THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH AND THE BHAGAVAD GITA

The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bhagavad Gita



The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bhagavad Gita

This paper will attempt to present a comparison of the texts of The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bhagavad Gita. The discussion that will be carried out in order to do so will incorporate an elaboration of the differences between the two texts as well as the differences between the two. Furthermore, the discussion will also highlight the conditions that might have been preset at the times when the texts were written and the affect that these conditions may have had on the text. The discussion will present an explanation of the manner in which the texts reflect upon the society that produced them and the ultimate goal of the authors in writing these texts. It is imperative to highlight in this regard that the discussion will essentially incorporate an approach directed towards the comparison and contrasting of the two texts.

The Bhagavad Gita, commonly known as the Gita, is essentially a scripture of Hindu origin. The Bhagavad Gita is said to have been produced as a result of the colloquy that was given at a time when the Kurukshetra War was underway. In fact, the colloquy took place between Arjuna and Sri Krishna and philosophers believe that the essential purpose of the Bhagavad Gita is to provide a context that is beyond the limits of religion and materialism. It is perhaps because of the same reason that the Bhagavad Gita is often referred to as the 'Manual for mankind'. Furthermore, praise for these characteristics of the Bhagavad Gita can be found amongst scholars across the world. The Bhagavad Gita constitutes no more than seven hundred verses. The Bhagavad Gita is also a component of the Mahabharata; and is taught by Krishna.

The Epic of Gilgamesh is epic poetry from Mesopotamia and is among the earliest known works of literature. Scholars believe that it originated as a series of Sumerian legends and poems about the protagonist of the story, Gilgamesh king of Uruk, which were fashioned into a longer Akkadian epic much later. The most complete version existing today is preserved on 12 clay tablets from the library collection of 7th-century BC Assyrian king Ashurbanipal. It was originally titled He who Saw the Deep (Sha naqba imuru) or Surpassing All Other Kings (Shutur eli sharri). The story revolves around a relationship between Gilgamesh (probably a real ruler in the late Early Dynastic II period ca. 27th century BC) and his close male companion, Enkidu. Enkidu is a wild man created by the gods as Gilgamesh's equal to distract him from oppressing the citizens of Uruk. Together they undertake dangerous quests that incur the displeasure of the gods. Firstly, they journey to the Cedar Mountain to defeat Humbaba, its monstrous guardian. Later they kill the Bull of Heaven that the goddess Ishtar has sent to punish Gilgamesh for spurning her advances.

The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bhagavad Gita are similar to ...