Different Gitas (विविधाः गीताः)

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1. Agastya Gita

This Gita is described in Varaha Purana. In this Gita Rshi Agastya described the concept of Moksha and the ways in which Jivatma can attain Paramatma through devotion, renunciation and by the grace of guru.

2.Anu gita

Anu-Gita is a part of the Ashwamedha Parva (chapters 16 to 51;organized into thirty six chapters) in the Mahabharata. It was told by Sri Krishna to Arjuna after the battle of Mahabharata was over and peace was established under the rule of Yudhisthira.

The Anu Gita contains sections on what constitutes the duties of the good human being.

3.Ashtavakra gita

It is described in the Vana Parva, Mahabharata. The Ashtavakra Gita is written as a dialogue between Raja Janaka of Mithila and his guru, Ashtavakra. The book comprises 20 chapters.

It is an instruction for achieving self-realization. It describes the most direct path to self-realization in three steps: (1) hearing and reading it again and again; (2) reflecting and understanding it (3) meditating, assimilating, realizing and applying to life.

4.Avadhuta gita

Sung by Lord Dattatreya, it describes the journey of self-realization. It is one of the most important texts of the Natha Yogi tradition. It is based on the conversation between sage Dattatreya and Lord Kartikeya. The text's poetry is based on the principles of Advaita and Dvaita schools of philosophy. It asserts the highest realisation of a Jivanmukta or realised soul.

5. Baka Gita

This Gita is based on the conversation between Bhagavan Indra and Rshi Baka. It is described in Mahabharata.

6. Bhagavad Gita

The most popular Gita. Conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna during the Mahabharata war.  It consists around 700 verses and explains various aspects of life.

7. Bharata Gita : The Bharata-Gita is contained in chapters 11 to 14 of Skandha 5 of Srimad Bhagavata.This Gita extols the glories of Bhagavan and explains the pitfalls the seekers face if the mind is uncontrolled and in this process shows us the greatness of Bharata whose name is fittingly bestowed on this great Bharatvarsha.

8.Bhikshu gita

It is described in Srimad Bhagavatam. The Bhikshu-Gita is contained in chapter 5 of Skandha XII of Srimad Bhagavata.

9. Bhramara Gita

This Gita is from  Srimad Bhagavatam. This Gita is based on the conversation between Gopis and Uddhava through a Bhramara (bee) as an intermediary.

10.Brahmana gita

This Gita is described in Mahabharat. It is based on the conversation between  a learned Brahman and his wife about how to escape from the bond of Maya (illusion) and attain highest state of liberation which is the ultimate goal of all human existence.

11.Bodhya gita

This Gita is described in Moksha Parva in Mahabharat as a part of Shanti Parva. It is a conversation between Rishi Bodhya and King Yayati in Mahabharata.

12.Brahma gita

The Brahma Gita is contained in chapter 35, slokas 96 & 97 of Chapter 37, and Chapter 38 of Brahmapurana (Part I) spoken by Bhagavan Brahma. It is described in Niravana and Prakarana of Yoga-Vaisistha.

13.Devi gita

It is part of the Devi Bhagavatam and tells us about an incarnation of the Devi wherein she describes her own nature, nature of her worship with meditation, yogic practices, rituals and other austerities. She describes her essential forms to Himalaya to keep his request.

14.Ganesha gita

It is from Ganesh Purana (Krida Khanda). It is a discourse between Raja Varenya and Bhagavan Ganesha in the form of Gajanana.

15.Gopika gita

It is the song of the Gopis of Brindavan and their deep and selfless love to Shri Krishna. This is in the tenth chapter of the Bhagavata Purana which is the story of Bhagavan Vishnu.

16.Guru gita

It is from Skanda Puran and is a dialogue between Bhagavan Shiva and Goddess Parvati in which she asks him to teach her all about the Guru tattva. It emphasises the need for and  importance of seeking Spiritual Guru and extols his greatness.

