Hari OM Parents,
1. House Sorting: Today was exciting day for the kids at balavihar – they were sorted into different houses – Arjuna Arrows, Bajarangi Bolts, Krishna Cowboys & Durga Daredevils (anyone remember Harry Potter !). Being in 8th grade they will be acting as Captains in their respective houses – meaning they will be guiding and actively participating along with younger kids in their house activities.
2. This year theme for the houses is Dhanam (Giving) – "giving more than what we take" as our pledge says. Keeping up with that theme they made napkins with cutlery today – to be given to Trenton Soup Kitchen. There are many other activities planned through- out the year – stay tuned … Teams & individuals are allocated points based on the activities, they get exciting prizes and house with the most points end of the year gets a big trophy. Today Bajrangi Bolts got most points followed by Arjuna Arrows !!!
3. For Diwali Seva project, if you can, please send either Mac &cheese, cereals, peanut butter or pasta (any one item, and regular size is fine, you don't have to go to Costco etc) with your child next week – food will be donated to needy.
4. We will be going over Mahabharata story briefly in next few classes.
5. Because of the above activities teaching time was limited, we continued Mahabharata story – Bheesma's vow how Santanu meets Satyavati, the fisherwomen and wants to marry her. But her father wants Satyavati's son to be the next king, which Santanu could not agree to as he wanted Devavrata (aka Bheesma) to be the next king. Devavrata finds out about this takes a vow that he will never marry and always be loyal to Hasthinapura throne – he is then conferred the title of Bheesma (one who took a terrible vow). Santanu gives him icchaa mrutyu boon .
6. Santanu and Satyavati have two sons Chitrangadha and Vichitravirya. Chitrangada dies while fighting a Gandharva, whose name was also Chitrangada. When Vichitravirya grows up Bheesma goes to Kashiraja swayamvaram and brings Amba, Ambika and Ambalika to marry him. Bheesma lets go of Amba respectfully, after learning that she already had someone else in her heart.
7. Vichitravirya also dies without having any children, then with Vyasa's blessings Dhritharastra, a blind son, is born to Ambika ; Pandu is born to Ambalika and Vidura to a maid. Dhritharastra got married to Ghandhari, who also took a vow to be blind folded rest of her life. Kauravas where born to them.
8. Kunti before marriage, with mantra taught by Sage Durvasa, when she invokes Surya Bhagawan gets blessed with Karna. Sacred of society she abandons him on a river.
9. Pandu marries Kunti and Madri. Again with Sage Durvasa's mantra they have Pandavas – Yudhisthira (Yama putra), Bheema (Vayu putra), Arjuna (Indra putra), Nakula & Sahadeva (Ashwinikumara putras). Pandu & Madri die in the forest as a consequence of a sage's curse.
10. Kunti & Pandavas go back to Hastinapura. Kauravas are always jealous of Pandavas and try to harm them in many ways - they try to kill Bheema by poisoning his food; but he escapes and gets more stronger!.
11. Next class – we will analyze the actions of the highlighted characters from point of view of law of Karma; cause & effect and lessons learned. This will the approach to Mahabharata story next few classes – we not focusing too much on details of story which was already done in prior grades.
Happy Deepavali to all !!!
Mekhala & Devender
