Namaste, I am Iswari Murthy.

I have posted short summaries for each chapter of the Bhagavad Gita.  This goes with the ‘Learn to chant the Bhagavad Gita’   lessons 1-25 on You-tube.

Summaries are synthesized from many commentaries I have read and pondered over.   I have drawn mainly from: (1).Bhagavad Gita and its message by Sri Aurobindo, (2). Srimad Bhagavad Gita Rahasya by Lokamanya BalGangadhar Tialk,  (3). Jeevana Dharma Yoga by Sri. DV Gundappa (In Kannada), (4). Bhagavad Gita Saravichara by Sri. Hosakere Chidambaraiah (In Kannada), (5). The Teaching of Bhagavad Gita by Swami Dayananda Saraswathy, (6). Commentary on Bhagavad Gita by Swami Chinmayananda, (7). Commentary on the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Krishnananda,  and (8). Bhagavad Gita for daily living by Eknath Easwaran.

I studied Samskrit through college as a second language in Bengaluru, India.  I also got to enjoy the beauty of the language by getting additional lessons from my father Vidwan S.Subbaraya, a Samskrit professor.  I continued to keep the connection to the Samskrit language by regular lessons and discussions with my father, through the years of my doctoral studies in Biochemistry at the Indian Institute of Science.  During this time,  I learnt the Bhagavad Gita text from my father and it has captivated me ever since.

I resumed a closer look almost 20 years later after I retired early from Biochemistry research profession.   The lectures and lucid writings of Swami Dayanada Sarswathy of the Arsha Vidya Pitham at Saylorsburgh, PA, USA, on the Bhagavad Gita and many topics of Vedanta have been inspiring and has given a better insight.  I would like to make a special mention of the ‘Moments with oneself’ series, Kenopanishad, Mundakopanishad and Value of Values among Swami Dayanada Saraswathy’s writings.  The entire message of the Bhagavad Gita converged in my mind after I read the commentaries mentioned above, particularly, those of Sri.DV Gundappa, Sri Aurobindo and Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.  I have tried to synthesize the essence from all these commentaries.  I hope this helps the readers and youngsters in particular.  I look forward to comments, questions and discussions.

The support, encouragement and help of my long time friends, mentors and music teachers, Smt. Chandrakantha Courtney and Sri. David Courtney in producing the ‘Learn to Chant the Bhagavad Gita’ lesson videos have been invaluable.