Hari Om! Parents
Week 23 Bala Vihar class started with children writing 11 times likhita japa, 'Om Gam Ganapataye Namah'. Please do submit your child's likhita japa to BV Houses, the link is shared in the Parents WA Group.
Shlokas
Om chanting, Sahana vavatu (pg 8, My Prayers Book). The children took turns to chant all the verses of Sri Ganesha Stavah (pg 28, My Prayers book) and the Sri Ganesha Pancharatnam (pg 30, My Prayers book). Both these MP3 audios were shared with you in the Parents WhatsApp Group. Please use it so your child can practice correct pronunciation of the shlokas.
Bhagavad Gita
We are learning part two of the Gita Chapter 2 this year from our Swamiji. Grade 5 is the Partha Group and the assigned verses are 39-63 (Bala Vihar Handbook). Gita Chanting Yagna is done, however, we will continue to chant Verse 39 - 63 every class.(pg 22&23, Bala Vihar Handbook). Your child must use this YouTube Gita Playlist to practice pronunciation of the Gita correctly.
Mahabharata
After a quick recap, our Mahabharata story continued with Virata Parva. Susarma, king of Trigartas, steals Viratas cows. The helpless cowherds rush to tell the king and king Virata readies his mighty army to fight the Trigartas. Yudhistira, Bhimasena, Nakula and Sahadeva offer to fight for the king and he agrees. Faced with the mighty Trigartas army, they fight ferociously. When king Virata is captured by Susarma, they rush to his aid and rescue him. Then Bhimasena captures Susarma, but Yudhistira pardons him and he goes away humiliated. King Virata is very pleased with the Pandavas and thanks them for their help. They camp at the battlefield for the night.
The following day the Kaurava army attacked Matsya kingdom from the north and stole the cattle. The cowherds rushed to the palace and found only king Virata's young son, Uttara Kumara. The prince has no experience in the battlefield, but does not want to show his cowardice. He says that since his charioteer is dead, he cannot go to battle the Kaurava army. Draupadi hears this, tells Arjuna about it and they both decide to convince princess Uttara to suggest Arjuna as the charioteer. Draupadi tells Uttara that Brihannala was Arjuna's charioteer in many wars. The princess tells her brother that he could take Brihannala as his charioteer and the prince reluctantly agrees. Arjuna is summoned and the prince dresses him in armour for battle. Arjuna promises to bring silks of the defeated Kauravas as a gift to princess Uttara. Prince Uttara Kumara sets off to battle the Kauravas and Arjuna as Brihannala drives his chariot.
Soon they reach the edge of the battlefield and Arjuna shows prince Uttara Kumara all the fierce warriors leading the Kaurava army. Frightened at the sight of this mighty army, the prince begs Brihannala to turn back and return to the palace. When Arjuna tries to convince Uttara Kumara to do his kshatriya duty and fight, the prince jumps from the chariot and runs away. Arjuna immediately pursues and catches him. Putting him into the chariot, Brihannala commands the prince to drive the chariot to the Sami tree that had the Pandavas' weapons. Upon reaching the tree, Brihannala asks the prince to bring down the corpse hanging from it. Uttara Kumara does not want to touch a corpse, but Brihannala explains that all the mighty weapons of the Pandavas were hidden in it. The prince brings the corpse down and is amazed at the sight of Pandavas' weapons. Next Brihannala reveals himself as Arjuna to the surprise of Uttara Kumara. As proof Arjuna tells the prince his ten names and how he got them. The prince, convinced that Brihannala is none other than the great Arjuna, falls at his feet. He apologises for any ways he may have offended the Pandavas and asks Arjuna to protect his father's kingdom from the Kauravas. Arjuna raises Uttara Kumara's confidence and asks him to drive the chariot back to the battlefield so he may defeat the Kauravas. Arjuna takes up his mighty Gandiva bow and prepares to battle the Kaurava army. We paused the story here.
India, the Sacred Land
Since Ashrith was absent for his presentation , we discussed some values that we could learn from some of the great saints. Going forward all the children will get a chance to share saint stories.The children will keep a journal about how they used saint's values in their everyday life, and share it in class.
Class ended early and we attended assembly to watch the BV Grade program.
Reminder - May 6th is Guru Paduka Puja in-person at the Ashram. We hope to see all the children there. We will also perform our Grade 5 presentation on the stage!
- Rashmi Kuroodi and Shanthi Chidambaram
Materials needed for every class: notebook & pen for the likhita japa, My Prayers book for the shlokas, Bala Vihar Handbook for the Gita Chanting, aarti and pledge recitation.
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