Commentary & Interpretation

The Bhagavad Gita has been interpreted by great minds across 1,500 years. Understanding the different traditions enriches your study. This is not about picking the 'right' one β€” it's about seeing the whole.

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Traditions
5 major philosophical traditions compared
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Teachers
9 major commentators profiled
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Comparisons
How traditions interpret key verses differently
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Methodology
How to read and use commentaries effectively

The Five Traditions

Advaita Vedanta
Adi Shankaracharya (788–820 CE)
Non-dualism β€” Atman IS Brahman. The apparent multiplicity of the world is Maya (illusion)....
Vishishtadvaita
Ramanujacharya (1017–1137 CE)
Qualified non-dualism β€” God (Brahman/Vishnu) is the whole, souls and matter are His body. ...
Dvaita Vedanta
Madhvacharya (1238–1317 CE)
Strict dualism β€” God (Vishnu) and souls are eternally, absolutely distinct. There are five...
Achintya Bhedabheda
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534 CE)
Inconceivable simultaneous difference and non-difference β€” the soul is both one with and d...
Neo-Vedanta / Modern
Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Paramahansa Yogananda (19th–20th CE)
Universal, experiential spirituality β€” all paths lead to the same truth. Karma yoga as act...

Major Teachers

AD
Adi Shankaracharya
788–820 CE Β· Advaita Vedanta
RA
Ramanujacharya
1017–1137 CE Β· Vishishtadvaita
MA
Madhvacharya
1238–1317 CE Β· Dvaita Vedanta
SW
Swami Vivekananda
1863–1902 CE Β· Neo-Vedanta / Modern
SR
Sri Aurobindo
1872–1950 CE Β· Neo-Vedanta / Modern
A.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
1896–1977 CE Β· Achintya Bhedabheda
SW
Swami Chinmayananda
1916–1993 CE Β· Advaita Vedanta
PA
Paramahansa Yogananda
1893–1952 CE Β· Neo-Vedanta / Modern
J.
J. Krishnamurti
1895–1986 CE Β· Independent