Śraddhā in the Bhagavad Gītā
The Divergent Perspectives of Two Classical and Two Modern Commentaries
Keywords:
Bhagavad Gītā, Śraddhā, Faith, Śaṅkara, Rāmānuja, Chinmayananda, Bhaktivedanta, Hindu Philosophy, Vaishnavism, DevotionAbstract
This article, Śraddhā in the Bhagavad Gītā: The Divergent Perspectives of Two Classical and Two Modern Commentaries by Nancy Ann Nayar, explores the concept of śraddhā (faith) as interpreted in the Bhagavad Gītā across classical and contemporary commentarial traditions. Nayar contrasts the views of classical commentators Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja with those of modern thinkers Swami Chinmayananda and A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, examining how each understands śraddhā's role in spiritual development. The study reveals how the notion of śraddhā evolves from early Vedic literature through Vedāntic traditions and into modern devotional contexts, reflecting shifts in philosophical and emotional emphasis.