Top 10 Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita

a component of the scriptural trinity of Sanatan Dharma, contents of Bhagavad Gita are universal and non-sectarian. The literal meaning of ‘Bhagavad Gita’ is ‘Song of God’. Written in the form of a poem, Bhagavad Gita presents the principles of seemingly complex metaphysical science in the simplest form possible. For millennia, it has inspired millions of saints, leaders, scientists, philosophers and ordinary people worldwide. Listed below are the top 10 lessons from the Bhagavad Gita.

10. The body is temporary – soul is permanent:

Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita compares the human body to a piece of cloth. A person should identify not with the body but the real Self within. One should not grieve for growing old or having a disease that cannot be cured. Just as worn out clothes are replaced by the new ones, the soul of a person acquires a new body. Identification with the Self instead of the body helps a seeker to be detached from the limitations of the human body.




9. Anger causes delusion – be calm:

It is due to anger that a person becomes deluded. As soon as the delusion takes over, his mind loses the power of discrimination. Subsequently, the reasoning capabilities of a person are lost. A person, who cannot reason justly, is destined to be doomed. Thus, anger is the fundamental cause of all sorts of failures in a person’s life. It is one of the three main gates of hell, other two being greed and lust. One must try to sidetrack anger while keeping the mind at peace.




8. Be temperate in everything – avoid extremities in life:

In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says that a person is bound to fail in meditation if he does not strike a balance in his day to day activities. Eating too much or too less, for example, is not going to bring you any closer to God. Meditation can help a person overcome all sorrows but he must eat and sleep well, work daily and find time to enjoy recreational activities, too.




7. Wisdom becomes inaccessible due to selfish attitude
– open up:

Just as a mirror covered by dust does not reflect images of objects, wisdom, too, gets obscured by selfish attitude. A selfish person cannot perceive the truth as it is when tackling relationship issues in day to day life due to his nature. Whether a person wishes to gain material wealth, succeed in a profession or acquire spiritual wisdom, giving up personal agendas is absolutely necessary to wade through doubts and disappointments.




6. The Supreme Being is always with you – always:

Mere acceptance of this sublime truth can transform the life of a person. It is the Supreme Being which acts through every living being. Releasing oneself from worries and all other negative emotions is easy by surrendering oneself to the almighty. Since a human being is only an instrument in the hands of God, regretting the past or fearing the future is pointless. The natural harmony of mind and soul is restored by recognizing the Omnipresent.




5. Do not abstain from ‘action’ – it doesn’t help:

Running away from duties is not the way forward. Spiritual wisdom or eternal peace cannot be acquired by forsaking friends or family members. In fact, it is not even possible to refrain from activity while living in the materialistic world. It is therefore advisable to fulfill all duties with utmost dedication. Renouncing various physical actions without subduing the constantly wandering mind is useless.




4. Equanimity in Actions
– be free from the expectation of the outcome:

Most people end up doing a lot less than they’re capable of in their lives. It happens mostly due to the reason that they are either sedated by pleasure or pain. Every act of theirs stems from a wish to get rewards. If Steve Jobs, for example, did not just enjoy ‘working on unique designs and intuitive user experience’, he would have been far less successful. When a person is unaffected by potential success or failure, he is more likely to pour in all his energies in even small day to day actions.




3. Overcome desires – experience the stillness of mind:

All thoughts, feelings and desires take birth in the mind. Looking deep within one’s own self is not possible without first stabilizing the mind. The mind can be really quite only when a person is free from the countless desires. Just as we can look at the bottom of the ocean only when there are no ripples on the surface, the secrets of mind, heart and soul can only be known when there are no desires on the surface. Stillness of mind can open doors to wisdom, peace and tranquility for anyone.




2. Do not doubt:

Doubts in the self or an ‘absolute truth’ is the main reason why billions lead unhappy lives on the planet. According to Bhagavad Gita, a doubtful man cannot be at peace in this world or the next. It is important not to confuse this lesson with inquisitiveness which is an absolute necessity for a person to discover his own self. However, the habit of rejecting a philosophy, belief or truth told by a learned man is not productive at all.



