About 2500 years ago, Siddhartha Gautama, a prince likely to become king of several northern states in India, stepped out of his palace to see the real world. He was shocked to learn that the world, contrary to what he had seen inside the palace, was full of suffering.

Whenever we are confronted with wicked, selfish or cruel people, we lament the fall of righteousness and yearn for the times when the world was a happier place. But what if we start digging the anatomy of these evil beings right from Hindu mythological history?

The holy text of the revered Bhavagad Gita has been the Hindus pride for ages now and still continues to be. But, with the advent of more scientific reasoning, many have developed illusions and misconceptions about its concepts and essence.

A religion is an orderly collection of beliefs, standpoints and cultures that lays down a narrative for the followers to lead a better and more enlightened life.

There have been many religious leaders who made a difference to their respective communities, and there are a few who have been questioned for the way they have carried out their roles as representatives of their religious beliefs.

Spirituality – the essence of all religions in the world – is about recognizing and, thereafter, uniting with the higher being or true self. The ‘spirit’ in the phrase “mind, body and spirit”, is not easily known to us as we constantly identify ourselves with the mind and body.

Although a component of the scriptural trinity of Sanatan Dharma, contents of Bhagavad Gita are universal and non-sectarian. The literal meaning of ‘Bhagavad Gita’ is ‘Song of God’.

Atheists are people who believe that there is no God, and also deny the existence of any supernatural power that guides mankind. But atheists, too, have faith. They vest their faith in human ability and accept only that, which is supported by scientific evidence.

From time immemorial, a vast majority of humans have been in need of guidance. Now, guidance did not come from some alien source but from a few humans who attained mastery over belief, thought and themselves. Since the spirit formed the core of their beliefs, they came to be known as spiritualists.

The world has been debating for centuries on the existence of God. Each of the two factions – believers and non-believers – has its own point of view. In between there are the agnostics – those who neither deny nor accept the existence of God.