Hari Om,
Here is a brief summary of class activities for Week 20, March 22, 2020.
This was our first online Balavihar session. With HIS grace, Gurudev's blessings, Swami Shantanandaji's blessings, the parent's cooperation, and our student's interest the class was conducted smoothly.
1. Started with OM chanting and opening Prayers.
2. We went over the few guidelines to be followed with our students to make the best of our learning time.
3. Quizzed the students by showing some pictures of scenes from Mahabharata till what was covered so far. The students enthusiastically participated narrating the incidents leading upto the scene depicted in the picture shown, identified the characters, and narrated what was happening in the scene.
4. After a quick recap of the Arjuna's Quest for Weapons till he accepted the Pashupatha astra, we continued with the story in Mahabharata:
- After handing over the Pashupatha astra, Lord Shiva asks Arjuna to proceed to the heaven and disappears. The Lokapalas- Lord Varuna, Lord Kubera, and Yama- God of Death appear, followed by Indra on his elephant Airavata, and all the devas descend on the peak of the great mountain and watched Arjuna. Yama tells Arjuna that in his previous incarnation Arjuna was Nara, The Great soul, and was reborn as a man to kill the danavas . Yama hands over the weapon, Danda, and the knowledge of its art of application and control. Lord Varuna gave the Varunapasha, the inescapable noose.Then Kubera, The Treasurer of the devas gave the powerful and burning Antardhana- which could burn and destroy the entire army of Duryodhana. After Arjuna received all these great weapons along with the knowledge of how to use them, Indra said - you have attained divinity and must proceed to Swargloka- the abode of the devas.There Arjuna will have to perform certain duties. Arjuna worshipped the Lokapalas and Lokapalas then left and went to their respective worlds.
Arjuna in Indraloka
- Indra's charioteer Matali comes to get Arjuna to the Indraloka and tells him that Lord Indra, Rishis, Apsaras, and Gandharvas are all waiting for Arjuna's arrival. Before getting on to the chariot, Arjuna purifies himself by a bath in the Ganga, repeated his customary prayers, and gratified his pitris -souls of forefathers, and prayed to King of Mountains - Mandara.
-When Arjuna reached the city of Indra - Amaravati, he was welcomed with flowers, and was greeted. Arjuna proceeded to pay his respects to Lord Indra, and was made to sit beside Lord Indra on his throne.The apsaras danced and sang to them, and after all the celebrations to welcome him, Arjuna proceeded to his palace. Arjuna continued to acquire knowledge of the great weapons for a while, and Indra gave away his favorite weapon Vajra to Arjuna.
-Lord Indra asked Arjuna to learn the Art of dance and music from Chitrasena, and the two became great friends. One day, Lord Indra convened a huge assembly, and the rudras, apsaras, yakshas, gandharvas, sages all came to attend this. During the performance, Arjuna looked at Urvashi and glanced at her beauty a little longer, seeing this Lord Indra asks Chitrasena to go and meet Urvashi, and ask her to wait upon Arjuna.
-Urvashi prepares herself for the visit, and sets out to Arjuna's palace. Upon seeing her at night, Arjuna got up to receive her with respect and closed his eyes in modesty and offered her worship. Hearing Arjuna speaking like this, Urvashi was raged and curses Arjuna to bide his time among women, unrespected and as a dancer, and that he shall be an eunuch.
-Having cursed Arjuna, Urvashi leaves, and Arjuna rushed to Chitrasena to narrate the whole incident. Chitrasena then narrated the happenings and curse to Lord Indra. Indra called upon Arjuna and said that Urvashi's curse will be for benefit to Arjuna during the thirteenth year of exile, when Arjuna has to be incognito. The spell cast by Urvashi will come to an end of the 13th year, and Arjuna will regain his manhood. Arjuna was relieved listening to this, and continues his learning.
5. Our students then took turns to chant the Bhagavat Geeta shlokas from 1 through 23.
6. We shared the Aarthi video, and our students joined in, followed by Pledge.
Our next class will also be online! The zoom link has been shared with the parents in the WhatsApp group.
Regards
Abhirami Shrinivas
Rekha Pai
