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Showing posts with label Gr 5 - Sunday PM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gr 5 - Sunday PM. Show all posts

Mar 14, 2021 - Grade 5 (Sunday PM)

Hari Om,

Following is summary of Balavihar session on "Mar 14, 2021 - Grade 5 (Sunday PM)"

We started the session with 2 minute silence followed by Guru Stotram, Ganesha Pancharatnam, Mahabharat story and Saints of India, Bhagavat Gita Chanting, Aarti and Pledge.

v       Kids started their presentations on Saints. Today’s presentation was on Ramana Maharshi. More on that below.

v       Practiced with Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 - Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d4EIe2V-Vc&list=PLwv-WSJSokEORu2iEsVanXQhQHOoiiQIy


Mahabharat 

Rajasuya Yagnam and Story of Jarasandha

·       Yudhishtra became the King of Indhraprastha.

·       One day, Sage Narada visited Indhraprastha and suggested to Yudhishtra that he should perform the Rajasuya Yagna.

·       Rajasuya Yagna was a sacrifice performed by ancient kings to be declared the King of Kings. Other kings attend it to coronate the king.

·       Yudhistra begged Krishna for advise and Krishna gave him a huge ‘Yes’.

·       Yudhishtra decided to undertake the yagna. The yagna required him to win all the other kingdoms either by friendship or war, including that of Jarasandha’s.

·       Who was Jarasandha?
Jarasandha was the son of Brihadratha, the King of Magadha. Brihadratha had two wives but he had no children. The king went to a Rishi who blessed him with a mango and asked him to give it to his wife so that a child will be born. Since the king had two wives, he cut the mango into two and gave them to his wives. As each wife ate only half the fruit, they gave birth to only half a child. The wives and the king were frightened seeing the lifeless piece of child and threw the pieces away. A Rakshashi named Jara, was hunting for food and saw the abandoned pieces. She lifted the pieces in her hand and put them together. At once the two pieces joined together and came to life. Jara took the child to the king. The King was very happy and accepted the child as his son and named him Jarasandha.

      By birth, the child had the power to join together if he was torn to two pieces. Jarasandha grew up into a valiant warrior. Once he ascended the throne, he wanted to expand his kingdom. He captured many kings and jailed them, but could never win Kamsa. So, he married off his daughter to Kamsa and made him his son-in-law. After Krishna slayed Kamsa, Jarasandha vowed to avenge Kamsa’s death. Jarasandha attacked Mathura 17 times but lost all 17 times. When he came to attack Krishna the 18th time, Krishna was tired of these continuous battles, and decided to shift his Kingdom from Mathura to Dwaraka which was quite far from Magadha.

      Yudhishtra sent Krishna, Arjuna and Bheema to defeat Jarasandha. Krishna and team reached Magadha, challenged Jarasandha and asked him to choose his opponent for the duel. Jarasandha chose Bheema who he considered his equal. First they fought with maces. They fought so fiercely that the maces could bear it no more and blasted to pieces. They fought with bare hands. Bheema tore his opponent’s body into two but it kept joining back. Then Krishna had an idea. He took a stick, broke it into two and threw the stick topsy-turvy instead of keeping straight. Bheema understood Krishna and did as he signaled. He tore Jarasandha’s body and threw one straight and another upside down and the bodies never joined.

India Sacred Land - Saints – Ramana Maharshi

v       Birth Date : December 30th, 1879

v       Birth Place : Tiruchuzhi, Tamilnadu

v       Parents : Sundaram Iyer and Alagammal

v       Birth Name : Venkataraman and was later known as Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

v       Early Childhood : 

·       Venkataraman’s early childhood was quite normal. He joined others of his age in fun and frolic. When Venkataraman was about six years old he made boats out of old legal papers belonging to his father and floated them in water. When his father reprimanded him, the boy left home. After a long search the priest of the temple found the boy hiding behind the statue of the Divine Mother. Even as a child he sought solace in the Divine Presence when troubled by the world

·       Venkataraman completed elementary school in Tiruchuzhi and moved to Dindigul for further schooling. 

