Hari Om! Parents,
Week 20 Class
Children wrote this Likhita Japa at the start of class - "Shri Krishna Sharanam Mama". Encourage your child to do likhita japa daily.
Shlokas
We started with Om chanting and then chanted Sahana vavatu, Vakratunda mahakaya, Saraswati namastubhyam, Guru brahma, Sarva mangala mangalye (ref. My Prayers book pg 39).
Vasudeva sutam Devam (ref. Bala Vihar Handbook pg 15, verse 5).
Mahabharata
The children did well on the Mahabharata review quiz today. The next prasanga before the actual war begins is the Bhagavad Gita by Lord Krishna to Arjuna. A few points to note:
- Kurukshetra (field of action), "Dharmayuddha" (right conduct), a war based on codes of military conduct
- The battlefield is the field of life (action); Right conduct will always be the victor!
- Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the gem of Mahabharata and means "the song of the divine"
- It is the most sacred text of the Hindus and has 18 chapters and 700 verses
- It is the dialogue of the Lord to a true devotee (true seeker) and reveals the mystery of life, true happiness, and freedom
- The Bhagavad Gita was revered and spread by our Pujya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda, through Gyana Yagnas for 40+ years!
- The Lord tells Arjuna, "The only friend, the only enemy is our own Mind. Mind is confused by desires and senses". "Practice and detach from the senses".
- The Lord tells Arjuna, "Control the senses. Do your Dharma, act!".
- "Do not grieve over the living or for the dead. The Self is utterly indestructible and eternal imperishable"
India Sacred Land
Topic: The Journey through India
Scenic Exploration - India's diverse geography and some scenic places. From the Kashmir Valley to Kerala's Backwaters, from Jaisalmer desert to the Girwar forests, Mount Abu to Munnar.
We explored famous historical landmarks in India like the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Taj Mahal, Hawa Mahal, Ajanta Caves, and Mysore Palace.
Activity: # TIL
The class watched a video about a few important historical and scenic places in India today.
Encourage your child to start a travel diary and keep a list of all the places they visit in India. They can use iPhone/ Android travel apps to keep track of the places as well.
Geeta Chanting
Reminder: Geeta Chanting Yagna registration is now open for all Bala Vihar students. Details were shared on the Parents WA Group. Registration closes on 4/13/24.
Grade 6 is group Partha, and is assigned verses 1-28 to memorize. We will review these verses in every class to help your child prepare for the Gita Chanting Yagna.
You can submit your child's chanting video and get House points for every 4 verses memorized. Email your videos to:
We concluded the session with Grade 6 leading the Aarti and Pledge recitation in the Prayer Hall. All the children did a great job!
Wish you all a fun and safe Bala Vihar Spring Break! The next session is on April 7th.
- Rashmi Kuroodi and Sangeetha Srikanth
Supplies needed for every class:- Bala Vihar Handbook, My Prayers book, the Junior Class Workbook Part 1 & 2, a notebook and pencils for likhita japa; everything in their Bala Vihar bag
*Reference books - Mahabharata by Rajagopalachari / Mahabharata by Kamala Subramaniam