1. Fear not:

What is the greatest fear of humans? Death, we all know it. Lord Krishna tells his friend and devotee Arjuna not to fear death at all. Death is merely a transitional phase. Death can only come to something which is not permanent; that which is real can never die. Whether a person is an ordinary citizen, a soldier or a leader, he must not fear of losing his life, position or wealth. Relationships, wealth and all other worldly objects are just temporary; they are tools to climb the ladder and realize the Self someday. It isn’t hard to guess how beautiful life would be if there is no fear at all.

amazing facts of Cricket

Call yourself a cricket super fan? Well, then how many of these amazing facts do you know?

1. Shahid Afridi used Sachin Tendulkar's bat to hit the fastest ever ODI century

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Shahid Afridi was flown in to play for the Pakistan team from West Indies to Nairobi in 1996 and didn't have a proper bat. That's when Waqar Younis gave 'Young Afridi' Sachin Tendulkar’s bat. Afridi hit 11 sixes and six boundaries with the bat and scored a 37-ball century against Sri Lanka which was the then fastest ODI century. The record, broken later by Corey Anderson (36 balls), now belongs to South Africa's AB de Villiers (31 balls). 

2. Chris Gayle is the only batsman to hit a six off the first ball of a Test match

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In the 137 years of Test cricket no cricketer has ever hit a six off the first ball of a Test match. Audacious Chris Gayle achieved this feat against Bangladesh in 2012 off debutant Sohag Gazi.

3. Abbas Ali Baig was the first Indian cricketer to be kissed during a Test match

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When Abbas Ali Baig reached a half-century in the third Test match against Australia at the Brabourne Stadium in 1960, a pretty young girl ran all the way from the North Stand to greet the batsman. She kissed Baig on his cheek.

4. Vinod Kambli's Test match average is better than his childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar


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Vinod Kambli played only 17 Test matches which included two back to back double tons. Kambli’s Test average is 54.20 while his childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar averages 53.78 after 200 Tests.

5. Sunil Gavaskar was out off the first ball of a Test match thrice in his career

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Sunil Gavaskar was the first batsman to reach 10,000 Test runs and he ended his career scoring 34 Test centuries. But did you know he was out three times off the first ball of a Test? The bowlers to dismiss him were: Geoff Arnold (Edgbaston, 1974), Malcolm Marshall (Kolkata, 1984) and Imran Khan (Jaipur, 1987). 

6. ML Jaisimha and Ravi Shastri are the only Indians to bat on all five days of a Test


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7. The only cricketer to play Test cricket for India and England is Saif Ali Khan’s grandfather, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi


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8. Lala Amarnath is the only bowler to dismiss Don Bradman hit wicket in Test cricket


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This happened in the 1948 Brisbane Test.

9. There's an uncanny similarity between the Indo-Pak match at the Australasia Cup of 1986 and Asia Cup 2014


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10. India won the 1983 World Cup and won their first ever Test at Lord’s three years later in 1986.

India won their second World Cup 28 years later in 2011 and remarkably won their second ever Test at Lord’s three years later in 2014.


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11. India is the only country to win the 60-Over, 50-Over and 20-Over World Cup


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12. Alec Stewart was born on 8-4-63 and he scored 8463 Test runs

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13. Asif Karim of Kenya has played International cricket and Davis Cup (Tennis) for his country

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14. Wilfred Rhodes of England played Test cricket till he was 52!

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15. Allan Border played 153 consecutive Test matches

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16. The only Indian Test cricketer to be knighted is Maharaja of Vizianagaram

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17. Australia beat England by 45 runs in the first ever cricket Test as well as the Centenary Test in 1977

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Australia beat England in the first ever Test match by 45 runs held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1877. Hundred years later the opposition were the same, the venue was the same and the result as well!

18. All four innings of a test on the same day


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The 2000 Lord's Test between England and West Indies saw all the four innings being played on the same day. This feat was repeated 11 years later in the famous Cape Town Test where South Africa bowled out Australia for 47.

