Hari Om! Parents,
Balavihar class began with the class doing a deep breathing exercise and Shree Ram Jayaram chanting. After opening prayers, children volunteered to do Ganeshastavaha and Ganesha Pancharatnam.
Mahabharata
We covered the below episodes in today's class:
We continued with Virataparva today.
1. Prince Uttara Kumara to defend the South - After the Prince was convinced by Princess Uthara that, Brihannala could be his charioteer, he is excited and is in a hurry to go and fight with the Kauravas who were marching towards South of the Kingdom. As they near the battle ground, Arjuna is able to recognize each of them. He shows and introduces each one of them to the Prince - Bheeshmacharya, the uncrowned King of Hastinapur, Dhronacharya, his son Ashwattama, Kripacharya and Radheya.
2. Prince retreats - The Prince feels nervous seeing the strong army of Kauravas and tells Arjuna that they should withdraw. When Arjuna tries to convince, he just runs away from the chariot instead, not even caring about the loss of cattle or wealth or the Kingdom. Arjuna pursues him back, gives him the confidence and suggests that the Prince can ride the chariot and he will fight.
3. Kripacharya identifies Arjuna - Kripacharya who sees the Prince and the woman is able to clearly identify that the lady is none other than Arjuna. Though he regrets having told that loudly, he and Bheeshma discuss in code language and are relieved that there is no harm for the Pandavas now. According to some astrological calculations, the 13 years were already complete by this time. They feel Arjuna must have known this and this is why he must have come out in the open and have wanted to help the King too.
4. Ashwattama and Radheya get into an argument - When Kripacharya suggests not to fight against Arjuna as it would result in a big loss. A war should be fought only if is essential and in this situation it was not. Radheya taunts Kripacharya that brahmins are only good to give advise on charity and not war. Ashwattama retorts saying it was all by cheating that the Kauravas banished the Pandavas to the forest and took over the Kingdom. Bheeshma interferes and helps both reconcile and to confront the situation with unity since, Arjuna was already proceeding. The army divides into four, one to go back with Duryodana and defend the Kingdom, another to defend the cattle and take them safe to Hastinapur and the rest 2 led by the acharyas and Radheya and others to fight Arjuna.
5. The battle begins - Arjuna asks the Prince to steer the chariot towards the Sami tree to get his weapon, Gandiva. The prince is extremely amazed seeing the weapons. At this time Arjuna reveals his identity and the Prince feels extremely humbled and blessed that he is the first one to see Arjuna after his ajgnatha vaasa. Arjuna changes the banner to ape banner, blows the Devadutta conch, shoots two arrows at the feet of Dhrona and Bheeshmacharya as though to get their blessing. Arjuna tells the Prince that the special army formation must be as instructed by Bheeshma but he is able to fight through it with ease.
6. Arjuna chases Duryodana - Arjuna's only goal was to defeat Duryodana and avenge all the miseries that he had subjected the Pandavas to. After releasing all the cows, defeating Radheya and others, Arjuna followed Duryodana's chariot, the serpent banner. He mocks and warns Arjuna not to go back like a cowaard but to come and fight. They fight fiercely and Duryodana is beaten very badly.
7. Arjuna puts every body in a trance - Instead of killing the Kaurava army and his gurus and relatives, he puts everybody in a trance and asks Uttaram Kumara to bring their robes and jewellery. Symbolically, the Kauravas had their honor stripped off and the Prince rejoice the victory.
Saints of India
Today, Raghav and Karthik made excellent presentations on Saints. Raghav shared a presentation on Saint Surdas and Kathik presented on Bharatiya Teertha Swamiji.
Geeta Chanting
Shlokas 1 to 30 of Chapter 2 have already been covered through Swamiji's Gita chanting videos in class since the beginning of this year. Please encourage the kids to practise chapter 2 , shlokas 1-30 with Swamiji's recording.
Class material needed: notebook, pencil, Balavihar Handbook (Find the online version here : https://www.chinmayavrindavan.org/images/Documents/2020_CNJ_BVHandbook_Sep_04_20.pdf),
My Prayers book. Your child can also read from C Rajagopalachari's "Mahabharata" or Kamala Subramaniam's "Mahabharata". Both these books are available on Amazon.
Pranam
Shanthi and Rashmi
