Interpretation of Bhagavadgita's Ideas in the M. K. Gandhi's Philosophy

Religious-reformist, political and social-reformist interpretations of Bhagavadgita's ideas by M. K. Gandhi are presented in the article. The thinker continues the Indian Renaissance's tradition of unorthodox interpretation of scriptures, connected with the process of rethinking Indian religious and cultural legacy as a Response to the Western challenge (A. J. Toynbee). Gandhi's hermeneutics of sacred texts is shown as an attempt to discover original spiritual meaning of the scripture, which was lost or distorted by multitude of interpretations. Gandhi denies the brahman monopoly for interpretation of scriptures and gives heterodox and original treating of Bhagavadgita. It is expressed in the presenting of the poem's plot as the grand allegory, which symbolical depicts man existence in the world. The philosopher denies both historicity of the Kurukshetra combat and traditional Hindu avatara doctrine. According to Gandhi, deep non-violent meaning of Bhagavadgita is hidden behind description of war in the external part of the plot. Author of the article presents this idea as free from contradictory and proves such vision as in compliance with Gandhi's soteriological views. Author suggests, that the soteriological idea is the main plot of Gandhi's social-philosophical consideration. According to Gandhi's allegorical interpretations of the poem, the main value of Bhagavadgita's ideas is in the symbolical ground of human life vanity and offering paths to escape this limited empirical reality. Social and political development of country are comprehended by Gandhi in his comments on Bhagavadgita as both a condition and a natural result of society's movement to the main goal realization of Divine. According to this approach to the Gandhi's philosophy, his social-philosophical conception is presented as anti-Utopian in it's foundation and Gandhi himself as a realistic philosopher. Ideas in Gandhi's comments on Bhagavadgita are the organic part of his satyagraha conception. Its practical value are connected with his political and social-reformist activities. Gandhi treats to Bhagavadgita ideas for grounding his non-cooperation movement (in the beginning of 1920 ) and struggle against social unequality, un-touchability and oppression of women.

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