Hari Om Parents,
Hope you and your families are doing well.
Here is a brief summary of our Bala Vihar class on 11/2/25:
1. Opening Prayers
We began our session with our regular opening prayers to invoke blessings, peace, and focus.The children chanted beautifully and settled into the class with devotion.
Om Sahanāvavatu
Saraswati Namastubhyam
Guru Brahma
2. Review of Previous Class
We revisited the Mahābhārata storyline, picking up from where we left off:
King Shantanu and Ganga
Marriage to Satyavati
Her sons:
Chitrangada – the eldest, who became king but passed away early
Vichitraveerya – who later attended a swayamvara
The three sisters: Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika
Their children:
Ambika's son: Dhritarashtra
Ambalika's son: Pandu
Maid's son: Vidura
We also discussed Kunti and the birth of Karna, emphasizing this part of the story.
3. Story Time: Karna, Parashurama, and the Spirit of Dāna (Selfless Giving)
We moved forward into the life of Karna, focusing on two powerful episodes:
Karna and Parashurama
Karna wanted to learn advanced warfare and archery, so he went to Parashuram, the greatest teacher of weapons. But Parashuram only taught Brahmins, and Karna—who was actually a Kshatriya by birth but raised as a charioteer's son—feared being rejected. So he lied and said he was a Brahmin.
Parashuram accepted him and trained him with great affection. Karna became an unmatched warrior.
One day, Parashuram was resting with his head on Karna's lap. A stinging insect bit Karna deeply, causing severe pain, but Karna didn't move, fearing he would disturb his guru. When Parashuram woke up and saw the blood, he realized Karna couldn't be a Brahmin—only a Kshatriya could endure such pain.
Feeling deceived, Parashuram cursed Karna that the knowledge of the Brahmastra would fail him when he needed it most. Heartbroken, Karna accepted the curse and left, always honoring his guru.
This curse later played a major role in the Mahabharata war.
The children listened with great interest as we explored:
How Karna trained under the great sage-warrior Parashurama
His dedication, humility, and courage
Karna Gives Away His Kavacha and Kundala
Karna was born with Kavach (divine armor) and Kundal (earrings) granted by his father Surya. These made him invincible.
Before the Kurukshetra war, Lord Indra (Arjuna's father) feared that Arjuna would not be able to defeat Karna. So he went to Karna in the disguise of a poor Brahmin and asked for his Kavach and Kundal as alms.
Karna instantly understood the truth but still chose generosity over safety, because daan (charity) was his greatest principle.
He cut off his armor and earrings with his own hands and gave them to Indra. Moved by Karna's unmatched sacrifice, Indra granted him the Vasavi Shakti, a powerful divine weapon that could kill anyone—but could be used only once.
This act made Karna famous as Daanveer Karna, the greatest giver in the Mahabharata.
We discussed the famous moment when Karna selflessly gave away his divine armor and earrings, even though he knew it would weaken him.
This led to a meaningful conversation about dāna — true giving.
Class Discussion:
We explored questions like:
What is easy to give? (money, toys or things we don't need)
What is hard to give? (time, energy, effort, resources)
The children shared thoughtful examples of generosity and kindness.
4. Geeta Chanting
We practiced Chapter 15, Shlokas 11 and 12 of the Bhagavad Gita.
The students are steadily improving in pronunciation, understanding, and rhythm. Wonderful progress!
5. Aarti and Pledge
We concluded in the temple hall with Aarti and the Bala Vihar Pledge, ending the morning with gratitude and unity.
🙏 We encourage you to continue the conversation at home — especially about the meaning of giving and how even small acts of generosity can make a big difference.
Warm regards,
Chitra & Rupa
