Dear Parents,
Harih Om!
The following material was taught to your child on Sunday, October 24, 2021, in the 8th grade Sunday a.m. Bala Vihar class.
We request you to make sure that your child joins the zoom session for Bala Vihar on time, with webcam enabled and with Bala Vihar 2021-22 handbook open. Please understand that if your child is late, it is a distraction for the children and the teachers.
1. We began class with by chanting OM three times followed by prayers in praise of Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi and also Gurus.
2. Bhagavad Geeta Chanting: This year we are teaching verses 39 till the end of Chapter 2 which will commenced from the week of October 3rd. We taught the children verses 41 and 42 today. The children who individually chanted a verse each from this chapter were: Satvik (verses 39 and 40), Anvita (verse 41), Srividya (verse 41). Satvik, Vikram and Nithya each chanted verse 42 independently.
3.Geeta Dhyanam: The first four verses of Geeta Dhyanam were taught to the children. The following children individually chanted a verse each from Geeta Dhyanam. Hasini (verse 1), Nithya and Satvik (Verse 2), Yahsvi (Verses 3 & 4), Venkat, Shrey and Kartik (each chanted verse 4)
4.Symbolism of Goddess Lakshmi Devi was taught:
To gain noble qualities, all evil tendencies of the mind must be destroyed. We learnt last week that to get rid of all evil tendencies we pray to Durga Devi. To welcome good attributes, we pray to Lakshmi Devi. The story in the Bhaagavata Purana when the Devas and Asuras churn the Ocean of Milk, one by one many precious things emerge, and Mother Lakshmi Devi is believed to have emerged from that process. The emergence of Lakshmi Devi represents the creation and development of ethical and cultural values in one's bosom when a pure saatvik mind is churned by the process of reflection and contemplation upon the Higher Self.
For knowledge to dawn on us, we must prepare our mind. The mind must be pure and single pointed. A Pure mind is one that is rich in noble values. The purification of mind is through the worship of Mother Lakshmi. Mother Lakshmi is Suvarnahasta: meaning the hand that showers gold. Where there is Lakshmi there is prosperity. Many people worship Lakshmi Devi for material wealth. Real Wealth is the inner wealth of spiritual values that we should practice in our lives by which our minds become purified. Only when we have noble values, we can preserve material wealth and make good use of it.
According to Sage Shankaracharya, the six forms of wealth are Calmness of mind (sama), self-control (dama), self-withdrawal (Uparati), forbearance (Titiksha), faith (Sraddha), single pointedness (Samaadhana).These values need to be cultivated to attain wisdom. The goal is victory over mind. A victory such that we do not get disturbed by every change that takes place. This victory comes only when the mind is prepared, and this mental preparation is symbolized by Lakshmi Puja.
Goddess Lakshmi is seated on a Lotus. She holds a lotus which symbolizes the realization of Self. The Lotus is the symbol of truth, auspiciousness, and beauty (Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram). The Lord is also of the same nature as the Lotus. The Lotus blooms with the rising sun and closes at night. Our minds open and expand with the light of knowledge. The lotus grows in marshlands and stagnant water and remains untouched and untainted despite its surroundings. We too should strive to remain pure and beautiful within, despite the clammer and confusion outside. The lotus symbolizes the man of wisdom who remains ever joyous and unaffected by the world of sorrow and change. He who performs all actions totally detached is the one who has surrendered to his ego.
4. Story Of Mahabharata: continued
a. Santanu and Satyavati have two sons Chitrangadha and Vichitravirya. Chitrangada dies while fighting a Gandharva, whose name was also Chitrangada. When Vichitravirya grows up Bheesma goes to Kashiraja swayamvaram and brings Amba, Ambika and Ambalika to marry him. Bheesma lets go of Amba respectfully, after learning that she already had someone else in her heart.
b. Vichitravirya also dies without having any children, then with Vyasa's blessings Dhritharastra, a blind son, is born to Ambika ; Pandu is born to Ambalika and Vidura to a maid. Dhritharastra got married to Ghandhari, who also took a vow to be blind folded rest of her life. Kauravas where born to them. We discussed with students – Bheesma's actions & greatness of his character. He took a great vow to please his father & then never deviated from his word even when opportunities arouse for him to become the king. In fact Queen Satyavati herself pleads with him to become king after Vichitravirya dies without having any children – but Bheesma did not relent from his vow. He practiced supreme values and showed us how to live a life of noble values.
c. Kunti before marriage, with mantra taught by Sage Durvasa, when she invokes Surya Bhagawan gets blessed with Karna. Sacred of society she abandons him on a river. Kunti's actions were analyzed – clearly she did not have faith in the words of Sage Durvasa, if she did she would not have been tempted to test his mantra – and this cost her dearly throughout her life –she suffered personally & ultimately it was presence of Karna in Kauravas side that gave confidence to Duryodhana to wager the war with Pandavas. We should always have faith in scriptures and teachings of our Rishis.
d. Pandu marries Kunti and Madri. Again with Sage Durvasa's mantra they have Pandavas – Yudhisthira (Yama putra), Bheema (Vayu putra), Arjuna (Indra putra), Nakula & Sahadeva (Ashwinikumara putras). Pandu & Madri die in the forest as a consequence of a sage's curse.
e. Kunti & Pandavas go back to Hastinapura. Kauravas are always jealous of Pandavas and try to harm them in many ways - they try to kill Bheema by poisoning his food; but he escapes and gets even more strength! Kauravas actions were discussed – clearly they did not seem to believe in law of karma. They performed wicked / evil acts due to jealousy etc .. they eventually had to face consequences for their own wrong actions. We should never forget law of karma – as we sow; so we reap!!
Pranam,
Mekhala Girish
Devender Akula