Hari Om!
Dear parents,
Hope you all had a Pongal/Sankranti/Lorhi/Bihu celebration. Below is a quick summary of week 13 Balavihar session..
1/21/22 Class Update
We started the class with the opening prayers and likhita japa.
ShlokaChildren volunteered, took turns and sang Ganesh Panchaatnaam. We have also started with the Ganesha Pancharatnam.
Bhagavat Gita
Four students chanted the shlokas 43-46. This was recorded and sent for house points. Three other students volunteered to repeat after Swamiji for the new lesson.
Please note that we are learning part two of the Gita Chapter 2 this year, from our Swamiji. For Grade 5 (Partha group) assigned verses are 39-63 (Pg 22, Bala Vihar Handbook) .
Your child must use this YouTube Gita Playlist to practice pronunciation of the Gita correctly.
The Gita Chanting Yagna CNJ Regionals is on April 2, 2022.
Mahabharata
We did a recap of the story so far in Sabhaparva and continued with the below episodes of Mahabharata.
1. Rajasuya - After defeating Jaraasandha, Yudhistira wasa ready to begin the Rajasuya. Lord Krishna blessed him and went back to Dwaaraka. Vyasa was there to provide assistance to Yudhistira. The four brothers were sent in 4 directions to conquer and invite guests to the Rajasuya.
Arjunaa went up North and defeated Salva, the old and honorable Bhagadatta, the Trigartas. Soaked in the brilliance of the Meru mountain, visited the Gandhamadana mountain and returned to Indraprastha. Bhima went East and conquered Panchala, Mithila, Chedi ruled by Shishupala, Koshala, Girivraja and Magadha. Saahadeva conquered all the Kingdoms in the South . He defeated King Dantavakra, Srenimaan, Vinda, Anuvinda and Neela, the King of Mahishmati. He appointed Gatotkacha, his nephew to invite Vibheeshana , King of Lanka and also invited the Pandya King (Kingdom of Chitrangada, wife of Arjuna).
Nakula went westward, invited the Vrishnis at Dwaraka, Krishna, Balarama, Vasudeva and others. Then went to Hastinapur and invited each of his acharyas, uncles, aunts and cousins personally.
2. The guest of honor.
Bheeshma suggested that Yudhistira should choose Krishna as the guest of honor and worship him first. Nobody spoke but Shishupala laughed aloud and expressed his displeasure using harsh words. While Yudhistira tried to pacify him, Bheeshma ignored him and his anger completely. This agitated Shishupala more and he started to insult Bheeshma, his mother Ganga and Krishna with his derogatory comments. Bheeshma asks Bheema not to get agitated because he knew that Shishupala was destined to be killed by Krishna due to a prophecy.
3. The story of Shishupala
Shishupala was the son of Vasudeva's sister and he had 3 eyes and four arms when he was born. And it was ordained by Gods that when the baby was on the lap of his killer, those extra organs would disappear. And when Krishna and Balarama had gone to visit the baby Shishupala, it came true. Hence, the other part that Krishna would be the killer had to become true.
4. The Killing of Shishupala
Shishupala kept provoking Krishna and finally Krishna, having no choice, listed down all the wrongdoings of Shishupala to the people assembled and fought Shishupala.
Shishupaala was killed and a glow from his body united at the feet of Krishna. Krishna smiled as his promise to Jaya Vijaya was fulfilled and one of them was released from their human form.
5. Draupati's laughter - Thus the Rajasuya yagna came to a completion though it ended disastrously. Vyasa blessed Yudhishtira for conducting the Rajasuya and congratulated him on becoming the Lord of the earth. After all the guests were honored, everyone including Krishna took leave. The Kauravas stayed back and took a tour of the Maya Hall. But Durydana was caught in the illusion of the different features , got fooled and fell down in the water accidently and got drenched. Drraupati laughed at this and Duryodona could not contain the embarrassment.
6. The Sabha at Jayanta - Duryodana was very sad and extremely jealous of the affluence, power and prosperity of the Pandavas. Shakuni advised that they can destroy the Pandavas through deceit because they were too powerful. As per his plan they convinced Dhritarashtra to build a Halal and Jayanta, a suburb of Hastinapur to invite Yudhistira to gamble with the Kauravas. Shakuni promised Duryodana that with his skills he would make sure the Pandavas lost everything in gamble to Duryodana.
Activity
Saints
In today's class we learned about Lord Gautama Buddha.
Gautama Buddha was as prince Siddhartha in Nepal. At birth it was predicted that he would be a great saint. The King gave him only comforts and he had not seen any suffering in life. He was married and had a son. But one day saw a leper, old man, dead man and became a renunciate. His mind was full of questions, and he left the palace in search of Truth. After meditation for 49 days under a Bodhi tree he finally gained enlightenment. BFounded Buddhism, had many followers. Died at the age of 80.
He taught the 8 Fold Path to peace and happiness in life
The key values taught by him were:
Meditate,
Give up greed,
Hate no one,
Harm no one
Hari Om,
Shanthi and Rashmi