Dear Parents,
Harih Om!
The following material was taught to your child on Sunday, December 6, 2020 during Balavihar.
1. Beginning Prayers
2. The first four verses of Geeta Dhyanam were taught. Two children were asked to chant verses.
3. The first 10 verses of Bhagavad Geeta chapter 2 were taught.
4. We initially discussed what the word Dharma means. The word Dharma has its origin from the Samskrtam word "Dhr" which means to uphold. The inherent Dharma of the sun is to give warmth and light to the Earth so that life can be sustained on this planet. The inherent Dharma of sugar is sweetness. Similarly, the inherent Dharma of human beings is to realize the Divinity within each of us and attain moksha. We seek happiness in external things like a bigger house, a better paying job, name and fame etc. There is no harm in seeking all these things. Afterall Bhagavan has given created all of these things for our enjoyment. But one has to realize in time that all these things give temporary happiness. For permanent happiness one has to delve within. We should be aware of our responsibilities and follow our Dharma. If we lead a Dharmic life that likelihood of us being happy is guaranteed.
5. We continued with Mahabharata Story – Since the Kauravas refused to give a share of the Kingdom to the Pandavas the Mahabharatha war became inevitable. The war occurred in the battlefield of Kurukshetra which is in present day Haryana State in Northern India. Many kings and Princes from neighboring kingdoms including Dronacharya and Bheesma joined the Kauravas not because they wanted to but because of obligation to the throne of Hastinapura. Before the war began, Yudhisthira went to Bheeshma and Dronacharya to seek their blessings.
Arjuna was overwhelmed with sadness and anxiety seeing his cousins and revered grandfather and teacher on the opposite side. He is in a state of deep despair and is unable to lift his weapons against his family members. It is at this time that Lord Krishna relayed the Bhagavad Geeta to him and explained that he was not there to fight his cousins but was there to uphold Dharma. The Lord then explained to Arjuna the goal of human life and taught him the paths to achieve it.
During the first 9 days of the Mahabharata war Bheesma, who was the Commander in Chief of the Kaurava army dominated the battlefield and inflicted heavy damage to the Pandava army. In a fit of desperation, Yudhishthira went to Bheeshma goes to him and asked how he could be defeated. Bheesma out of his love for the Pandavas and their upright ways told them that if a woman stood in front of him, he would not wield his weapons. On the 10th day of the war, Arjuna decides to use Shikandin as his charioteer.
The story of Shikandin was discussed in detail. Shikhandin was in an earlier janma, Princess Amba who had been kidnapped by Bheeshma along with her sisters (Ambika and Ambalika) so that they could be married off to Satyavati's son Vichitraveerya. Amba however was in love with the King Salva of Saubala. Although the feelings of love were mutual, King Salva refused to accept Amba as wife because he had been defeated by Bheesma in a battle when the latter was escaping to Hastinapura with the three sisters. Vichitraveerya too refused to marry her. Amba now asked Bheesma to marry her as he was the reason for all these problems. However, since Bheesma had taken the oath of being a Brahmachari, he refused to marry her. She was filled with hatred and rage for Bheesma. She sought the help of many Kings but they were scared to help her and fight with Bheesma. Amba performed many austerities to get the grace of Lord Subramanya. He gave her a garland of never fading lotuses saying that the wearer of the garland would be the one to kill Bheeshma. Amba sought the help of every Kshatriya to accept the garland and champion her cause but to no avail. She then went to King Drupada who refused and so she hung the garland on the King Drupada's palace dejected and emotionally spent. She spent many years in the forest where she met Sage Parasurama who accepted her challenge. However, in spite of a grueling fight, Parasurama was defeated by Bheesma. Amba then went to the Himalayas where after rigorous austerities Lord Shiva appeared before her and said that in her next birth she would slay Bheesma. She made a pyre and plunged into it and was born as the daughter of King Drupada in her next life. One day the little daughter of King Drupada while playing outside sees the garland of never fading lotuses and puts it around her neck. King Drupada was in consternation at her audacity and sends her to the forest. In the forest, this daughter of Drupada gets transformed to half man/half woman known as Shikandin and who also is an excellent marksman.
