No, the claim that Lord Shiva requested Lord Krishna to recite the Bhagavad Gita is not supported by the mainstream understanding of Hindu scriptures. In fact, most prominent Hindu texts portray the Gita as being directly spoken by Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
Here’s why the claim is generally not accepted:
- Mainstream texts: The Bhagavad Gita itself, along with major Hindu epics like the Mahabharata and the Puranas, depict Krishna as the sole speaker of the Gita. They don’t mention any involvement of Shiva in the discourse.
- Inconsistencies: The claim about Shiva requesting the Gita often appears in non-mainstream texts or personal interpretations. These interpretations can vary and sometimes contradict each other, lacking the consistency of established scriptures.
- Theological implications: The idea of Shiva requesting the Gita from Krishna raises theological questions about the nature and hierarchy of deities in Hinduism. Many Hindus believe in the oneness of Brahman, the ultimate reality, with different deities being manifestations or aspects of the same divine essence. In this view, attributing superiority or dependence between deities might not be considered accurate.
Therefore, while diverse interpretations and perspectives exist within Hinduism, the mainstream understanding places Krishna as the sole speaker of the Bhagavad Gita, without any direct involvement of Shiva in requesting its recitatio