Hari Om Parents,
Hope you and your families are doing well.
Here is a brief summary of our Bala Vihar class on 10/12/25:
1. Opening Prayers
We began class with our opening prayers:
Om Sahanāvavatu
Saraswati Namastubhyam
Guru Brahma
2. Review of Previous Class
We briefly reviewed last week's lesson — the story of King Shantanu and Ganga, the birth of Devavrat (Bheeshma), and the powerful vow he took when Shantanu married Satyavati, the fisherman's daughter.
3. Story Time
We continued with the Mahābhārata and learned about the next generation in the royal family.
After learning about King Shantanu, Ganga, and Bheeshma, we had a beautiful and thoughtful discussion about Amba — a key figure whose story sets the stage for many important events in the Mahābhārata.
Who was Amba?
Amba was the eldest daughter of the King of Kashi, and she had two younger sisters, Ambika and Ambalika.
One day, Bheeshma came to the swayamvara (princess choosing her husband) of the Kashi princesses. He took all three sisters by force to marry them to his half-brother Vichitraveerya — a practice that was sadly common in those times, though we now understand the importance of consent and fairness.
Amba's Dilemma
Amba was already in love with another king — King Shalva — and had hoped to marry him.
When Bheeshma learned of this, he respectfully allowed her to go back to Shalva. But unfortunately, King Shalva rejected her, saying she had already been taken away by another man. Amba was left heartbroken, humiliated, and angry.
She returned to Bheeshma and asked him to marry her, saying he was responsible for her fate. But Bheeshma, due to his vow of celibacy (Brahmacharya), could not agree.
Her Vow
Feeling betrayed and wronged by both men, Amba took a powerful vow — she would be the cause of Bheeshma's death.
Discussion
Was Amba right to feel angry?
Why did King Shalva refuse to marry Amba?
Do all princesses have to get married to the same king?
Queen Satyavati wanted to ensure the kingdom had heirs after the king passed away. Her sons were Chitrangada and Vichitraveerya.
From Vichitraveerya's lineage came three important figures:
Dhritarashtra (son of Ambika):
Born blind. Though strong, he could not become king because he couldn't see.Pandu (son of Ambalika):
Born pale and weak, but he grew up to be a just and capable king.Vidura (son of a maid):
Not a prince by birth, but known for being wise, fair, and always truthful.
4. Class Activity
We played a game of Charades using names of characters and situations from Mahābhārata.
The kids enjoyed it and it helped reinforce their learning in a fun way!
5. Geeta Chanting
We practiced chanting Chapter 15, Shlokas 7 and 8 of the Bhagavad Gita.
The children are gaining confidence in their pronunciation and rhythm — wonderful progress!
6. Saraswati Pooja
All the grades assembled in the prayer hall to do Saraswati Pooja. It was a wonderful feeling to see everyone doing the pooja together.
6. Pledge
We concluded with the Bala Vihar Pledge.
We encourage you to continue the conversation at home — even a small discussion about the story or values can make a big impact on your child's understanding and connection to our culture.
Warm regards,
Chitra & Rupa
