Department of Religious Studies

The Bhagavad Gita is sometimes referred to today as the “Bible” of Hinduism. This text has been favored by many Hindus (it was Gandhi’s favorite text), as well as many non-Hindus. Almost every major Hindu thinker has written a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. This text, however, was composed in a specific cultural context and expresses a very particular religious philosophy. This seminar involves a close reading and deep exploration of the Bhagavad Gita, examining it for both universal themes and distinctive cultural expressions. It also aims to teach students to generate and pursue textual questions, thereby empowering productive readings of religious texts. We will read and discuss every verse of the text in seminar format.