Musings 21

अर्जुन उवाच-

स्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्या
जगत् प्रहृष्यत्यनुरज्यते च।
रक्षाम्सि भीतानि दिशोद्रवन्ति
सर्वे नमस्यन्ति च सिद्धसङ्घाः॥
भगवद्गीता ११- ३६

arjuna uvāca-
sthāne hṛṣīkeśa tava prakīrtyā
jagat prahṛṣyatyanurajyate ca|
rakṣāmsi bhītāni diśodravanti
sarve namasyanti ca siddhasaṅghāḥ||
bhagavadgītā 11- 36

11-36 of Bhagavat Gita
arjuna uvāca
sthāne hṛṣīkeśa tava prakīrtyā
jagat prahṛṣyaty anurajyate ca
rakṣāḿsi bhītāni diśo dravanti
sarve namasyanti ca siddha-sańghāḥ

Arjuna tells the Blessed Lord after having seen the glorious vishvaroopam

Krishna the Hrisheekesha, as is befitting to your glory, the whole universe is exhilarated by the praise of your greatness and all enjoy that too.. The evil beings like Rakshasas and others are running for escape in various directions. The divine beings like Siddhaas are all offering pranams to you

this sloka is being used as a mantram to ward off evil spirits.. the mantramm is called Gita Thrishtup..
The context of the Sloka is that when the Lord showed his universal form, the evil spirits are bolting.. True..
But Neither Vyasa, nor Krishna or Arjuna or anyone even intendent this statement by Arjuna to be used as a chant by sorcerors to exorcise evil spirit..
Now half a dozen of priests sit around fire and chant this mantram thousands an offer twigs, rice, clarified butter etc to fire and people around are delirious with bhakti and all..

One instance of disuse of the great philosophical text and misuse of the same at the hands of avaricious and showy sorecerors and priests..
This is just one instant..
This mantram now is a very effective tools with Jolsyars and Vadhyars..
Of course it is their profession.. let them earn..
But others have a right to know the facts..