Hari Om Parents,
We had a wonderful Balavihar class today.
- Opening prayers
Our class started with 3 Oms followed by 5 shlokas
1. Sahanaavavathu
2. Vakratunda Mahaakaaya
3. Saraswathi namastubhyam
4. Gururbrahma Gururvishnuh
5. Buddhir Balam
- Hanuman Chalisa
We learned first 3 verses from " Jaya Hanuman jnana guna saagara" till "Kumari nivaar sumati ke sangi". We share the audio clipping in whatsapp soon.
- Stories
Story #1: Indra's Vajra
During a major war, Indra couldn't defeat the rakshasas who were causing great harm to the people. When he approached Brahma ji for help, Lord Indra heard that the only weapon that can defeat rakshasas is, the one made from the backbone of the great saint Dadhichi. How would he get the bones of a living person? When he reluctantly approached saint Dadhichi, out of compassion and for the welfare of people Dadhichi agreed to sacrifice his body to make this powerful weapon Vajra.
Hanuman ji is called Bajarangi, because he is as strong as the thunderbolt/Vajra of Indra
Story#2: Curse or a Boon
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful apsara called Pumjisthala, who was very naughty. One day, she disturbed a sage who was meditating. Sage got very angry and cursed her to become a female monkey in her next life. Pumjisthala got very sad and fell at his feet and apologized. Sage said she could be free from the curse if she gave birth to Lord Shiva.
Pumjisthala was reborn as Anjana who was married to Kesari. He was called Kesari because he was as brave as a Lion. Anjana worshipped Lord Shiva for many years. Because of her intense tapas, Lord Shiva granted her wish to be born as her son.
At the same time, Ravana was creating havoc in the world and hence all the gods prayed to Lord Vishnu for help. Vishnu agreed to incarnate as Lord Rama. Since Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a human, all the gods who wanted to serve Him, assumed the form of monkeys/vanaras. Sugreeva was the son of Surya, Vali was the son of Indra. Shiva also wanted to serve Lord Rama. He placed his Tejas and brilliance on Sri Hanuman who was born to Anjana.
- Sri Hanuman is the son of Anjana, hence He is called Anjaniputra
- He is the son of Kesari, hence He is also referred to as Kesari Nandana
- Lord Vayu placed his power when Hanuman was born to Anjana, hence He is also called Pavanasuta.
When Pumjisthala got cursed, her good deeds and intense worship to Lord shiva turned the curse into a boon. She got a son like Hanuman ji.
Story#3: Stories related to Kumati (bad thoughts) & Sumati (good thoughts)
Once there was a man who was deeply jealous of his neighbor. One day a genie appeared in front of him and wanted to grant a wish. But the only condition was that his neighbor gets twice as much. Having a wicked thought (Kumati) of not wanting anything good for his neighbor, he asked the genie to take out one of his eyes. Hence his neighbor lost both his eyes.
Once there was a rich man. He was thinking how to please the Lord and thought of lighting a ghee lamp every day at a nearby temple.
There was this poor man living nearby. The road to his village was very dark. He thought of lighting a lamp everyday near the road, so that the passerby won't stumble and hurt themselves. The Lord was more pleased with the deeds of the poor man, since his lamp helped the maximum number of people, compared to Rich man's lamp which was not of much use in the already well lit temple.
Service of the world is service of the Lord. This is Sumati (good thoughts)
Sri Hanuman gives us good thoughts (Sumati) and eliminates evil thoughts (kumati)
- Bhajan
Swamini Radhikananda ji taught a wonderful Hanuman Bhajan today. We have sent the video on WhatsApp group. Here are the words.
The blessed son of Anjana, His name was Hanumantha
To find lost mother Seetha, He helped Sri Ramachandra
He carried the Drona mountain, giving Lakshmana his life again
To this great soul Hanuman, Tukaram does humble Pranam
- Bhagavath Geeta: We learnt the first verse of chapter 4. Here is the link for the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYZhDbZK1N0
- Announcements
- Please make it a habit to use the restroom before entering the class at 9:10am
- Hear the above stories from your own kids with the help of these Cue words: Vajra, Dadhichi, Bajarangi, Pumjisthala, Anjana, Shiva, Kumati, Sumati.
- Please Practice Hanuman Chalisa and Bhagavath Geetha with your kids.
- See you all next week Oct 1st.
Pranams
Ramya Belavadi & Meena Rajan.
