Ans. Gita is not a separate book by itself. It is a part of the Hindu epic “Maha Bhaarat” in which Dhritrashtra, the Kairav king, has asked questions (regarding the battle between his sons and their cousins, the Pandavas); and Sanjay, who is said to have the capability to know what was happening in the battle-field, at distance, has given the answers.
In these answers of Sanjay, are included the questions that Arjun, the hero of the epic, asked Lord Krishna and the answers he received. This portion is what is known as the ‘Gita’.
Gita teaches the philosophy of Karma, worship of Avtaaras, dialectics and criticism. In Sikhism, rituals do not have any place, Avtaar worship is prohibited and instead of dialectics meditation is recommended.
Bhai Gurdas, the Sikh savant has said:
“The dialectics of Gita, the questions and answers involved therein, are of not much value in Sikhism, because it is the conduct and values and not the dialectics alone that are considered important. Sikhism is the religion of service and meditation while Gita stresses on Avtaar worship.”
Dr. Kasumbhi says: “Guru Nanak did not preach the teachings of Gita. He did not depend on Gita because it concerns not the common people but people belonging to specific status, caste and clan. Those who consider Gita as their mother or the base of their thought process, they have ego and an urge for self glorification. Sikhism enjoins to forsake ego. This is the reason that there is no mention of Gita in Guru Granth Sahib.