·       In February 1892, his father died and the family was broken up. Venkataraman and his elder brother went to live with their paternal uncle Subbier in Madurai, while the two younger children remained with the mother. Initially Venkataraman attended Scott’s Middle School and later joined American Mission High school

v       Transformation Movement

·       The turning point in Venkataraman’s life came spontaneously in mid-July 1896. One afternoon, for no apparent reason he was overwhelmed by a sudden, violent fear of death – he visualize as if was dead in his mind and question occurred to him – “If I could see my own death & rituals / ceremony, then who died?” Then pondered “Am I body or consiousness /life”

·       After that, he lost interest in academics, his teachers started to give him impositions and he found imposition is ridiculous. He droped the books, closed his eyes and sat for meditation. 

·       He left home in search of truth – he left Madurai (his uncle’s place) and reached Arunachalam – Lord of Fire, one of the five Element s. 

·       He surrendered himself to Lord Arunachala (in Thiruvannamalai)

·       He went underground cellar within the temple complex for his meditation, where he was absorbed in trance for 60 days, covered with ants and termites.

·       He was silent for upto 11 years, he spoke for the first time after 11 years in Virupaksha cave to initiate an earnest seeker Ganapati Muni in the inquiry of “Who am I”.

v       He passed away on April 24th, 1950

v       Key Messages of Ramana Maharshi’s life

·       Be Quiet

·       Keep silence as it is a source of great strength

·       Be thoughtful

·       Be Meditative

Hari Om

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

Harish and Priya

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Mar 7, 2021 - Grade 5 (Sunday PM)

Hari Om,

Following is summary of Balavihar session on "Mar 7, 2021 - Grade 5 (Sunday PM)"

We started the session with 2 minute silence followed by Guru Stotram, Ganesha Pancharatnam, Mahabharat story and Saints of India, Bhagavat Gita Chanting, Aarti and Pledge.

·       Kids started their presentations on Saints. Today’s presentation was on Bhakta Tukaram. More on that below.

·       Practiced with Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 - Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d4EIe2V-Vc&list=PLwv-WSJSokEORu2iEsVanXQhQHOoiiQIy

Mahabharat 

Marriage to Draupadi and Pandavas move to Indraprastha

The news of the marriage of Pandavas to Draupadi spread everywhere and also reached Hastinapur. Dhritarashtra, though a little disappointed with Duryodhana and other sons for not winning Draupadi’s hand was happy for the Pandavas. He made arrangements to welcome the Pandavas and Draupadi. He also consulted with Bheeshma and Dronacharya on giving half the kingdom to Pandavas to keep both the Pandavas and Kauravas satisfied. Bheeshma and Drona agreed to this proposal as it was the fairest thing to do.The Pandavas arrived at Hastinapur and were given a royal welcome. They sought the blessings of all the elders in the family.  Dhritarashtra, Bheeshma and Drona told them that they would separate the kingdom into two and give a half of it to the Pandavas, to which the Pandavas agreed.

The Pandavas asked the help of their cousin, Krishna to help set up their capital city. In the half of the kingdom given to Pandavas, there was a piece of land called Khadavaprastha surrounded by the Khandav forest. This forest was cursed by Lord Indra to be an infertile land and was inhabited by the Nagas (snakes) and Rakshasas.The forest was under the reign of the Naga ruler, Takshaka. At the same time, Lord Agni, the Fire God reached out to Krishna and Arjuna to help him devour the forest to satisfy his hunger. They agreed to help Agni since it would be a good chance for them to set up the capital city in that land. Since it was a land cursed by Indra, they were sure that Indra would try to protect the forest. Arjuna asked Agni to hence give him proper weapons to combat with Indra easily. Agni called Varuna, the Water-God and asked him to give Arjuna, the Gandiva – the most powerful bow and an inexhaustible quiver of arrows. A chariot was also given to Arjuna which always drove in top speed.

