Chant Geeta | Enchant Krishna | Celebrate Chinmaya
Chapter 2: Verses 1-18 | The Yoga of Knowledge
MARCH 20, 2021 & MARCH 21, 2021
Registration Pledge Amount: Individual – $25; Family – $50
Registration is now closed for this event.
If you are not a member, please use the above Register link to create new account and proceed with Geeta Chanting Registration. To create a new account, select one of the three chapters that is closest to your home address. For any questions, please reach out to us by emailing.
Chinmayam
Silver Spring, MD
Chinmaya Somnath
Chantilly, VA
Frederick Chapter
Frederick, MD
General Questions
How to Sign Up | Participation Categories | Participation Tips | Practice Materials | Awards | Results
View Geeta Chanting Competitions Archive
The Bhagavad Geeta
Swami Chinmayananda breathed, lived and talked Bhagavad Geeta throughout His life. He carried the message of the Geeta to kindle the knowledge of the Self in millions worldwide! For that reason Srimad Bhagavad Geeta is the heart of Chinmaya Mission.
The Bhagavad Geeta is a manual for living, a book of direct experience. It Instructs on how to live a productive life, attaining fulfillment here and now.
Has the Bhagavad Geeta gone through YOU? For more comprehensive resources and invaluable inspiration, please visit www.theholygeeta.com!
Why Chant Geeta?
From the recitation of the Bhagavad Geeta arises the desire to know its meaning. Thence arises the Knowledge (of the Self). From this Knowledge arises fulfillment.
The study of the Geeta is the key to opening the vast treasure of God’s love for us. It starts with chanting, then study, and over time, assimilating (embracing) that same love wholeheartedly and completely.
Geeta Chanting allows one to begin this journey here and now, and opening themselves to the embrace of the infinite love.
Geeta Chanting Competition
Swami Dheerananda nurtured our Geeta Chanting Program from its initial beginning as a small competitive event with love and care. Geeta Chanting has now been institutionalized into Children Summer Camp curriculum and Weekly Bala Vihar Common Time agenda. As our Geeta Teacher, Swami Dheerananda has expanded participation categories to include reading and comprehension, to invite greater adult participation.
In keeping with His Guru’s mission, Swamiji is sowing the seed of Geeta Jnana in every CMWRC member, and through chanting and comprehension, making each of us more and more conscious of the knowledge of the Self.
Chapter 2: Verses 1-18 | The Yoga of Knowledge
Arjuna, a man of action, valor, and great accomplishment, entered the battlefield wholly motivated and fully prepared to achieve victory. Once he recognized that the path to victory required vanquishing those he loved and revered the most, he became fearful of sin and blood-stained victory. He collapses into a pitiable and sorrowful state of dejection – a state of despondency, feeling despair, confused and unwilling to carry on with his duties.
In the opening part of Chapter 2, the Yoga of Knowledge, Sanjaya paints a picture of Arjuna’s condition, followed by Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s opening message – arise and perform your duty. Arjuna enumerates the conflict in his mind – the reason for his despondency and seeks spiritual guidance from Bhagavan, by becoming his disciple.
To such a disciple, in the middle of the battlefield (of life), Bhagavan reveals the highest truths drawing from the Upanishads. Knowledge is the surest antidote to fear and ignorance.
The life principle, also known as supreme consciousness, is neither born, nor perishes; Everything else changes (death is nothing but change). That which changes is born, must perish, only to be born again.
Armed with this knowledge, the wise carry on with equipoise in the battlefield of life. Arjuna should arise too and carry on with his duties.
To the modern-day student, Swami Chinmayananda, follows the Guru Parampara of Sri Veda Vyasa (Badarayana) and Sri Adi Shankaracharya to reveal how we can arm ourselves with this understanding to be successful in our own endeavors. In gratitude to the Guru Parampara and to the one who conducted Geeta Jnana Yajna all around the world, we invoke ‘Om Sri Geeta Jnana Yajna Pracharakaya Namah!’
Chinmayam
Silver Spring, MD
Online via Zoom
March 20
1 pm – 5 pm
March 21
1 pm – 4 pm
Chinmaya Somnath
Chantilly, VA
Online via Zoom
March 20
1 pm – 5 pm
March 21
1 pm – 4 pm
Frederick Chapter
Frederick, MD
Online via Zoom
March 20
1 pm – 3 pm
March 21
4 pm – 6 pm
Competition Categories
We encourage all children to participate in the memory categories. The participation categories also include reading and comprehension for adult participation. By participating in chanting and comprehension, we will be more and more conscious of the knowledge of the Self.
