Converging Philosophies- The Constitutional Reading of The Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagvatgita stands as an eternal and universal scripture transcending the boundaries of religion, time and geography, whereas the Indian constitution is a secular, legal document, rooted in modern democratic principles. The Bhagwatgita and the Indian Constitution, may appear to belong to different millennia, originating in different historical and cultural contexts, they share several foundational similarities. The central research problem addresses how Geeta’s moral philosophy aligns with and enriches constitutional ideals, without violating its secular and legal character. The study adopts a doctrinal, comparative legal research methodology examining primary texts, selected constitutional provisions, philosophical insights from Gita, supported by legal commentaries, judicial references and constituent assembly debates. The research draws philosophical parallels between the core constitutional principles such as justice, equality, fundamental rights and duties and Gita’s teachings of karma, dharma, Nyaya, samata, sthitapradnyata and dharamanirpeksha . An effort has been made to understand the continuity and divergence between the two by studying how ancient doctrines were absorbed, reinterpreted or rejected in shaping the constitution of India and on the other hand how radical constitutional reforms have their subtle continuity with Gita’s jurisprudence.