Bhagavad-Gita

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Religious and philosophical Sanskrit poem, dating from around 300 BC, forming an episode in the sixth book of the Mahabharata, one of the two great Hindu epics. It is the supreme religious work of Hinduism, regarded as one of the smriti (sacred tradition).

The poem, set on the plain of the Upper Ganges, describes the fortunes and rivalries of the Kauravas and Pandavas, two families descended from King Bharata. It reveals the ethical values of ancient Indian society – in particular, individual responsibility, as well as the importance of loyalty and devotion to God. In the poem, Vishnu, one of the three aspects of the supreme being, shows himself as loving towards those who worship him; in his incarnation as Krishna, he becomes Arjuna's charioteer on the battlefield against the Kauravas.

Black reflects the African origins of the islanders. Red stands for the vigour of the people. White represents hope. Effective date: 27 February 1967. >>