17.Hamsa gita

Also referred to as Uddhava Gita, it is in Shrimad Bhagavata Purana. Comprising of more than 1000 verses, it consists of Krishna’s final discourse to Uddhava before Krishna leaves his mortal coil on Earth.

18.Hanumad gita

Hanumad Gita is the discourse that was given by Rama and Sita to Hanuman on their return from Lanka after the defeat of Ravana and the coronation of Lord Rama.

19.Harita gita

It is from Mahabharatha, Mokshaparva as a part of Shantiparva. It is based on the conversation between  Bhishma and Yudhisthira. It speaks of non violence in association with sanyasa ashram. It contains twenty verses attributed to Harita Muni.

20.Iswara gita

Ishvara Gita covers the first eleven chapters of Uttara Vibhaaga from Kurma Purana. It contains the teachings of Shiva referred to as Ishvara.

21. Janaka Gita

Monologue of Raja Janaka after hearing the Siddhas near his palace.

22.Kapila gita

It is from Shrimad Bhagavata Purana. It is the story of how Rshi Kapila offers solace to his old mother Devahuti whose atman is in quest for spiritual knowledge.

23.Manki gita

It is from Mahabharata in Shanti Parva. It is a story narrated in 50 verses of Manki and his two bullocks, told by Bhishma to Yudhisthira. The core message here is to give up desire and greed and develop compassion for all beings.

24. Nahusha Gita

It is described in Mahabharat based on the conversation between Yudhisthira and Nahusha.

25. Narada Gita

This Gita is based on the conversation between Lord Krishna and Narada. It treats of the general requisites of the spiritual aspirants. It stresses the supremacy of the Guru.

26.Pandava gita

Pandava Gita or Prapanna Gita as it is called is a compilation of quotes from many great personalities from the Puranas. This Gita based on various prayers offered by different devotees to Bhagavan Narayan. This Gita is referred to as the songs of surrender.It is the collection of different beautiful verses taken from different sources. The  hymn described in this Gita was sung by the Pandavas.

27.Parasara gita

Parasara Gita is from Mahabharata, and it is the longest of all the Gitas of the Shanti Parva. It consists of nine chapters. It is said to be a dialogue between Rishi Parasara and Raja Janaka.

28.Pingala gita

Pingala Gita is from Mahabharata, Shanti Parva. It is a beautiful story told by Shri Krishna to Uddhava about Pingala and her story of liberation. The message of the Gita is enlightenment and the wisdom that dawned on Pingala.

29.Rama gita

It is from Adhyatma Ramayana which is a part of Brahmanda Purana in the 5th Sarga of the Uttara Khanda. It consists 64 verses. It condenses Vedantic teaching in the form of a dialogue between Sri Rama and Lakshmana. It expounds the Advaita Vedanta with it’s different principles of Jiva, Avidya, Maya, Ishvara etc. and the process of the realisation of the Brahman.

30.Ribhu gita

It forms the sixth part of the Shiva Rahasya Purana and it is a dialogue between Sage Ribhu and his disciple Sage Nidagha in about two thousand verses on the Self and Brahman.

31. Rishabha Gita

It is described in Srimad Bhagavatam.Based on the instructions given by Sage Rishabh to his children on the eternal truths and the way to liberation for the benefits of the world.This Gita teaches mankind the purpose of human life,how to release oneself from bondage and attain liberation.

32.Rudra gita

It is about the instructions given by Shiva to Prachetas (Daksha).

33.Sampaka gita

It is from Mahabharata in Shanti Parva. It is based on the conversation between Bhishma and Yudhisthira. It consists of twenty one verses in which Sampaaka, a learned and pious Brahmana gives the message that one could attain everlasting happiness only through renunciation.

34. Shaunaka Gita: This Gita is described in Aranya Parva, Mahabharata. This Gita is based on the instructions given by sage Shaunaka to Yudhisthira on the secrets of the General life of the beings of the universe.

