Hari Om ,
We started off our Balvihar class with our regular Om chanting followed by a few bhajans .
We continued our discussion on Swami Vivekananda and how a few of his quotes are relevant in our day to day life. We have asked a few kids to dwell deeper in a few of his life journeys and discuss with the class when we meet next. The topics are Swamiji's journey to America, his interactions with Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, and his meditation in Kanyakumari and his contemplation on India.
We then continued with the Mahabharata- The marriage of Vichhetraveerya with the two princesses is duly performed. They are extremely happy but fate strikes them and young Vicheetraveerya is found to suffer from a dreadful disease that no one can save him from, and he soon dies. Satyawati is saddened by the calamity that has befallen her and the fact that the Kuru clan does not have an heir. She finally summons Bhishma and beseeches him to continue the Kuru clan with the wives of Vicheetraveerya. Bhishma is unruffled by the preposterous suggestion and refuses to break his vow. Satyawati doesn't give up and implores him to break the oath as otherwise, it will be the end of the race. Bhishma, finally taking pity on her, asks her to think of a worthy Brahmin who can give them an heir. Satyawati tells Bhishma about how she had borne a son to Parashara before her marriage with Shantanu. This son is Vyaasa. Satyawati thinks of her son and Vyaasa appears before her. Satyawati tells him everything.
Vyaasa agrees to grant her heart's desire. He lays a condition wherein he says it is upto the wives to make him feel welcome and that they should not be scared of his dark complexion. Satyawati agrees to talk to the two princesses. It is a dark night and Ambika is in her room waiting for Vyaasa. His appearance is so terrible that she closes her eyes. In the morning, Vyaasa tells his mother that a strong and powerful son will be born to Ambika. But because she closed her eyes, the son will be born blind. Next , he goes to Ambaalika whose blood runs cold at the sight of Vyaasa. In the morning, he again tells his mother that a handsome and gentle natured son will be born, but he will be white and pale. Satyawati begs for forgiveness and asks him to visit Ambika once more. Vyaasa agrees and leaves Hastinapura. In due course, the two boys are born and are named as Dhirtarashtra and Pandu. Vyaasa again comes to the capital. But Ambika is filled with horror and decides to send her maid instead of herself meeting Vyaasa. The maid is very attentive to every wish of Vyaasa. In the morning, he tells his mother that a son will be born and that he will be the incarnation of Dharma. But he tells his mother that the maid will bear the best of his children. Satyawati is shocked but Vyaasa refuses to grant her any more favors and goes away to the Himalayas. This child is named Vidura.
Again Bhishma has to take up the task of bringing up the children and ruling the kingdom until Dhirtarashtra and Pandu come of age. He teaches them everything considered essential for Kshatriya princes. Dhirtarashtra is endowed with unusual strength. Pandu proves to be highly skilled in archery. Vidura is the wisest of them all. As Dhirtarashtra is blind, he cannot rule the kingdom. Pandu rules in his name, with Vidura assisting him. Once again, Bhishma has to look for brides for the young men. He selects Gandhari, the daughter of king Subala, as the bride for Dhirtarashtra. In the beginning the king is a little apprehensive as the groom is blind but Gamdhari assures her father that she has no objection in marrying the Kuru prince. Her next action is a great deed of selflessness. She is convinced that she should not be better than her lord in anything. She therefore gets a piece of silk and covers her eyes, refusing to see the world which her husband cannot see. The marriage is celebrated in Hastinapur, in the presence of her brother Shakuni. Following this marriage, Kunti, the adopted daughter of the king of Kuntibhoja, selects Pandu as a husband in a swayamvara. Maadri, the princess of the Madra Kingdom, also chooses Pandu as her husband in a swayamvara.
Kunti is the adopted daughter of Kuntibhoja. She is Vasudeva's (Krishna's father) sister. When she is a little girl, she impresses Sage Dhruvasa and he in turn teaches her a mantra by which she can invoke any God. The playful girl decides to test the mantra, invokes the Sun God and to her dismay and shock, is blessed with a baby boy born with kavacha (armor) and kundala (earrings). In desperation, she wraps the baby in a silk cloth and lets the baby float in the river with the hope that someone accepts the baby as their own.
After the three marriages, years go by as the Kuru dynasty conquers several kingdoms. Pandu and his wives decide to spend sometime in the forest. Pandu, by mistake shoots a male deer, who is actually a sage who has taken the form of a deer. The sage was embracing his wife and because Pandu committed a sin, the deer, in his human voice, curses Pandu that he shall die as well when he looks lovingly at his wife. This jolts Pandu and he renounces his material possessions and decides to live in the forest. As he now cannot sire children, he pleads with Kunti to use her mantra to beget children. On his instruction, she invokes the Lord of Dharma and Yudhishtra, the one who is ever truthful and just, is born. One year later, Vayu is invoked and Bheema, who is extremely strong, is born. That same day, Duryodhana is born to Gandhari. Hastinapur witnesses many ill omens on his birth and Dhirtarashtra is adviced to abandon the child, but he does not. Later on, Kunti invokes Indra and Arjuna, who is an excellent archer, is born. Kunti teaches the mantra to Madri, who invokes the Ashwini Kumars. Nakul and Sahadeva, who are adept in horse riding, religion, administration, astrology, axe fighting etc are then born. These are the 5 Pandavas. Duryodhana along with his 99 brothers and a sister are the Kauravas.
A few years pass by, and the young princes get their education from the Sages in the forest. One day, Pandu lovingly looks at Madri and is met with death. Madri also decides to jump into the fire as she considers herself to be blamed for Pandu' death. Following this, Kunti decides to go back to Hastinapura along with the boys.
After the Mahabharata, we practiced Geeta chanting. We did verse 3 and 4. Please use the below link for practice.
Our next Balvihar is on 1st November. Happy Navratri and may it be filled with happiness and good health for all!
Regards,
Rekha and Raji
