Dear parents,
Hari Om, Your children were taught the following material on Sunday November 4th, 2018.
Required Reading (Very IMPORTANT): Chapters 1 through 15 of the Mahabharatha by C. Rajagopalachari. Since the book is not available at the Chinmaya book store, it is available on amazon.com using the following link.
https://www.amazon.com/Mahabharata-C-Rajagopalachari/dp/8172763689/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542507264&sr=8-1&keywords=mahabharata+by+c.+rajagopalachari
In addition, please ask your relatives, friends (whose child/children attended 9thgrade Balavihar last year) to loan you a copy of the book. Or check your local library for a copy of the Mahabharata so that the children will be up to date with their reading. Please encourage them to watch Mahabharata videos, as an other resource.
Beginning of Class: Chanting Om three times and beginning Prayers:
My Vaacha: Children updated their "My Vaacha" sheet. Please remind the children to keep track of their Vaacha. This is one of the projects the 8thgraders are working on to keep track of their speech.
We taught the first seven verses of Geeta Dhyanam and verses 41 through 50 of Bhagavad Geeta chapter 18.
Below is the summary of November 4th, 2018 class, which was Deepawali/Diwali festival at that time (part of our Symbolism syllabus).
Deepavali is a three day festival, and in some parts of India it is a five day festival, which falls on the fifteenth day of Kartika masam (October or November).
Deepavali means a "a row of lights". Mother Lakshmi is worshipped on Dhanateras, the thirteenth day, the next day is Naraka-Chaturdashi when Narakasura, the demon was killed by Lord Krishna, and the fifteenth day is Deepavali.
There are many legends behind the celebration of Deepavali.
It is a festival that symbolizes the freedom from the suffering.
The significance of Narakachaturdasi:
Narakasura, who was the son of earth goddess, Bhudevi, prayed to Lord Vishnu, and got a boon that her son will be killed only by her. Narakasura, became very powerful and created havoc on earth and heaven. Lord Krishna, along with Satyabhama went on the mission of killing Narakasura. During the battle, Lord Krishna fainted, and Satyabhama, who was Bhudevi's incarnate, picked up the bow and arrow killed the demon. They released 16,000 princesses that were imprisoned by Narakasura. It is a celebration symbolizing our ego, which entraps(16,000) thought varieties, is killed and all thoughts get wedded to the Lord Krishna. The lamps of joy are lit with the Lord of our heart.
As per another legend, The day of Rama's return to Ayodhya is celebrated as Deepavali. Ayodhya means where there is no fight. So, it signifies the arrival of the Lord in our heart only when our heart becomes like Ayodhya.
The emergence of Lakshmi devi from the churning of the Milky ocean is also celebrated as Deepavali, as she is a fountain of fortune.
During the Deepavali festival to welcome the Lord, and Maha Lakshmi, people decorate their home with Rangoli and oil lamps. In the night people burst fireworks, symbolizing burning of old habits and mental impurities.
We then switched to Mahabharata!
In the Mahabharatha, we discussed the episode where King Shantanu while hunting near the River Yamuna meets Satyavati, the daughter of a fisherman. He is enamored by her and wants to marry her. However, her father said he would give her hand in marriage to the King provided his grandchild is crowned King of Hastinapura. Shantanu returns to Hastinapura dejected. When Devavrata finds out the reason for his father's despair, he meets with Satyavati's father and promises him that he would not make any claims to the throne. In addition, he vows to remain celibate. Hearing him take this vow, the Gods showered him with flower petals from the heavens and re-named him Bhisma (i.e.one took a terrible oath).
King Shantanu in return granted a boon to Bhisma, that of "Iccha Mrityu". He married Satyavati who begat him two sons Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Due to his elder brother's death, Vichitravirya is crowned King of Hastinapura and Bhisma becomes his mentor. When Vichitravirya reaches marriageable age, Bhisma goes to a Swayamvara for the three beautiful and accomplished daughters of King of Kashi. They were Amba, Ambika and Ambalika. Bhisma kidnaps the three princesses. However, Amba confides to Bhisma that she wanted to marry King Salva. Bhisma dutifully arranges for her to be escorted back to Salva. However, Salva rejects Amba. Amba returns to Hastinapura but Vichitravirya refuses to marry her. Amba requests to Bhisma to marry her. But because he has taken a vow to remain celibate he is unable to marry her. Amba is livid with anger and grief and seeks to avenge her wrongs by finding a Kshatriya who could kill Bhisma. She is unable to do so and she through great penance to Lord Subramanya, Sage Parasurama and finally to Lord Shiva she is told that she could seek her revenge in her next birth. She immediately immolates herself in a fire and is born as King Drupada's daughter. After a few years she discovers the garland of "never fading lotus flowers" given to her by Lord Subramanya in her previous birth and wears it. Her father Drupada fearing the wrath of Bhisma banishes her to the forest. There she becomes skilful in archery and weaponary and undergoes a transformation into a male named Shikandin.
Going back to Hastinapura, Vichitravirya inspite of his marriage to Ambika and Ambalika dies at a young age without any progeny. Satyavati calls upon her son Vyasa (through Sage Paraasara) to produce children through a relationship with her daughters-in-law. Ambika gives birth to Dhirtarashtra, Ambalika gives birth to Pandu. Ambika's their maid through a relationship with Vyasa produces Vidura. Pandu although pale and sickly is crowned king of Hastinapura because Dhirtarashtra was born blind. Vidura was called the "wise one" and was often called upon by Bhisma seeking advice.
Episode 1:Satyavati's father's conditions
The cause in this episode was that King Shantanu was enamored by Satyavati's beauty and because of his desire marries her and agrees to her father's conditions.
The effect is that the King and his sons through Satyavati did not enjoy a long life. This finally lead to the downfall of Hastinapura.
The Lessons we learnt are not to given to our desires. In addition, the King did not learn from his past mistake of marrying Ganga without thinking through. Secondly, one should not be enamored by external beauty!
Episode 2:Devavrata makes a terrible vow
The cause Devavrata due to his love for father makes the vow of being celibate and giving up any claim to the thron.
The effect is that the King grants Bhisma the gift of "Iccha Mrityu" i.e. Bhisma could choose the time and place of his death..
The Lessons we learnt are that we should serve our parents.
Pranaams,
Vyjayanti & Mekhala
