Hari Om
Following is summary of Balavihar session on Sep 22, 2019
- Started the class with Meditation (2 mins), Guru Stotram
- Continue to learn – Ajam Nirvikalpam
- We learnt the story of Shantanu & Ganga and Birth of Devavrath as well Kuru Dynasty (family tree). Following is brief
- Shantanu was King of Hastinapuur. He was Wise, Caing and Justice loving.
- One day, Shantanu saw a beautiful woman on the banks of the river Ganges (Ganga) and asked her to marry him. She agreed but with one condition: that Shantanu would not ask any questions about her actions.
- They married and she later gave birth to a son. But she drowned the child. Shantanu could not ask her the reason, because of his promise, lest she would leave him. One by one, seven sons were born to them and were drowned by Ganga. W
- When Ganga was about to drown the eighth son, Shantanu, devastated, could not restrain himself and confronted her.
- Then she told him that their eight children were Eight Vasus who were cursed by Vasishtha to be born on earth as mortal humans however when they pacified him, he limited his curse and told them that they would be freed from this curse within a year of their birth as humans. So she released the seven of them from this life by drowning them all. However the Vasu Dyaus was cursed to live a long life and to never have a wife or have children. But the sage also gave a boon to him that he would be virtuous, conversant with all the holy scriptures and will be an obedient son to his father.
- Gangai mentioned to Shantanu that, she will take him to the heavens to train him properly for the King's throne and status. With these words she disappeared along with the child while Shantanu was struck with grief thinking about spending the rest of his life without her.
- We started to learn rich Indian philosophy, intellectual treasury and Saints. We narrated the story of Alexander, who wanted to take Saints from India after the War.
- When Alexander, the great came to India, he found the Indians to be brave and fearless. When he was ready to return to his country, he remembered that his people had asked him to bring a yogi, a saint from India. So, he went to forest to look for a yogi and he found one yogi sitting under a tree in a meditation (eyes closed)
- Alexander waited patiently until yogi came out of meditation. He requested yogi to come with him to Greece & he will give everything that yogi requests / needs. Yogi replied I need nothing, I have everything I need, I am very Happy.
- Alexander was not used to anyone saying no to him. He got upset and asked "Do you know who am I and whom are you talking to".
- The yogi replied "Sir, I know, whom I am talking to, I am taling to the slave of my slave. Besides you cannot kill me! You can kill my body"
- Alexander was shocked, he asked "How am I slave of your slave?" The yogi replied "I mastered the anger, Anger is my slave and see how easily you got anger!"
- Through this incident, Alexander realized that, the saints are backbond of India's strength.
Hari Om
CMTC - Vridavan Sevika and Sevak
(Pranjali & Harish)
