gods, Goblins, and Men.