Bhagavad Gita Chanting Competition (GCC) 2025

  • Date: April 19, 2025 (Saturday), 1 pm - 5 pm
  • Location: Chinmaya Sundaram
  • Chapter: Karma-sannyāsa-Yogaḥ (Chapter 5 - The Yoga of True Renunciation)
Our 2025 Gita Chanting Competition will comprise 3 events: Chanting, Learn Gita Vocabulary Quiz and Reflective Writing. Both children and adults are invited to wholeheartedly participate in one or more events and offer their effort with devotion to Bhagawan and Pujya Gurudev.

Chanting Competition

Chanting Competition Format
✭ Participants in all groups are required to chant the following chapter opening:
om śrīparamātmane namaḥ. atha pañcamo'dhyāyaḥ. Karmasannyāsayogaḥ
✭ Partial Chapter Groups (Kirīṭi, Anagha, Arjuna, Bhārata, Pārtha)
  • Participants will chant all assigned verses from memory
  • Participants must conclude with the partial closing:
    • om tat sat. śrī kṛṣṇārpaṇamastu
✭ Full Chapter Groups (Medhāvi, Guḍākeśa, Dhanañjaya, Parantapa)
  • Participants will chant from memory
  • There will be 5 rounds per participant
  • After chanting the chapter opening, all participants will chant the first shloka (verse 5.1). Then, they will wait for the prompt for the first round
  • In each of the 5 rounds, the first quarter (pādaḥ) of a verse will be read out as a prompt to the participant. The participant then has to recall and chant the 3 verses starting with the prompted quarter. After chanting the 3 verses, the participant stops and waits for the prompt for the next round.
  • After all 5 rounds are completed in this manner, all participants must conclude with the full closing:
    om tat sat. iti śrīmadbhagavadgītāsu upaniṣatsu brahmavidyāyāṁ yogaśāstre śrīkṛṣṇārjunasaṁvāde karmasannyāsayogo nāma pañcamo'dhyāyaḥ. śrī kṛṣṇārpaṇamastu
* Reading Groups (Kaunteya, Mahābāho)
  • Participants will chant all assigned verses by reading
  • Participants must conclude with the full closing:
    • om tat sat. iti śrīmadbhagavadgītāsu upaniṣatsu brahmavidyāyāṁ yogaśāstre śrīkṛṣṇārjunasaṁvāde karmasannyāsayogo nāma pañcamo'dhyāyaḥ. śrī kṛṣṇārpaṇamastu

Learn Gita Vocabulary Quiz
(add-on event for Bala Vihar chanting participants only)

All chanting participants in Grades 1 – 12 attending Bala Vihar are strongly encouraged to take part in a vocabulary quiz as part of the Learn Gita initiative. The quiz will be based on the Vocabulary lists below with key words from Chapter 5 and administered in a written format at the same time as the chanting competition. Please note that only Bala Vihar children who are also participating in the chanting competition can take part in this event.

Reflective Writing

  • Open to adults and children in Grades 10-12 attending Bala Vihar
  • This is a standalone event that can be selected by itself; or it can be selected in addition to the chanting event.
  • Reflect on one or more of Chapter 5 verses 1-29 by studying the word meaning, verse meaning and the associated commentary. Then write a short passage in your own words explaining why you selected the specific verse(s), your insights and your key takeaways
  • Passage should not exceed 500 words
  • Submit your passage as a PDF attachment by April 13, 2025

COMPETITION REGISTRATION

Registration Pledge Amount
Individual: $20; Family: $35

During registration, you will be able to
  • Register each member of your family for any of the competition events
  • Pay for the pledge amount
Non-BV Families: Use the above Register link. Create a BestClass login account and proceed with the registration

Registration Deadline: March 25, 2025

Support: If you have any questions, please reach out to us by emailing gita.chant@chinmayaaustin.org

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