The Bhagavad Gita and the Attitude of Contemporary Ukrainian Krishna Devotees towards the Issue of War and Peace

Authors

Vitalii Matvieiev, Kyiv Institute of the National Guard of UkraineFollow
Olga Dobrodum, State University of Commerce and Economics, Kyiv, UkraineFollow
Mykola Palinchak, Uzhhorod National University, Uzhhorod, UkraineFollow
Olena Hudzenko, Volyn in-Service Teachers Training Institute, Lutsk, UkraineFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

Vitalii Matvieiev - ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9914-2233

Olga Dobrodum - ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7651-4946

Mykola Palinchak - ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9990-5314

Olena Hudzenko - ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2028-7697

Abstract

The article deals with the main philosophical and ethical provisions of the Bhagavad-Gita, a sacred text, which is a part of the Indian epic Mahabharata. A special place is given to the issues related to life, death, fulfillment of duty, i.e., following one’s dharma, which should result in spiritual perfection and liberation from samsara (the cycle of death and birth). The central element of the Bhagavad-Gita is the discussion of the problems of war and peace, presented through the dialog between Prince Arjuna and the god Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. The authors of the article analyze the philosophical reflections presented in the Bhagavad-Gita on how one can find tranquility and contentment in a world full of conflict by following true yoga. The article points out that war in the Bhagavad-Gita is seen as a necessary part of the universal process in which it is important for all to do their duty perfectly, following their dharma (duty), not being attached to the results of their actions, and doing everything as an offering to God. The publication also suggests that the entire Gita can be perceived as an allegory of human’s struggle with one’s own passions, attachments, illusions, and delusions.

The second part of the article is devoted to analyzing the attitude of modern Krishnaites to the problem of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Bhagavad-Gita as interpreted by the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is the most sacred book of modern Krishnas, so the main provisions of this work are basic for decision-making and behavior of ISKCON members. Proceeding from the fact that this organization is decentralized, the article analyzes different approaches to the problems of war and peace both among the Ukrainian Krishna community and among ISKCON members in general.

Recommended Citation

Matvieiev, Vitalii; Dobrodum, Olga; Palinchak, Mykola; and Hudzenko, Olena (2025) "The Bhagavad Gita and the Attitude of Contemporary Ukrainian Krishna Devotees towards the Issue of War and Peace," Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe: Vol. 45 : Iss. 6 , Article 11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55221/2693-2229.2667
Available at: https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/ree/vol45/iss6/11