How Many Gitas Are There? An In-Depth Exploration of India’s Timeless Wisdom Songs

Introduction

When most people hear the word Gita, their mind immediately goes to the Bhagavad Gita, that eternal dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. While the Bhagavad Gita is indeed the crown jewel of Indian philosophy, it is far from the only Gita in existence.

In Sanskrit, Gita literally means “song.” In spiritual tradition, a Gita is a song of wisdom — a poetic dialogue imparting knowledge about dharma, devotion, renunciation, or liberation. Over centuries, sages, seers, and even divine figures have composed such “songs” across the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Epics, and later philosophical texts.

Scholars estimate that there are more than 300 Gitas preserved in Indian tradition. Some are well-known like the Ashtavakra Gita, Uddhava Gita, and Sita Gita, while many remain obscure and regional. Each Gita represents a different angle of truth — making the tradition of Gitas one of the richest in global philosophy.

This article explores how many Gitas there are, their classifications, the most significant examples, and why they remain relevant today.

What is a Gita?

The word Gita means “song,” but in spiritual literature, it is not a song in the ordinary sense. Instead, it has certain distinct features:

  1. Dialogical format – Almost every Gita is structured as a conversation between a teacher and a student, deity and devotee, or sage and king.
  2. Philosophical or devotional essence – They explain dharma (righteous duty), yoga (discipline), bhakti (devotion), jnana (knowledge), and moksha (liberation).
  3. Poetic style – Written in verse form, making them memorable and melodious.
  4. Contextual framework – Usually part of larger texts like the Mahabharata, Ramayana, or Puranas.

The Most Famous Gita: The Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita (Song of God) is the most celebrated of all. It is found in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata and consists of 700 shlokas divided into 18 chapters.

Its universal themes include:

  • Dharma and responsibility
  • The balance between action and renunciation
  • The paths of Bhakti, Jnana, and Karma Yoga
  • Liberation through surrender to the Divine

Because of its timeless wisdom, the Bhagavad Gita is often mistaken to be the only Gita. In truth, it is one of many, though certainly the most influential.

How Many Gitas Are There?

The question “How many Gitas are there?” has no single answer. Depending on how we count (major vs. minor, extant vs. fragmentary), the number ranges from about 60 well-documented Gitas to over 300 in wider tradition.

They appear across:

  • The Mahabharata
  • The Ramayana
  • Puranas (Bhagavata, Skanda, Kurma, Devi Bhagavata, etc.)
  • Upanishads and Vedantic works
  • Independent philosophical treatises

Classifications of Gitas

To understand them better, Gitas can be grouped into categories.

1. Epic Gitas (Mahabharata and Ramayana)

  • Bhagavad Gita – Krishna’s teaching to Arjuna.
  • Anu Gita – Krishna reexplains philosophy to Arjuna after the war (Ashvamedhika Parva).
  • Vyadha Gita – A butcher teaches a Brahmin about dharma (Vana Parva).
  • Bhikshu Gita – The song of a renunciate (Shanti Parva).
  • Pingala Gita – A courtesan’s wisdom on detachment (Shanti Parva).
  • Sita Gita – Found in Ramayana traditions; Sita Mata expounds Vedantic truth and the path of devotion.

2. Upanishadic and Vedantic Gitas

  • Ashtavakra Gita – Dialogue between sage Ashtavakra and King Janaka, stressing non-duality.
  • Avadhuta Gita – Teachings of Dattatreya, extreme Advaita Vedanta.
  • Ribhu Gita – Found in the Shiva Rahasya, revered in Advaita circles.
  • Yoga Vasistha Gita – Philosophical teachings of Vasistha to Rama.

3. Puranic Gitas

  • Uddhava Gita – Krishna’s last teachings to Uddhava (Bhagavata Purana).
  • Hamsa Gita – Krishna in the form of a swan teaches Sanaka sages (Bhagavata Purana).
  • Kapila Gita – Sage Kapila instructs Devahuti (Bhagavata Purana).
  • Ishvara Gita – Teachings of Lord Shiva (Kurma Purana).
  • Shiva Gita – Dialogue between Rama and Shiva (Padma Purana).
  • Devi Gita – Teachings of the Divine Mother (Devi Bhagavata Purana).
  • Brahma Gita – From the Skanda Purana.
  • Guru Gita – Glorifying the role of the spiritual master (Skanda Purana).

4. Sectarian and Regional Gitas

  • Ram Gita – Rama’s teachings to Lakshmana.
  • Hanuman Gita – Hanuman expounds devotion and service.
  • Ganesha Gita – Self-realization through Ganesha’s wisdom.
  • Surya Gita – Teachings of the Sun God.
  • Tulsi Gita – A medieval bhakti text inspired by Tulsi Das’ devotion.