The Khandava forest was then burnt by wildfires from Agni. Most of the inhabitants [Nagas and Rakshasas] were killed.

Indra was angry with Arjuna and Krishna for helping Agni to devour the forest and engaged in a fight with them. He used many weapons and illusions during the fight, but he was no match for Arjuna’s might and the Gandiva. Indra, in the end was pleased with Arjuna and gave him the entire forest to be set up as their Capital City – duly named as Indraprastha! Arjuna was widely called as Gandivadhari (the Wielder of the Gandiva Bow) since this famous duel with Indra.

Krishna called Vishwakarma, the architect of the Devas to help the Pandavas construct Indraprastha. Vishwakarma, also called Maya also built the royal palace. The palace was famous for its grandeur and illusions. The floor of the palace was built with illusions and walls were encrusted with precious stones.

India Sacred Land – Saints – Bhakta Tukaram

·       Tukaram was born in 1608. Born in village called Dehu in Puna district in Maharastra, India. 

·       Tukaram came of a well-to-do family belonging to the tradesman class called Moray. 

·       They had accepted Vithoba of Pandharpur for worship and they had also constructed a temple of their own dedicated to Vithoba. 

·       The family members, since many generations, had also accepted the 'Wari' of Pandharpur, i.e., the annual pilgrimages to Pandharpur on the eleventh day of the month of Ashadh (June-July) and again on the eleventh day of the month of Kartik (October-November). The childhood of Tukaram was almost uneventful. 

·       He has 2 brother, one elder and other younger brother. His father was religious and devoted to Vithoba of Pandharpur. 

·       His father and his elder brother had no interest in family business.

·       He married to Rukmabai, but as she was of weak health, he was soon married again to Jijabai of Pune.

·       He lost his parents in 1625, when he was 17 years. He was shocked with loss of his parents for 4 years. 

·       He lost his brother and sister in-law shortly. Since that time, he lost interest in his daily activities and people around him (including family, friends, business people) started to take advantage of his situation. 

o       The debtors would not repay whatever due to him and the creditors began to press him for the money due to them. 

o       Tukaram tried his hand in several ventures of trade and always came back either with empty hands or with a loss. 

o       Once, on the way home, he was robbed of everything by confidence-tricksters who gave him gilt brass ornaments in exchange for all the money he had with him. 

o       On another occasion, returning home, he came across a poor Brahmin who was starving; he made the Brahmin very happy by giving him everything—the profit as well as the principal which his wife had borrowed. After those bitter experiences, Tukaram was not entrusted with anything valuable when he went far from home. 

o       Jijabai helped him again to set up a small shop in his own village, but she counted without Tukaram's state of mind. Tukaram used to sit in the shop doing Bhajan and being very kind and honest to his customers. Soon therefore, he became bankrupt

·       As a consequence of the many misfortunes, Tukaram was so much disgusted with life that he left his house and village and disappeared into the Bhamnath forest nearby. For fifteen days he stayed there concentrating on the Almighty without food, water or sleep. After the fifteenth day, he realised his Supreme Self and Vithoba visited him in His true form.

·       In the meantime, Tukaram's second wife was searching everywhere for her husband and when she found him at the hill, she brought him back to the house; but it was Tukaram different from the one who had left her a fortnight earlier. Now Tukaram had no love for his household, wife or relations. Immediately after he came back, he gathered all the promissory notes which were in the house, and all the account books, and threw them into the Indrayani river, in spite of the protests of his relatives. Then, with his own hands, he reconstructed the temple which had fallen into disrepair and began to spend his life—day and night—in Bhajan and Kirtan. His mind at that time was described by him thus: "O God! Kindly grant that I should never forget You. My body is made up of the five elements which I have to return with interest at the end. My conclusion is that there is no well-wisher for me other than You, O Pandhuranga!"

