Hari OM Dear Families,
Here is this week's update.
Week 25 :
14th May 2023 / 9:15 AM
Opening prayers and Shlokas
Slokas: Class began with 3 OMs followed by
"Om Saha Navavatu" (page 8 in My Prayers book)
Om shrI Ganeśaya Namaha, shrI Saraswatyai Namaha, shrI Sat Gurubhyo Namaha.
"Vakratunda Mahakaya" (page 27 in My Prayers book)
"Gurur Brahma" (page 60 in My Prayers book)
"Krishnaya Vasudevaya" (page 105 in My Prayers book)
Lyrics given here.
Krishna everywhere
We started with a recap from Narada's meeting with Kamsa and subsequently, Akroora heading to Vrindavana to bring Balarama and Krishna.
End of Kamsa: Krishna and Balarama visited all the places of interest in Mathura and finally arrived at the hall where the huge and heavy bow, studded with precious gems, was being exhibited. The bow was heavily guarded by fierce armed men. But before they knew what was going on, Krishna seized the bow and drew its string until it snapped into two pieces. The thunderous breaking sound reverberated in the hall and shook the earth making everyone tremble from head to toe. Not only this, but the terrific thunderclap reached as far as Kamsa's interior compartments and shook him from head to toe with immense fear.
Kamsa had a very bad restless sleep. His head swirled with the day's shocking events : the destruction of the bow, the death of his stalwart guards and soldiers and his own servants and citizens. He was trembling with fear from head to toe and he was plagued by nightmares of death, torture and dishonor. Kamsas nerves were on the edge and he knew no rest or peace.
At last the sun rose and it was the day everyone was waiting for. The massive arena and amphitheatre was luxuriously decorated with flowers and garlands. Spectators had started lining up from early morning to make sure to get good seats. The galleries were filled with princes and chiefs and ministers and traders. The wrestlers Chanura, Mustika, Kutam Sala and Tosala, world renowned for their strength, prowess and skill, were itching for the matches to begin.
Krishna and Balarama as they came into the amphitheater there was an elephant and a mahout. Krishna asked the manhout to move the elephant from the gate instead the manhout set the elephant to trample the boys under its feet. Krishna however slipped between the legs of the elephant and caught the elephant's trunk. It fell down with a mightly thud. Krishna ripped out the elephant's tusks and with one blow killed both the animal and its manhout.
Soaked in perspiration and armed with the bloody tusks, the warrior brothers looked like lions as they marched majestically. Everyone including the wrestlers and Kamsa were scared. At last the signal was given for the games to begin. To all the spectators' surprise all the wrestlers were killed by Krishna and Balarama. The trumpets sounded for the victors and the crowd stood on its feet cheering joyously. Kamsa's rage knew no bounds. He ordered the trumpets to be silenced and shouted...."Drive the boys out of Mathura..Take away the possessions of the gopas. Seize Nanda and put him in chains. Kill the wicked Vasudeva and my father Ugrasena, Kill them. Do it now"
Before Kamsa could finish giving his orders, Krishna started walking toward the throne and in long leaps and strides jumped onto the raised platform and immediately drew his sword. But Krishna was fearless and he caught hold of Kamsa by the hair, swung him around and threw him down into the arena dead. It was just that quick.
But in spite of his disgraceful end, Kamsa was rewarded in his last moment with a blissful vision of the Lord Himself in entire divine splendor. He obtained oneness with the Lord because he never spent a single moment without thinking about Krishna. Even though he thought of the Lord only with hate, anger, and fear, his focus on the Lord was single pointed and constant. Kamsas eight brothers immediately drew swords to kill Krishna and Balarama but soon were overpowered by Krishna and Balarama and killed.
Krishna and Balarama then hastened to join. They released Ugrasena, the family elder and the king now of Mathura. The brothers then bowed to the king and asked for the release of their parents. Then Krishna and Balarama met their parents Vasudeva and Devaki and all the years of pain melted away for that time as they joined in happiness.
Krishna kept his promise to Trivakra(once hunch backed girl now beautiful lady). Then with Balarama and Uddhava, he visited Akrura's home who received them all with great devotion.
Krishna and Balarama met Nanda and respectfully addressed him saying "Dear Father you and Mother Yasoda shall ever be our parents, because it was you who raised us. We request you now to go to Vrindavana to console all the gopas and gopis"
We saw the death of kamsa, in the following video link, Krishna vs Demons | Full Movie (HD) | Great Epics of India | Watch this most popular animated story - YouTube
We also saw another video, Dhenukasura demon's death Dhenukasura, The Deadly Donkey - Little Krishna - YouTube
As we are almost finishing our lessons in this year's balavihar, we had a short discussion about the stories they liked from bala bhagavatam and what lessons they learnt from them. We then talked about the roadmap to Krishna. This is about the virtues one should have to get closer to the Lord. To forgive, share, be gentle with animals and having control over the senses are some of the points we discussed.
We concluded the session with the Arathi and Pledge by the 7th graders.
Next Balavihar class is on 5/21
Neelima Turaga & Vidhya Aiyer
