विवेचन सारांश

Understanding the practice with Śraddhā and the three modes in relation to worship and consuming food

Arjuna has a doubt here and seeks clarification from Bhagavān. He wants to know about the persons who do not know the scriptures, the vedas or any other scriptures but still do good, go to temples, wear tilak, worship, do pranaam to elders and all of these without knowing why they are doing it. Arjuna also wants to know the type of Śraddhā  whether it is Satvik, Rajasik or Tamasik.

There are a number of scriptures like the vedas, the darshanas like nyaya darshana, mimamsa darshana etc, the Smritis like the Manu Smriti, Yājñavalkya Smṛti,  Parashara smriti etc, and also the Mahabharata and Ramayan, the Puranas like the Vaishnava puranam, the Agama Śāstras, the shaiva agama and many many more. All these scriptures are grouped under Śāstra. Hence it is not just one book but a collection of all of these that give a comprehensive knowledge of the scriptures. 

For a common man it is not possible to study all and understand and practice. Bhagavān explains further on the practical ways to practice Śraddhā.

The Śraddhā is of three types: Satvik, Rajasik and Tamasik which Bhagavān explains in detail ahead in this chapter.

Bhagavān explained that there are three types of Śraddhā.

• Satvik: Goodness mode. All good actions, thoughts, worship, charity and helping others all come under satvik quality.
  

Eg: The one who is good, does not taunt and trouble others , speaks truth, respects parents and elders. They are of satvik character with goodness in them.

• Rajasik: Mode of Attachment and desires. Persons who have desires and are attached to material matters and with never ending desire to amass more and more.
  

If they are in business they only want to keep increasing their profits. To achieve this they are always very active and have a sense of ownership and pride and sense pride in everything that they do. It is not that desire should not be present but it should be limited to what is required. Desire to keep buying new dresses, new shoes and so on and keep buying. If new things are bought the earlier ones should be given to the needy. This type of attachment should indicate Rajasik

• Tamasik: Mode of ignorance. A person who is ignorant and wants to be lazy and does not want to do anything.
  

Best examples of these are seen in the three brothers; Ravana, Vibhishana, Kumbakarna.

• Vibhishana was a Satvik who worshiped with full faith, followed scriptures and performed puja and good actions and never indulged in bad actions and was always positive. Despite being surrounded by the likes of Ravana who was a Rajasik he maintained his goodness as a satvik.
  
• Ravana was of Rajasik mode with attachment to wealth, opulence. Ravana was immersed in all luxuries, riches and he wanted all the pomp and glory indicating the desires of materialism and was a Rajasik. 
  
• Kumbakarna, another brother among the three, was only engaged in eating well and sleeping well and would do nothing else. He was a tamasik.
  

The three brothers were in the same palace but their nature was totally different.

• Question: What are the types of Shraddha?
  
• Answer: Most of the participants gave the correct answer as Satvik, Rajasik and Tamasik.
  
• Question: What is the type of Shraddha in their own self to be answered by participants?
  
• Answer: Nishka ji, Arun ji, Kiran ji, Akshita ji, Rishanth ji, Avni ji Jahnavi ji said they have Satvik quality. Nilesh ji said Rajasik.
  

We have to understand that all qualities are present in all of us. However, one of these qualities will be more predominant.

If someone has Satvik qualities predominantly and some may have Rajasik and some others may have predominantly Tamasik qualities. Each one is recognised by the quality which is predominant in them though the other 2 qualities will very likely be in them perhaps to a lesser levels.

What is the effect of Śraddhā? Based on the Śraddhā our mind also functions.

In the example of the Turtle and Rabbit it is the thought which is the Śraddhā in the mind of the Turtle that helped it succeed. Likewise whatever type of Śraddhā and in whatever we have trust and faith will be the path which will lead to success.

• If someone is good at studying always that will be their Śraddhā. 
  
• Someone who has their mind set on Youtube and constantly create content on it, may become a YouTuber. Someone else may have a lot of interest and faith in practicing cricket. Such a person may become a cricketer.
  
• One who is interested in singing and practices with full faith can become a singer.
  

Without faith it will not be possible to succeed in their preferred line of action. Whether positive or negative the faith is the factor which decides on the line of action which can lead to that expertise in that line.

At home, the siblings have fun talking with each other and in that mood chide each other, insinuating that the brother or sister is useless, unintelligent and so on. This will become negative affirmation and affects the person to think low of themselves.

Hence it is important to think positive and lead a person towards positive affirmations. Whatever is the thought process that will become a conduit in leading to self improvement and faith in capabilities of self.