Memory-Child
Open to Pre KG, KG & Grade 1 Children
Participants will chant by memory
- Introduction
- Chapter 2: Verses 1-8
- Conclusion
- Chapter 18: Verse 66
Memory
Open to All Adults & Children
Participants will chant by memory
- Introduction
- Chapter 2: Verses 1-18
- Conclusion
- Chapter 18: Verse 66
Memory and Comprehension
Open to All Adults & Children
Participants will chant by memory the verses listed below. The judges will then read the English meaning of a random verse, and the participant will need to recognize and chant by memory the relevant verse. This will be repeated for a total of 4 verses.
- Introduction
- Chapter 2: Verses 1-18
- Conclusion
- Chapter 18: Verse 66
Reading
Open to All Adults & Children
Participants will chant by reading
- Introduction
- Chapter 2: Verses 1-18
- Conclusion
- Chapter 18: Verse 66
Reading & Comprehension
Open to All Adults & Children
Participants will chant by reading the verses listed below. The judges will then read the English meaning of a random verse, and the participant will need to recognize and chant by reading the relevant verse. This will be repeated for a total of 4 verses.
- Introduction
- Chapter 2: Verses 1-18
- Conclusion
- Chapter 18: Verse 66
Writing (Reflection)
Open to All Adults & Children
This category can be selected by itself or in addition to any of the above categories.
Reflect on one or more of Chapter 2: Verses 1-18 by studying the word meanings, the shloka meaning and the associated commentary. Then, write a short passage in your own words on what impressed you or inspired you most about what you studied.
- Submit your passage in WORD as an ATTACHMENT via email to smrithi-editor@chinmayadc.org by March 31, 2021.
- Passage should not exceed 500 words
- All written submissions will be published in Chinmaya Smrithi Magazine.
- Passages exceeding 500 word count will be published only at the discretion of Chinmaya Smrithi editorial team in a later edition.
Practice Materials (Chapter 2 Verses 1-18)
We encourage all children to participate in the memory categories. The participation categories also include reading and comprehension for adult participation. By participating in chanting and comprehension, we will be more and more conscious of the knowledge of the Self.
Complete Audio
Audio by Verse (Swami Dheerananda with children)
Practice Video (Swami Dheerananda with children)
Tips for participation
Practice
Swami Dheerananda has gone extra lengths to provide many means of practice for all age groups: YouTube, audio, booklet. A simple tip is to listen to the audio with a booklet in hand and listen again and again. In a short time, you will become intimate with the Chapter.
Pronunciation
Sanskrit is the language for chanting the Geeta. Please pay close attention to Swamiji’s pronunciation as you practice.
Presentation
The ‘Presentation’ aspect of Geeta Chanting competition draws judges focus on two key attributes – Dress and Attitude.
- Dress: Preferably, the participants should wear customary Indian dress. Other attire is acceptable as long as it is appropriate for a spiritual/prayer activity.
- Attitude: Participants should adorn a respectful and prayerful attitude during the entire chanting session (entry, chanting and exit).
Format of the Competition
Each Participant chants in front of two judges in a closed room.
Comprehension & Writing
Read Swami Chinmayananda’s commentaries during your practice and preparation. As you grasp the meaning of what you are practicing, your intimacy with the Chapter will be even deeper. Swami Tejomayananda explained knowledge as unstirred sugar in a tea cup. The tea becomes sweet only after we stir the sugar thoroughly. Listening and chanting places the knowledge in our minds. Comprehension and writing begin the stirring process for growth.
Awards
All Children will receive Trophies based on the Competition Results. All Adults will receive a voucher or a Vedanta Book. Please Note: There will be a Drive-Thru Distribution of Geeta Chanting Competition Awards that was held Online in March 2021. Please follow the COVID-19 protocols, distribution timings, and Drive-Thru Instructions for your respective chapter. Click here for drive-thru instructions and award distribution information.
Drive Thru Instructions
• Please wear masks. Chapter Volunteers will wear masks and a Shield too.
• Please assist us by writing all the participants names (Children and Adults) on a piece of paper (large letters) and display on the windshield.
• Please follow the Drive Thru Path as directed by Volunteers
• Please avoid parking unless asked by Geeta Chanting Volunteers
• Please do not come out of your cars. Volunteers will come to your car.
Chinmayam
46 Norwood Road
Silver Spring, MD – 20905
Sunday, May 9
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Contact Email Address: geetachanting@chinmayam.org
Chinmaya Somnath
4350 Blue Spring Dr
Chantilly, VA – 20151
Sunday, May 9th
1 pm – 3 pm
Contact Email Address: geetachanting@chinmayasomnath.org
Frederick Chapter
Sunday, May 8th
Please coordinate the Awards pick up time and location by writing email to geetachanting@chinmayafrederick.org