·       As a result of his whole-hearted devotion, Bhajan and Kirtan, Tukaram was rewarded with Guru Upadesh. The Guru visited him in a dream. Tukaram now began to spend his life more and more in devotional practices, study of the poems and works of Jnanadev, Namdev and Ekanath, Gita, Bhagavata, etc., with the result that slowly, but unconsciously, he began to make poems. Then one day, he had a dream in which Namdev appeared with Panduranga, woke him and advised him to make devotional songs. They would not hear of any excuses. Panduranga gave him the necessary inspiration and Namdev told him to complete the one hundred crores of poems which he had intended to make and of which he had completed ninety-four crores and forty lakhs, leaving a balance of five crores and sixty lakhs for Tukaram. 

·       Whenever Tukaram began to perform Bhajan or Kirtan, people began to flock to the place, and with very few exceptions, people of all classes began to consider him as a saint and treat him with respect.

·       Brahmins in the community who were jealous of Tukaram’s achievements, told him he is not from Bramhin community and not allowed to write songs/poem asking him to destroy all his poems. He had great reverence for Brahmins and he immediately brought out all the poems, tied a big stone round the bundle, and threw it into the river. 

·       Tukaram then sat on the bank of the river Indrayani in constant prayer to Panduranga to show him the correct path. For thirteen days he thus sat unmoved, without water, food or sleep. On the 14th day, one of Tukaram's followers, had a dream, saw Panduranga coming to him and telling him, "Go to the river; there you will find the poems of Tukaram floating on the surface intact." At once the man went to the river and brought to the bank the bundle of poems. Tukaram was moved by the mercy of God and delivered five poems blaming himself for doubting the word of God and for putting Him to so much trouble of having to preserve the poems in water for thirteen days. 

·       Key Messages of Tukaram’s life  

o       Share

o       Be Kind

o       Be Courteous

o       Be forgiving

Hari Om

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

Harish and Priya

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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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Dec 6, 2020 - Grade 5 (Sunday PM)

Following is summary of Balavihar session on "Dec 6, 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.

 

  • 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. Today we saw a presentation on Adi Shankara by a student.

 

Mahabharat 

 

Padndavas and Kauravas Childhood in Hastinapur – personality of each prince

  • 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

 

Debate with Mandana Misra

  • Sankara came to Mandana Mishra to debate, Mandana Mishra's wife Ubhayabharati became judge. Condition would be that, whoever wins the debate will become Guru for the other.
  • Debate went on for days, Sankara won the debate and Mandana Mishra became disciple of Sankara. Mandana Mishra became Suresvaracharya.

Kapalika

  • Shankara now moved to down south, reached Srisailam, there was Kapilika devotee of the Bhairavi stayed in Bhairava temple. He approached Shankara & disturbed him from him meditation and told him that he got the dream and he is chosen one of human sacrifice.
  • Shankara smiled and agreed to become human sacrifice, he agreed to not inform his disciples, agreed to come to Bhairava temple middle of night. Accordingly, middle of night Shankara quietly went.
  • Padmapada realized this and prayed to Narasimha bhagavan for protection.
  • Narasimha Bhagavan came to Shankara's rescue and snatched the sword from Kapilika's hand.

Hastamalaka

  • Shankara travelled in south many places like Harihara, Mookambika, Srivati and others.
  • He reached Srivati, where he met a Brahmin who was learned and pious, he had a son who was dumb, never use to play with anyone. Brahmin requested Shankara's help to cure.
  • Shankara asked the boy who are you? And why are you behaving like a lifeless? At that time, boy opened up and spoke about Spiritual Wisdom – knowledge of great spiritual wisdom.
  • At that time Shankara told Brahmin that, he is not an ordinary boy, asked his permission to send him with him.
  • Shankara named him Hastamalaka (knowledge of atman was in him like Amalaka fruit).

Hari Om

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

 

Harish and Priya

 

 

 

 

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