If someone wakes up in the morning and starts thinking that the day is not starting well and feels very tired or not wanting to study or play, the negativity affects the entire day and makes the day unfruitful. Swami Vivekananada ji said that a human being is a thinking being and whatever is the thoughts will make them that way.

It is not right to be positive to self and negative to others or even vice versa. It should be all round positivity and think good for self as well as all others around us. If this is practiced everything feels good and also brings a happy feeling within.

• Satvik will always think good and worship the Gods.
  
• Rajasik will worship the yakshas and will always seek fructification of their desires which they seek from the prayers.
  
• Tamasik worship the ghosts and the spirits. Such Tamasiks worship to seek ill for others and do not seek anything good for self too.  

• Question: What is the meaning of ‘arjavam’?
  
• Options: Prasannata, Dana, Saralata, Archana.
  
• Answer: Saralta is the correct answer.
  

Some practice a very difficult form of worship which harms the body.

Eg: Taking camphor and burning on the bare hands which burns the hand, and such other practices are Tamasik practices and are classified under rakshasi nature.

Going to temple to show off to others, dancing on film songs in Ganesh utsav are all Tamasik practices.

We learn Gita and we know what is right or wrong and hence we will not do such actions. Bhagavān expects that we practice Bhakti with Śraddhā and nothing else matters to HIM.

Bhagavān said that HE thinks of such practices as the Tamasik persons and does not desire such actions.

Even the food that we consume and the yajna, dana and tapas also are of three types and classified as Satvik, Rajasik and tamasik. All of these can be classified into the three modes. Further Bhagavān gives us the details on the way in which these are classified.

In this verse the Satvik food is explained. Such food increases our Satvik qualities and keeps us healthy and stronger and disease free. It increases our happiness and peace and calmness.

• rasyāḥ, snigdhāḥ, sthirā hṛdyā-  juicy, succulent, nourishing, and naturally tasteful
  

Such foods give us long term benefits to the body and are looked at by the Satvik people. These include milk, ghee, and home cooked food. We must have such types of Satvik foods as much as possible. Generally we are all consuming more of Rajasik food and less of Satvik food. This can be reversed to have Satvik food every day and Rajasik now and then. This will make us healthy and happy.

Spicy, Salty, Sour, Dry and Hot food are considered Rajasik food.

When hungry the mind always looks for such tastes to quench the hunger. Maggi, noodles, pizza, momos, which are all Rajasik foods. The ingredients in these are not made of natural sources and affect our body negatively.

Such foods harm the digestive system and the pain and discomfort makes the person unhappy and. Such foods are harmful for the body and bring sorrow affecting health adversely.

Strong smelling, stale and old food stored in refrigerator food are half eaten food, meat are all Tamasik food. Consuming such bad quality food will make the person a Tamasik.

“Jaisa khaye anna waisa bane man”.

• Eating satvik food brings goodness and happiness is the person
  
• Eating Rajasik food makes the person in the mode of attachment and desires and brings some unhappiness
  
• Eating Tamasik food makes the person in the mode of laziness and ignorant, aggressive and leads to sorrow.
  

One must eat proper food and give it a thought before consuming whether it is good for the body and mind. In whatever we do we should adopt the Satvik way of worship and the satvik way of food and this makes us strong and happy.

• Question: Number of sloka in Chapter 16- ? Chapter 12? Chapter 15? Chapter 17?
  
• Options : 20, 24, 30, 28 - Match and give correct Answer.
  
• Answer:
  

Chapter 16 - 24 58% gave correct answers
Chapter 12 - 20 verses - 83% gave correct answers
Chapter 15 - 20 verses - 67% gave correct answers
Chapter 17 - 28 verses - 62% gave correct answers

The session ended with Harisankirthan

 Winner - Bhargavi Anand is the winner of Kaun nanega Jnanapati.

Question and answer:

Nishka ji

• Question: I like dancing Karate and studying and have faith in these. What would be the one in which I will have more Śraddhā? 
  
• Answer: One should pursue as per their desire and in which activity they are good and also in which they desire to go ahead. One has to think of the activity in which the strength lies in self and pursue. Others cannot decide for you.
  

• Question; What is Tamasik?
  
• Answer: Tamasik is being lethargic, and inactive. We are all waking up doing our activities, learning Gita and hence we are not Tamasik. We all may have a little of Tamasik nature but it is not pronounced in us unlike some who do not want to study and only want to be lazy and sleep all the time.
  

Mohit ji:

• Question: My father passed away on ekadashi morning when I was chanting Chapter 11? Will he get the moksha?
  
• Answer: There is no specific answer that can be given. However it is believed that if someone breathes the last while listening to Gita it is said to be an auspicious exit. This should not be contemplated too much as whatever was in his karma will happen. We will not be able to know about it.