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Dec 13, 2020 - Grade 5 (Sunday PM)

Following is summary of Balavihar session on "Dec 13, 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, Aarti and Pledge.

 

  • 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)
        • Other characters – Drupad, Draupadi, Dhristadhumna, Dronacharya, Kripacharya, Kripi
    • Kingdom cards – Kashi, Hastinapur, Panchala

 

 

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

 

Mahabharat 

 

Gurus & Shishyas at Hastinapur

  • 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

 

Tokacharya

  • Sri Sankaracharya proceeded to Sringeri on thebanks of Tungabadra in Karnataka.
  • Sankara started Math (Missionary) in Srinigeri. He installed Goddess Sarada.
  • At this place new disciple Giri joined Sanakara as follower. He appeared little dull, but had great devotion toward his Guru Sankara.
  • One day class was about start on time, Giri was delayed in coming, Sankara wanted to wait, other disciples commented saying, Giri is dull, he would not understand, let us start the class.
  • At that time, Sanakara silently blessed Giri and in some minutes later, Giri entered singing the praise of Guru in 8 stanzas in Totaka meter. At that time all disciples were thunder stuck.
  • Giri became Tokatacharya

 

The passing away of Aryamba

  • One day Sankara felt a call from his mother, who was nearing her end and thinking of him
  • He came to Kaladi accompanied with Padmapada. He spoke to the mother and said, I am here, what is your heart desire, she asked him to sing glory of Bhagavan and reveal him to me.
  • He sang him of Lord Vishnu and Bhagavan Vishnu appeared in front of her, breathed her last peacefully.
  • Sanakara was sanayassin / month, he was not allowed to give last rights as per olden ritualistic tradition and no one wanted to help.
  • He made funeral pyre in the compound and performed the ceremony.

 

Second Tour

  • Sankara started travel again going from South to North for the second time.
  • Kashmir is one of the important places of mother worship. Mother Sarada is ever present in Kasmir.
  • There is temple with 4 gates dedicated to Sarada, in East, West, South and North. Only an all-knowing person can occupy the throne. The entrance to this will not be open to other. East, West and North gates were opened in the past, no one entered South gate. Sankara started to enter south gate, many sages, saints, tested him along the way, he debated and defeated them.
  • He finally entered the gate, about to take the throne, Mother Sarada appeared and asked him "That you are all knowning is an accepted fact. But to ascend the throne, one should not only be all knowing, but be also absolutely pure in the life", to that, Sankara replied, "From birth, I have committed no sin and I am pure". Hearing this, Mother was satisfied and Sri Sankara ascended the throne of Knowledge

 

Last Journey to Badrinath and Kedarnath

  • 4 Maths (Monsteries) and First Acharyas
    • Suresvaracharya – Sringeri
    • Hastamalaka – Dwaraka
    • Totakacharya – Badri
    • Padmapada – Puri

 

Key Messages / Values from Sanakaracharya

  • Be Pious
  • Be a Missionary
  • Be a Preserver
  • Be Courageous

 

 

Hari Om

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

 

Harish and Priya

 

 

 

 

 

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