Hari Om Parents,
We started our class by writing Likhita Japa (writing the name of any Ishta devata god's name) and chanted Daily Prayers and Chapter5 of Bhagavad Gita all Shlokas All kids chanted most of the shlokas looking at it very well. Please help kids memorize the shlokas. We are so happy to hear that few of the students have registered for the Gita Yagna.
We discussed our upcoming annual play which we are having on June 6th. We have decided on Sacred Land of India, Saints as our theme. Please check and let us know if your child cannot participate.
We continued watching our Video on Mahabharata. We left our Mahabharata story right after Bakasura's killing.
While continuing on this we saw that Pandavas peacefully living in Ekachakra Nagari disguised as Brahmins.
Drupada who wanted to avenge the insult by Drona performed a yagna and out the fire came a young charming prince who was named as Dhrishtadyumna and was prophesied to be the reason to kill Drona.
While everyone was joyful to see this young prince emerge from the sacrificial fire, there came a beautiful dark skinned princess out of this sacrificial fire. She was called Krsna due to her dark skin and was also called Draupadi. Prophecy was that she would be the cause of the deaths of many princes and kings.
When Draupadi came of age to marry, Drupada arranged swayamvaram for her. There was a task for the suitors . whoever hits the eye of the fish which was on a rotating wheel looking at its shadow in water would be winning the hand of Draupadi. All the princes and kings failed even Duryodhana and Karna were not able to achieve it.
When everyone gave up and Drona was disappointed then this young man rose from the general crowd and took the bow, stringed it and shot in the eye of Fish looking at the shadow.
Everyone was overjoyed but were startled as it was commoner who won the hand of princess Draupadi. No one knew that this person was none other than Arjuna. Draupadi was married to Arjuna and they left the city of Panchal and reached Ekachakra Nagari. When they entered the home Yudhishthira announced to his mom : "Oh mom see what Arjuna has brought?" Kunti replied please share whatever it is equally.
Everyone was startled and Kunti later looked at the bride and apologized. Arjuna said that since it was his mothers orders everyone had to obey and they all married one after another.
Dhrishtadyumna who was following and watching all these went and told his father about what happened. Drupada then invited all the Pandavas and asked them to stay with him. He was worried about how and what if her daughter brought rift among Pandavas. Kunti was also worried on the same matter that her sons might get separated and Draupadi might be the reason. Just then Sage Narada visited them and said that in previous birth Draupadi did a lot of penance to Shiva and when asked boon she wished for husbands with each five different qualities and hence in this birth she got 5 husbands.
They requested a solution to sage Narada, then Narada addressing the shared marriage to Draupadi, advised that she spend one year with each brother in turn, a rule Yudhishthira implemented to ensure harmony. Whoever broke the rule would have to leave the country and go into exile for 12 years.
Dhritarashtra and Bheesma heard the news of the marriage of the Draupadi and come to know that Pandavas are alive. Bheesma advice Dhritarashtra to welcome and give some land to pandavas. Then it was decided that Pandavas would be given khandavaprastha. Pandavas gladly take the barren land and with help of Krishna, Vishwakarma builds a beautiful city just like Indra's palace and hence the place now gets to be called as Indraprastha.
Pandavas ruled the land and kingdom very well under guidance of Yudhisthira.
One day while Yudhishthira is with Draupadi , a brahmana approaches Arjuna to help him as someone stole his cattle, while needing his weapons, entered Yudhishthira's chamber while he was with Draupadi, thus breaking the pact.
Upholding the Pact: Despite pleas from his brother Yudhishthira, Arjuna insisted on fulfilling his part of the exile to maintain the righteousness of their actions. During this time he visited throughout the country ,heaven and acquired various skills, boons and also married Subhadra, sister of Krishna.
It was time for our Aarthi and hence we all headed to our Prayer hall.
We encourage parents to help kids to learn Chapter 5 of Bhagavad Gita along with other prayers taught in class. Good luck to all who are participating in Gita Yagna.
Few Links for learning to chant.
1. Ganesha Panchratnam (Page 30 in My Prayers).
1.1. Link to rendition with lyrics in English https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4lZCKxeJFE or
1.2 Link: https://youtu.be/Oyo0FWP9fB8?si=ZaYVDepNkX0YWShI (play at lower speeds for kids to follow lyrics and hear clearly
2. Nirvana Shatakam (Printouts were shared)
2.1 https://youtu.be/rKx7K13OvQ4?si=lM6g_ZtX0kdF5Sfo - Uninterrupted Line Guided Chant - YouTube
3. Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 (1-29 shlokas) is available in the 2024-25 year handbook. The link to Gita by our Swamiji is as below.
https://youtu.be/1RnjJPiI9y0?si=_IeXKqpWjrPoqNbO
Please make sure to send the below to every Balavihar class.
1. An empty notebook to write Likhitha jaapa and notes.
2. Two sharpened pencils.
3. Daily Prayers book.
4. Balavihar Handbook
With Regards,
Anuradha & Shivram