Spotlight on the Sita Gita

The Sita Gita deserves special attention because it represents the voice of the Divine Feminine in the Gita tradition.

  • In this text, Sita Devi imparts wisdom to seekers, stressing that devotion to Rama and detachment from worldly illusions is the path to liberation.
  • It combines bhakti (devotion) with jnana (knowledge) in a uniquely compassionate tone.
  • Sita emphasizes the temporary nature of material pleasures and the eternal reality of the soul.
  • Unlike the Bhagavad Gita, where Arjuna is in crisis on the battlefield, the Sita Gita emerges in the context of personal suffering and resilience — making it deeply relatable, especially for those undergoing trials in life.

The Sita Gita highlights that spiritual authority in India has never been confined to one gender — the Goddess herself teaches ultimate truth.

A Short List of Notable Gitas (25 Examples)

Here are 25 well-documented Gitas across traditions:

  1. Bhagavad Gita (Mahabharata)
  2. Anu Gita (Mahabharata)
  3. Vyadha Gita (Mahabharata)
  4. Bhikshu Gita (Mahabharata)
  5. Pingala Gita (Mahabharata)
  6. Sita Gita (Ramayana traditions)
  7. Ram Gita (Adhyatma Ramayana)
  8. Ashtavakra Gita (Vedantic)
  9. Avadhuta Gita (Vedantic)
  10. Ribhu Gita (Shiva Rahasya)
  11. Yoga Vasistha Gita (Vedantic)
  12. Uddhava Gita (Bhagavata Purana)
  13. Hamsa Gita (Bhagavata Purana)
  14. Kapila Gita (Bhagavata Purana)
  15. Ishvara Gita (Kurma Purana)
  16. Shiva Gita (Padma Purana)
  17. Ganesha Gita (Ganesha Purana)
  18. Devi Gita (Devi Bhagavata Purana)
  19. Brahma Gita (Skanda Purana)
  20. Guru Gita (Skanda Purana)
  21. Narada Gita (Narada Purana)
  22. Hanuman Gita (Agastya Samhita)
  23. Yama Gita (Vishnu Purana)
  24. Surya Gita (Samba Purana)
  25. Tulsi Gita (Bhakti tradition)

Thematic Diversity of Gitas

  • Philosophical – Ashtavakra Gita, Avadhuta Gita, Ribhu Gita.
  • Devotional – Uddhava Gita, Devi Gita, Sita Gita, Hanuman Gita.
  • Practical Dharma – Vyadha Gita, Bhikshu Gita.
  • Yoga-Oriented – Yoga Vasistha Gita, Shiva Gita.
  • Guru-Centric – Guru Gita, Narada Gita.

This diversity shows that the “Gita” format was a teaching device adaptable to multiple audiences: warriors, kings, monks, householders, women, and devotees alike.

Why So Many Gitas?

The proliferation of Gitas has cultural and spiritual reasons:

  1. Oral tradition – Verses were easy to memorize.
  2. Inclusivity – Different communities and sects adopted the Gita model.
  3. Prestige of the Bhagavad Gita – Later works borrowed the format to establish authority.
  4. Pluralism – Indian civilization valued multiple perspectives on truth.

Modern Relevance

Even in today’s world, the Gitas inspire:

  • Personal discipline – Lessons in self-mastery and detachment.
  • Leadership – Insights into dharma and responsibility.
  • Devotion – Paths of bhakti suited for the heart-centered seeker.
  • Philosophy – Profound non-dualistic thought resonating with global philosophy.

For instance, the Bhagavad Gita is taught in management schools, the Ashtavakra Gita attracts spiritual seekers of Advaita, and the Sita Gita empowers devotees to find strength in adversity.

Conclusion

So, how many Gitas are there? Tradition tells us there are hundreds—from 60 to 300+ depending on counting. Each one is a “song of wisdom,” offering a unique perspective on the eternal truths of existence.

  • The Bhagavad Gita remains the central pillar.
  • The Sita Gita offers the compassionate voice of the Divine Mother.
  • The Uddhava Gita, Ashtavakra Gita, and Avadhuta Gita each reflect distinct philosophies.
  • Countless others preserve regional, sectarian, and philosophical diversity.

Together, they show that Indian civilization never confined itself to a single scripture but wove a chorus of wisdom-songs, ensuring that every seeker — warrior, householder, monk, or devotee — could find a Gita suited to their journey.

The Gitas are not relics of the past but living dialogues that continue to guide humanity through the challenges of life, reminding us that truth can be sung in many voices, yet always harmonizes into the same eternal melody.

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