19. There's only one person who witnessed Jim Laker and Anil Kumble taking 10 wickets in an innings


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As a 10-year-old Richard Stokes witnessed Jim Laker taking all 10 wickets in the 1956 Old Trafford Test against Australia. Forty-three years later he was in India watching the India vs Pakistan Test and saw Anil Kumble taking all the 10 wickets in an innings. These were the only two Tests Stokes has watched in his life. 

20. On the morning of 11/11/11 South Africa needed 111 runs to win at 11:11


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This coincidence occurred during the first Test between South Africa and Australia at Cape Town. At 11:11, on 11/11/11, South Africa were 125 for 1 needing a further 111 runs for a win. 

21. Peter Siddle is the only bowler to take a hat-trick on his birthday

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Peter Siddle remains the only bowler in international cricket to take a hat-trick on his birthday. This happened during the Brisbane Test against England on November 25, 2010.

22. India's Mohinder Amarnath is the only cricketer to be dismissed for handling the ball and obstructing the field


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23. West Indies' Leslie Hylton is the only cricketer to be hanged for murder

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24. Two Robin Singhs have played Test cricket for India and both never got to play after their debut Test


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Robin Singh - India's one-day specialist played one Test match in his career against Zimbabwe in 1998. His namesake Robin Singh junior was a fast bowler who played his only Test against New Zealand in 1999. 

25. Sachin Tendulkar played for Pakistan before India

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Can you imagine Sachin Tendulkar playing for Pakistan before India? This happened during a practice match between India and Pakistan at the Brabourne Stadium in 1987 where Tendulkar came on the field as a substitute fielder for Pakistan.

Top Ten Religions in the World

When we are talking about religions then a wave of thoughts like beliefs, view about the whole world in humanity, system of the followed religion culture and spirituality comes in our mind. In accordance with the Guinness Book of World Records, Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion by number of conversions every year so far.

 

 

Following is the list of most practiced religions in the world, probably Top Ten Religions in the World (with most population):

1.    CHRISTIANITY

 

·         FOUNDED:- Christianity began about 2000 years ago in what is now Israel.

·         FOUNDER:-Jesus of Nazareth, or Jesus Christ, “the Anointed One”, “The Messiah”.

·         WRITING HOME:-The Bible – Old and New Testaments. Adherents :: is estimated at about 2 billion.

·         CULTS:- Christianity is divided into three main sects: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant. Among Protestants there are over 20,000 denominations.

·         Currently Christianity is at the top practiced religion in the world

 

2.    ISLAM

 

·         FOUNDED:- Islam began about 1400 years ago in what is now Saudi Arabia.

·         FOUNDER:-THE Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

·         KEY SCRIPTURE:- THE QURAAN, the revealed scripture of Islam, and the Hadith, the teachings, sayings and life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

·         ADHERENTS:- One billion, mostly in the Middle East, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh,Africa, China and Eastern Europe. According to Guiness

3.    HINDUISM

 

·         FOUNDED:- Hinduism, the world’s oldest religion, has no beginning –predates written history.

·         FOUNDER:- Hinduism has no single founder.

·         MAJOR SCRIPTURES:- The Gita, Vedas, the Agamas and more.

·         ADHERENTS:- Almost one billion, mostly in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Indian Ocean, Africa, Europe and North and South.

·         CULTS:- There are four major denominations: Saivism, Saktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism.

 

4.    BUDDHISM

 

·         FOUNDED:- Buddhism began about 2500 years ago in India.

·         FOUNDER:- Gautama Siddhartha, the Buddha, or “Enlightened One.”

·         MAJOR SCRIPTURES:- The Tripitaka, Anguttara-Nikaya, Fhammapada, Sutta-Nipata, Samyutta-Nikaya and many others.

·         ADHERENTS:- More than 300 million.

·         CULTS:- Buddhism today is divided into three main sects: Theravada, or Hinayana (SriLanka, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia), Mahayana (China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea), and Vajrayana (Tibet, Mongolia and Japan).

