Bala Vikas classes in Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
Dear Devotees,
Welcome to 2012 - 2013 classes.
Click on the link for registration form: Balavikas registration form2012.pdf
Dear devotees,
After a lot of consideration temple is starting BALA VIKAS classes for the children from Sunday Oct 10th,2011. Classes will be conducted every Sunday in the temple at 11am to 12 noon. 12 noon Dhoop arathi and lunch prasadam follows after the classes. On Vijaya Dasami Thursday Oct 6th,2011 all registered students will perform Ganapathi & Saraswathi Puja at 7.30pm.
Sairam
"The Bala Vikas course is designed to impart the values of Sanathana Dharma. Wherever Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Right Conduct), Shanti (Peace), and Prema (Love) are emphasized, in whatever religion or language, by whichever teacher it may be, have Sanathana Dharma. It is imperative that the guru teaches this course with full faith and confidence" - Sai Baba
Why Bala vikas?
Bhagwan Baba aptly named this education program on human values as Bala Vikas, meaning blooming. "Vikas" is what the bud does, when it blossoms into a lovely flower. Likewise, with proper nurturing and grooming the children can be made to blossom into beautiful flowers, bringing joy to himself/herself and everyone around him/her through their virtues. Childhood is the most important part of human life as it is the right age to cultivate Sattwa Guna. The quality of life at later stages will depend upon the qualities cultivated at this stage.
"What is the use of trying to cultivate Sattwa Guna at the far end of your life when your body refuses to co-operate with you in your Sadhana? Hence, you must cultivate Sattwa Guna in your childhood itself. If man wishes to experience Manavatwa (humanness) and reach Daivatwa (divinity), Sattwa Guna is very essential. It is only when you consciously cultivate Sattwa Guna that you will be able to attain the Sattwic state. You can never attain the Sattwic state by indulging in Rajasic and Tamasic acts. Therefore, you should cultivate Sattwic qualities right from your young age. All our ancient sages and seers did their Sadhana when they were young and strong."
- Sai Baba
What will be taught at the Bala Vikas?
The "Bala vikas" program at the Monroeville(Pittsburgh) Shirdi Baba temple is specially designed to impart Sattwic qualities in the kids through slokas, moral stories from the puranas, educating on the significance of Indian festivals and customs, fun filled activities (any others). With the Bala Vikas classes children will also celebrate Mother's day and Father's day thereby learn to respect and revere elders.
When and Where?
Classes are conducted to be conducted at the temple on Sundays between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. call the temple for more details.There is no fee to enroll your children in the Bala Vikas.
Place:Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
Day: Every Sunday
Time:11am to 12noon
Fee:NO Fee
We thank all the parents for bringing their kids to the Bala Vikas, which shows the parents commitment to children's spiritual growth.
Who is teaching?
Madhavi Desai :: Madhavi was blessed to learn at the lotus feet of Bhagwan Saibaba at Anantapur AP; during which she had the privilege of singing bhajans at various occasions at Puttaparthi. An accomplished singer in Carnatic music and Bhajans; she had the privilege of presenting bhajans at Sai centers at Wellington NZ, Santa Clara CA and Columbus OH among others. A resident of Monroeville and a ardent devotee of Baba, she likes to share her learning and experiences with others.
Venkataramanan Seshadri: He is working as a Senior Scientist in Pittsburgh. He obtained his Ph.D. from UCONN and had earned his Bachelor's and Master's from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. He was blessed to learn at the lotus feet of Bhagwan Baba for 5 wonderful years and is very enthusiastic in sharing his learning's with kids who will be pillars of the bright future. He is also proficient in singing Bhajans, which again comes from his association with the Sai Institution.
Ratna Jyothi Malisetty: Ratna Jyothi is from Vizag, Andhra Pradesh. She is a graduated in Bio Chemistry. She is a mother of two, who realizes the importance of giving spiritual education to our younger generation. She is coordinating the classes and wishes to expand the cultural and Language classes also depending on the interest.
For further information Contact Ratna Jyothi at 724-309-9733.
In Sai Seva
You're truly,
Click here for the registration form. Please fill and bring with you.
Lesson -1
1. Ganesha Stuti
Vakra - tunda mahaa - kaaya
Surya - koti sama - prabha
Nir -vigh -nam Kuru- Mey -Deva
Sarva Kaar- yeshu Sarvada
Meaning:
Vakra-curved Tunda-mouth Maha-huge Kaaya-body
Surya-sun Koti-million Sama-equal to Prabha-brightness
The Lord with the curved trunk and a mighty body, who has the magnificence of a Million suns, I pray to you Oh Lord, to remove the obstacles from all the actions I intend to perform.
2. Morning prayer
Kar-aagre Vasate Lakshmi
Kara-madhye Sarasvati,
Kara-muule Tu Govindah
Prabhaate Kara- darshanam
Meaning:
Kar-hand agre-front of hands madhye-middle
muule-end prabhaate-morning Darshanam-to look at
The front part of the hands (the finger tips) is credited to Goddess
Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. The middle part or palm is credited to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of learning and the root (the part of hand near the wrist) to Govinda. So, every morning, one should have a reverent look at one's hand .
