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Nov 22, 2020 - Grade 5 (Sunday PM)

Following is summary of Balavihar session on " Nov 22, 2020 - Grade 5 (Sunday PM)"

 

We started the session with 2 minute silence followed by Guru Stotram, Ganesha Stavam, Mahabharat story and Saints of India - Biography of Adi Sankaracharya, Bhagavat Gita Chanting (slokas 5 and 6), Aarti and Pledge.

 

  • We started with quick recap of previous week sessions. Thank you to all children for actively participating.

 

  • Kids should have index cards for Mahabharat
    • Characters
        • Gen1 - Shantanu, Ganga devi, Satyavati, Parashara Muni
        • Gen2 - Bheesma Pitamaha, Chitrangada, Vichitravirya (Ambika, Ambalika), Vyaasa Maharaj
        • Gen3 – Dhrtarāshtra (Gandhari), Pandu (Kunti and Madri), Vidura
        • Gen4 – Pandavas (Yudhisthira, Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva) and Kauravas (Dhuryodana, Dhusasana, Dussala and 98 others)
    • Kingdom cards – Kashi, Hastinapur

 

 

  • Assigned children to participate in Saints of India project where they chose a Saint to research and present

 

Mahabharat 

 

Intro to Gen Four - Kauravas

  • The lineage of the House of Kuru must be continued. So Satyavati requests Bhisma to forego his vow. She says "it is your duty to protect the Kuru lineage from dying out".
  • Bhisma refuses as he as already caused a lot of harm to Amba and also disobeyed his guru Parashurama.
  • Bhisma has an idea –" A noble line, when dying out, can be revived by the son of a noble brahmana. " He then suggests that Satyavati can summon a worthy brahmana and they can request him to give an heir to the throne
  • Vyaasa Maharaj is summoned to the Hastinapur palace to bless Ambika & Ambalika with heirs
    • Ambika closes her eyes à Son born blind (Dhrtaraashtra)
    • Ambalika becomes white à Son born pale (Pandu)
    • Courageous maid is sent à Son born wise…Wisdom is bravery (Vidura)
  • Again Bhisma raises the boys as his own – he rules the kingdom as their regent
  • Pandu is made king as the eldest son is born blind.
  • Time comes for their marriage
  • Dhtarāshtra marries Princess Gāndhāri
  • Pandu marries Princess Prtha  (aka Kunti Devi) and Princess Mādri

India Sacred Land - Saints - Biography of Adi Sankaracharya

 

Meeting Kumarila Bhatta

  • Vedas and Vedanta are soul and heart of our religion. Provides deep insights on spiritual, dharmic living while describing purpose of life and need for realization.
  • Sankaracharya mastered Vedas, Vendantas, Bramha Sutras. He took upon responsibility to spread his learning on Advaita / Knowledge of Jnana (Jnana Yoga – discrimination and meditation as the means for realisation)
  • At the time (of Adi Sankaracharya's time) The Vedic rituals and sacrifices were revived and gained a position of honor.
  • Kumarila Bhatta was at the forefront of Vedic rituals and sacrifices. Shankara realized he had to defeat Kumarila Bhatta in a debate.
  • Shankara came to Kumarila Bhatta for debate in Prayag.
  • Upon arrival at Prayag, Sankaracharya came to know, Kumarila Bhatta wants to give up his life, as an act of expiation for betraying his teacher from whom he had learnt stealthily the tenets of Buddhism
  • Kumarila Mishra tried to learn Buddhism in disguise of Buddhist monk.
  • One day one of Buddhist monk criticized the Vedas and Kumarila Bhatta could not tolerate that and vehemently argued supporting the Vedas.
  • Fellow student recognized he is not Buddhist, rather follower of Hinduism and they attacked him.
  • Fellow Buddhists suspected and attacked him, threw him from mountain top.
  • Kumarila while coming down he chanted hymn  "If the Vedas are true and eternal, then I should be saved by their power".
  • He survived the jump, but, one of his eye got pierced by a sharp stone, he lost his eye, this happened as he doubted the Vedas.
  • When Shankara arrived to debate with Kumarila he was in last stages and he recommended him to debate with his disciple Mandana Mishra, who was also great scholar.

Hari Om

CMTC - Sunday PM Balavihar - Grade 5 - Sevak and Sevika.

 

Harish and Priya

 

 

 

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