Different Gitas (विविधाः गीताः)

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1.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.

2.Ashtavakra gita

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.

3.Avadhoota gita

Sung by Lord Dattatreya, it describes the journey of self-realization.

4.Bhikshu gita

It is a dialogue between Raja Parikshit and Sage Suka and is a brief exposition of the Vedanta philosophy, Brahman and the Atma.

5.Brahmana gita

It is a part of the Anu Gita where Krishna is represented as ultimate controller of universe.

6.Bodhya gita

It is a conversation between Rishi Bodhya and King Yayati in Mahabharata.

7.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.

8.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.

9.Ganesha gita

It is from Ganesh Puran. It is a discourse between Raja Varenya and Bhagavan Ganesha in the form of Gajanana.

10.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.

11.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.

12.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.

13.Hanumad gita

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

14.Harita gita

It is from Mahabharatha, Mokshaparva as a part of Shantiparva. It speaks of non violence in association with sanyasa ashram. It contains twenty verses attributed to Harita Muni.

15.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.

16.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.

17.Manki gita

It is from Mahabharata. It is a story narrated in 50 verses of a rshi named Manki and his two bullocks, the core message here is to give up desire and greed and develop compassion for all beings.

18.Pandava gita

Pandava Gita or Prapanna Gita as it is called is a compilation of quotes from many great personalities from the Puranas.

19.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.

20.Pingala gita

Pingala Gita is from Mahabharata. It is a beautiful story told by Shri Krishna to Uddhava about Pingala and her story of liberation.

21.Rama gita

It is from Adhyatma Ramayana which is a part of Brahmanda Purana in the 5th Sarga of the Uttara Khanda.

22.Ribhu gita

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

23.Rudra gita

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

24.Sampaka gita

It is from Mahabharata. 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.

25.Shiva gita

It is from Padma Purana and is made up of 16 chapters. In this Gita, Rshi Agastya consoles Rama when Ravana takes away Sita and advises him to pray to Shiva. Shiva appears before Shri Rama and his teachings to Rama forms the Shiva Gita.

26.Sruti gita

It is contained in chapter 87 of Srimad Bhagavatam.

27.Surya gita

It is found in Guru Jnana Vasishta. There are three parts in this text namely Jnana Kanda (knowledge), Upasana Kanda (spiritual practice) and Karma Kanda (actions).

28.Suta gita

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

29.Uttara gita

It consists of three chapters and it gives answers to Arjuna’s questions.

30.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.

31.Vibhishana gita

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.

32.Vicakhnu gita

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

33.Vidura gita

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.

34.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.

35.Vyadha gita

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

36.Vyasa gita

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

37.Yama gita

Nachiketa wanted to know from Yama the true nature of the atman. The instructions that Yama gave to Nachiketa have come to be known as the Yama Gita.