35.Shiva gita

It is from Padma Purana (uttara kanda) and is made up of 16 chapters. The Siva-Gita is a text of Vedantic Saivism. Shiva appears before Shri Rama and his teachings to Rama forms the Shiva Gita.

36. Siddha Gita

Given by Siddhas near the palace of Raja Janaka. It is described in the Upashanti Prakarana of Yoga Vaisistha.

37.Sruti gita

It is contained in chapter 87 of Srimad Bhagavatam.

38.Surya gita

It is found in Guru Jnana Vasishta in Tattava Sarayana. It is based on the conversation between Lord Bramha and Lord Dakshinamurthy,in which the latter unfolds the story of Lord Surya’s discourse to Aruna, his charioteer. There are three parts in this text namely Jnana Kanda (knowledge), Upasana Kanda (spiritual practice) and Karma Kanda (actions).

39.Suta gita

It is from Skandha Purana, Adhyayas 13 to 20 of Yagya Vaibhava Kanda.

40.Uttara gita

It consists of three chapters and it gives answers to Arjuna’s questions. It is Suppliment to the Bhagavad Gita described in Bramhananda Purana.

41.Vasishta gita

Vasishta Gita or Yoga Vasishta is a discourse given by Maharishi Vasishta to Rama when Rama is said to be in a dejected state. It consists of 32000 shlokas and is associated with the principles of Advaita Vedanta. It is described in the Nirvana-Prakarana of Yoga Vaisistha.

42. Venu  Gita

This Gita is from Srimad Bhagavatam. It contains the confidential talks of the Gopis in their deepest emotional turmoils upon hearing the Krishna’s flute (Venu).

43.Vibhishana gita

This is described in Yuddha Kanda in Ramayana. This Gita is taught by Rama to Vibheeshana on the battlefield of Lanka and advises Vibheeshana on the virtues of devotion, faith and right values.

44.Vichakshyu Gita:

It is from Mahabharata, Mokshaparva in Shanti Parva. It consists of eleven verses and is narrated by Bhishma to Yudhisthira.

45.Vidura gita

This Gita is described in Mahabharat. This Gita is also known as Vidhura Neeti. It is a dialogue between Vidura and Raja Dhritarashtra wherein Vidura not only advises Dhritarashtra about the science of politics but values of right conduct, fairplay and truthfulness.

46. Vidya Gita

This Gita is contained in the Tripura Rahashya and in the form of a story which Lord Dattatreya relates to Parashurama. It is called Vidya Gita as Tripura or the divine mother who presides over the three puras or cities is Vidya or the highest wisdom herself.

47.Vritra gita

It is from Mahabharat, Moksha Parva as a part of Shanti Parva. It is a dialogue between a fierce demon Vritrasura and Shukracharya the Guru of all the Asuras and it consists of two chapters.

48.Vyadha gita

It is from Vana Parva of the Mahabharata and consists of the teachings given by a Vyaadha to a sannyasi (Rshi Kaushika) which was related to Pandava prince Yudhisthira by Rshi Markandeya. The the Vyadha teaches ‘Nishkama Karma’.

49.Vyasa gita

It is from Kurma Purana, from 12th Adhyaya onwards of Uttara Vibhaaga and Rshi Vyaasa teaches the highest path to self knowledge.

50.Yama gita

The Yama Gita is said to be contained in three texts, in the Vishnu Puran Book 3 Chapter 1 to 7, Chapter 382, Book 3 of the Agni Purana and Chapter 8 of the Narasimha Puran. This Gita explains the qualities of Vishnu devotees and the nature of self, concept of Brahmana and the method of freeing oneself from the cycle of life and death and attain Moksha.

51. Yudhisthira Gita

This Gita is described in Mahabharata. This Gita is based on the conversation between Yudhisthira and Yaksha. This Gita teaches the basics of the ethics which forms the bedrock of virtues and divine life.

52. Yugala Gita

It is described in Srimad Bhagavatam.This Gita is based on the Gopis’ description on the glories of Lord Shree Krishna.