The Gita is one of the most important texts in the history of literature and philosophy, and is central within the epic of the Mahabharata composed by Vyasa. It expresses a dialogue between the charioteer Krishna and the warrior Arjuna at a crucial moment at the outset of war. This classic yet modern expression by Sri Aurobindo highlights 'karma' action, an essential character of Yoga to readers worldwide. Gandhi, Huxley, Einstein, Jung and Hesse were all influenced by this masterpiece.

Santosh highlights key relevant points of Aurobindo's Essays on the Gita, explains them and reveals their depth and implications today. Each of his well-chosen selections and lucid comments constitutes a luminous doorway into the heart of the Gita. Santosh shows us how we should approach great teachings like those of Sri Aurobindo and make them relevant for our current search, helping to lift humanity into a new era of higher consciousness that is so desperately needed.

The Gita, which is older than the New Testament, is one of the most widely read books in the world, honored by a number of great thinkers in all countries, and the subject of much renewed interest in modern times. Santosh highlights key revevant points of Aurobindos Essays on the Gita, explains them and reveals their depth and implications today. Each of his well chosen selections and lucid comments constitutes a luminous doorway into the heart of the Gita and the consciousness of Krishna, as well as into the mind of Yogi Aurobindo.

The first series of 'Essays on the Gita' appeared in the monthly review 'Arya' between August 1916 and July 1918. It was revised by Sri Aurobindo and published as a book in 1922. The second series appeared in the 'Arya' between August 1918 and July 1920. In 1928 Sri Aurobindo brought out an extensively revised edition in book form. For this present edition, the text has been thoroughly checked against all previous editions and against the manuscripts of the revised 'Arya'.

Sri Aurobindo stands out as one of the most profound and profoundly relevant of contemporary Asian spiritual masters speaking to the West. His vision transcends the distinctive strengths and weaknesses of India and the West, and his discipline brings the yogas of the Gita to the task of world transformation.Professor Robert McDermott's afterword recounts the increased significance of Aurobindo's message for the West in modern times.

This book elaborates the politico-ideological viewpoints of Aurobindo, as displayed when he reigned as one of the major nationalist leaders defining Indian nationalism. Bidyut Chakrabarty examines Aurobindo's politico-ideological ideas during the period (1893-1910) when he was an active participant in the 'New Nationalist' or 'Democratic Nationalist' campaign, which started with the bifurcation of the Indian National Congress between the Moderates and Extremists (also known as the Revolutionary Nationalists) in its 1907 annual session, held at Surat. Chapters cover Aurobindo's distinctive ideas of nationalism, which he evolved in collaboration with his colleagues, especially Lal-Bal-Pal (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal), and how he redefined the practice of nationalism. The book also demonstrates that unlike his predecessors, the Moderates, Aurobindo set out many strategies - including boycott and passive resistance - to execute the distinctive plan he designed to attain his politico-ideological goal. Other topics include the relatively less discussed aspect of Aurobindo's socio-political ideas, namely his unique model of education as an antidote to many of the crippling socio-cultural prejudices, and the importance of Bhagavad Gita in shaping Aurobindo's politico-ideological priorities.

This is a collection of careful, objective, historically sensitive studies of modern commentators on the Bhagavadgita, one of the basic scriptures of Hinduism, and one which has been widely read in the modern West. Experts on modern Indian religious thought show how Ghandi, Vivekananda, Radhakrishnan, Bhaktivedanta, Aurobindo, Tilak, Bhave, Sivananda, the Theosophists, and Bhankim read, used and interpreted the Gita. Collectively, the essays display the different backgrounds and orientations of the major Indian thinkers of our time. An Introduction and a Conclusion provide a perspective on the thinkers and identify common themes which are part of modern emphases.

This book is a landmark in the wide panorama of Gita Literature, the universal nature of which is reflected in the use- in the form of prose as well as poetry-of an increasing number of the world`s languages. As the first book to utilize original verses in modern Sanskrit to convey the social massage of the Gita, it not only fills a significant linguistic gap but also focuses attention on social issues which call for urgent action by karmayogins.