 

5.    TAOISM

 

·         FOUNDED:- Taoism began about 2500 years ago in China.

·         FOUNDER:- Lao-Tzu, whom Confucius described as a dragon riding the wind and clouds.

·         KEY SCRIPTURE:- The Tao-te-Ching, or “Book of Reason and Virtue”, is among the shortest of all scriptures, containing only 5000 words. Also important are the sacred writings of Chiang-tsu.

·         ADHERENTS:- Estimated at 50 million, mostly in China and elsewhere in Asia.

·         CULTS:- Taoism is a highly mystical tradition, so there have been various interpretations and sects are many.

 

6.    CONFUCIANISM

 

·         FOUNDED:- Confucianism began about 2500 years ago in China.

·         FOUNDER:- The Supreme Sage K’ung-fu-tsu (Confucius) and Second Sage Meng-tsu (Mencius).

·         KEY SCRIPTURE:- The Philosophical Reviews, Doctrine of the Mean, Great Learning and Mencius book.

·         ADHERENTS:- Approximately 350 million, mostly in China, Japan, Burma and Thailand.

·         CULTS:- There are no formal sects Confucianism. The followers are free to profess other religions and still be Confucianists.

 

7.    JAINISM

 

 

·         FOUNDED:- THE Jainism began about 2500 years ago in India.

·         FOUNDER:- Nataputra Vardhamana, known as Mahavira “Great Hero”.

·         PRICIPALES SCRIPTURES:- The Jain Agamas and Siddhantas.

·         ADHARENTES:- About 600 million, almost exclusively in Central and South India, especially in Mumbai.

·         CULTS:- There are two sects. The sect Digambara (“sky clad”) argues that a saint should own nothing, not even clothes, hence the practice of wearing only a loincloth. They believe that salvation in this birth is not possible for women. The sect Svetambara (“white robes”) disagree on that point.

 

8.    SHINTOISM

 

·         FOUNDED:- Shintoism in Japan began around 2500-3000 years ago.

·         FOUNDER :- Each of the thirteen ancient sects has its own founder.

·         KEY SCRIPTURE:-Kojiki (Record of Ancient Things), Nikongi (Chronicles of Japan), a later work, Yangishiki (Institutes Yengi period), and the Collection of 10,000 Leaves are the main works, but are not considered revealed scripture.

·         ADHERENTS:- About 30 million, mostly in Japan. Most are also Buddhists.

 

9.    JUDAISM

 

·         FOUNDED:- Judaism began about 3700 years ago in the Near East, mainly Canaan (now Israel) and Egypt.

·         FOUNDERS:- Abraham, who began the lineage, and Moses, who emancipated the enslaved Jewish tribes from Egypt.

·         HOME WRITING:- The Torah (the Old Testament and the Talmud).

·         ADHERENTS:- About 12 million worldwide, more than half in the United States.

·         CULTS :- The Jews are divided into sects: Orthodox, Conservative and Reform, with other regional and ethnic divisions.

 

10. SIKHISM

 

·         FOUNDED: - THE Sikhism began about 500 years ago in North India, today the nation of Pakistan.

·         FOUNDER:- Guru Nanak.

·         KEY SCRIPTURE:- The Adi Granth, revered as the present guru of belief.

·         ADHERENTS:- Estimated as nine million, primarily in the state of Punjab in India.

·         CULTS:- Khalsa Besides, there are Ram Raiyas in Uttar Pradesh and two groups with gurus in life – the Mandharis and Nirankaris.

 

These were the most preached and practiced Top Ten Religions in the World. Below is table showing population and percentage of each religion.

TOP TEN RELIGION IN THE WORLD BY POPULATION

Religion	Members	Percentage
Christianity	2.1 billion	33.0%
Islam	1.5 billion	21
Hinduism	900 million	14
Buddhism	376 million	6
Sikhism	23 million	0.36
Judaism	14 million	0.22
Bahaism	7 million	0.1
Confucianism	6.3 million	0.1
Jainism	4.2 million	0.1
Shintoism	4 million	0.0