Knowledge Bank

Is Bhagavad Gita an Upanishad?

Bhagavad Gita is called Smriti - Upanishad. It is a combination of both Smriti and Upanishad. Upnishads reveal the secrets of the universe. Smritis are rule books of religious life. Smritis do not give the reason behind a particular rule. The reason should be searched for in the Veda / Upanishad. Bhagavad Gita gives both the rule and its reason at one place. Hence it is called a Smriti - Upanishad.

Were the Kauravas Asuras?

The Pandavas were incarnations of Devas. After Gandharvas defeated Duryodhana and he decided to fast until death, the Asuras took him to Pathala. They told Duryodhana that his upper body was Shiva and his lower body was Parvathy. They got Duryodhana by doing tapas. Many Asuras had already possessed important Kauravas including Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa. The Asuras were controlling them. Narakasura's soul had possessed Karna. Using the bodies of the Kauravas, in fact, the Asuras were fighting Lord Krishna and the Devas who had taken birth as Pandavas. (Vana Parva,252)