And using Shikandin as a shield on the 10th day of the war, Arjuna is able to successfully wound Bheesma mortally. Dronacharya then lead the Kaurava army during the next 5 days. He planned the "Chakravyuha formation" of the army to defeat the Pandavas. Abhimanyu, Arjuna's son, entered the Chakravyuha – fought bravely, but gets killed in an unjust and deceitful manner by the Kauravas. Eventually Dhristadhumya kills Dronacharya on the 15th day. Next, Karna leads the Kaurava army for two days, and perishes at the hands of Arjuna. Dhritharastra's sons are eventually killed by Bhim.l All the great warriors on Kaurava side eventually die and finally Bhima kills Duryodhana on the 18th day of the battle. On the same night Ashwathama, Drona's son, kills all the children of Pandavas and Dhristhadhumya – while they were asleep. He thought he had killed the Pandavas. Aswathama even sent Brahmastra missile to destroy the progeny of Abhimanyu in his wife Uttara's womb. However, Lord Krishna protected the baby who later grew up to be Parikshith.
6. In spite of the victory, Yudhisthira was saddened by the colossal destruction of human life and suffering. Many people tried to to pacify him, but he remained dejected. Finally, Lord Krishna took him to the wounded Bheesma, who was resting on a bed of arrows created by Arjuna. Bhisma had the boon of "Iccha Mrityu" given by his father and he could choose the time of his death. He was waiting for the auspicious period of Uttarayanam to start to die. While lying on his death bed Bheesma, he taught Yudhisthira about a variety of topics which include but are not limited to how a king should rule, duties etc The Vishnu Sahasranamam prayer is was also sung by Bheesma during this time. Satisfied with what he learnt from Bheesma, Yudhisthira took leave of him and ruled his kingdom for 36 years.
7. We next discussed the various episodes with the children and summarized the lessons learned from each of these episodes.
- Episode 1: Yudhisthira goes to Dronacharya and Bheesma to seek their blessings: Reverence to elders. When we revere our elders, their blessings will shower upon us. Lesson learned: Revere elders and teachers.
- Episode 2: Grandfather's secret: After 9 days of intense fighting and inability to defeat Bheesma, Yudhisthira asks his grandfather as to who could defeat him. To this query, Bheesma reveals that he would not raise his weapons against a woman. The cause for giving away this secret is because of his love for Pandavas earned through their upright ways. Lesson learned: If we are moral then we will earn the good will and love of others.
- Episode 3: Be thy Instrument: On the 10th day of the war, Shikandin serves as a shield for Arjuna because of which Bheesma could not wield his weapons and allows his body to be pierced by Arjuna's arrows. Lessons Learned: Be an instrument in the Lord's hands. Live Dharmically like Bheeshma and Arjuna and accept whatever the Lord has given us as Prasaad.
- Episode 4: Gandhari's Curse: When all her sons are killed during the war, Gandhari laments and curses Lord Krishna as being the reason for the death of her sons. She curses Him that His Yadava clan and He would be annihilated. Even though Lord Krishna tried to explain to Gandhari that their wrong doings were the reason for their death, there was no consoling for Gandhari. Lessons Learned: We all pay a price for our actions. When we are too attached to somebody or something we are blinded by our love and unable to see their wrongdoing. Lord Krishna accepts even the curse of His devotees.
8. Yaksha Prashnas:
- Which is one step to Dharma: By being efficient, able, and competent, we do our duties properly. If we do our duties properly, we are following our Dharma.
- Which is one step to fame: by being charitable one achieves fame. By sharing our wealth, food with the less fortunate, we earn their good will and blessings and that is what fame is.
- Which is one step to heaven: By being truthful, one is one step closer to heaven. Speak the truth and speak what is pleasant. Do not speak if the truth is hurful or unpleasant. Do not speak the untruth even if it is pleasant. This is Sanatana Dharma.
- Which is one step to happiness? By being a person who has good character, one is happy. If we lead a moral life with good thoughts those lead to good actions and those make our character.
We then concluded class with concluding prayers and pledge.
Thank you!
Sitaram Kuchibhotla
And
Mekhala Girish (Grade 8 Sunday A.M. sevaks)