Sairam
Lesson II
Ganesha Sharanam Sharanam Ganesha…….. 4 times
Saisha Sharanam Sharanam Ganesha………..4 times
Story : Moral: Offer food to god as Prasadam before consuming it.
There lived in Mallur, in the state of Karnataka, a pious Brahmin who was a great scholar. He had an equally devout wife. Always intent on worship, recitation and meditation, this noble man was known far and wide for his virtuous character.
One day, a sanyasi (renunciant) called Nityananda came to his door seeking alms, this made the Brahmin extremely happy. After giving him whatever he could that day, he invited the monk to come the next day too to have dinner with him as he was keen to honour the ascetic with due hospitality.
So the next morning he hung green festoons over his doors and made elaborate arrangements to welcome the holy man. But, at the eleventh hour, physical impurity rendered his wife unfit to prepare food for the honored guest or for anyone else.
At this moment, a neighbour volunteered to cook the meal and so she was brought in and introduced into the kitchen. Everything went off well and all were as happy as they could be under the circumstances. However, there was one issue which bothered the saint greatly; for some unknown reason during his meal he was drawn by an overpowering desire to steal the silver cup which the host had placed near the plate.
In spite of his best efforts, the evil idea won him over. The sanyasi was at rest only after he clandestinely hid the cup in the folds of his robe as he casually conversed with the Brahmin over the dinner. And after the meal he hurriedly returned to his dwelling lest somebody discovers his act.
But that night the mendicant could not get a wink of sleep; his conscience pricked him constantly. He felt he had brought disgrace to his Guru as well as to the ancient enlightened sages whom he invoked by the mantras he recited.
He could not manage a second of rest until he ran back into the Brahmin’s house the next morning. Once there, he fell at the feet of the noble host and submitted the stolen article with tears of repentance trickling down his cheeks.
Everyone wondered how such a good man could stoop so low. Then someone suggested it might be that the person who cooked the food transmitted this fault to him through the food she prepared. And when they examined the history of the neighbour, they found she was infact an irrepressible thief!
The tendency to steal had, by subtle contact, indeed affected the food she prepared. This is the reason why spiritual aspirants are advised to live only on fruits and tubers, when they reach a certain stage of spiritual achievement.
To purify the mind and the intellect for the correct reflection of the truth, the first caution is regarding the food one intakes. And this is no trivial matter when it comes to progressing on the spiritual path.
1. Ganesha Stuti
Vakra - tunda mahaa - kaaya
Surya - koti sama - prabha
Nir -vigh -nam Kuru- Mey -Deva
Sarva Kaar- yeshu Sarvada
Meaning:
Vakra-curved Tunda-mouth Maha-huge Kaaya-body
Surya-sun Koti-million Sama-equal to Prabha-brightness
The Lord with the curved trunk and a mighty body, who has the magnificence of a Million suns, I pray to you Oh Lord, to remove the obstacles from all the actions I intend to perform.
2. Morning prayer
Kar-aagre Vasate Lakshmi
Kara-madhye Sarasvati,
Kara-muule Tu Govindah
Prabhaate Kara- darshanam
Meaning:
Kar-hand agre-front of hands madhye-middle
muule-end prabhaate-morning Darshanam-to look at
The front part of the hands (the finger tips) is credited to Goddess
Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. The middle part or palm is credited to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of learning and the root (the part of hand near the wrist) to Govinda. So, every morning, one should have a reverent look at one's hand .
Sairam
Lesson II
- Omkaram – 3 times
- Bhajan
Ganesha Sharanam Sharanam Ganesha…….. 4 times
Saisha Sharanam Sharanam Ganesha………..4 times
Story : Moral: Offer food to god as Prasadam before consuming it.
There lived in Mallur, in the state of Karnataka, a pious Brahmin who was a great scholar. He had an equally devout wife. Always intent on worship, recitation and meditation, this noble man was known far and wide for his virtuous character.
One day, a sanyasi (renunciant) called Nityananda came to his door seeking alms, this made the Brahmin extremely happy. After giving him whatever he could that day, he invited the monk to come the next day too to have dinner with him as he was keen to honour the ascetic with due hospitality.
So the next morning he hung green festoons over his doors and made elaborate arrangements to welcome the holy man. But, at the eleventh hour, physical impurity rendered his wife unfit to prepare food for the honored guest or for anyone else.
At this moment, a neighbour volunteered to cook the meal and so she was brought in and introduced into the kitchen. Everything went off well and all were as happy as they could be under the circumstances. However, there was one issue which bothered the saint greatly; for some unknown reason during his meal he was drawn by an overpowering desire to steal the silver cup which the host had placed near the plate.
In spite of his best efforts, the evil idea won him over. The sanyasi was at rest only after he clandestinely hid the cup in the folds of his robe as he casually conversed with the Brahmin over the dinner. And after the meal he hurriedly returned to his dwelling lest somebody discovers his act.
But that night the mendicant could not get a wink of sleep; his conscience pricked him constantly. He felt he had brought disgrace to his Guru as well as to the ancient enlightened sages whom he invoked by the mantras he recited.
He could not manage a second of rest until he ran back into the Brahmin’s house the next morning. Once there, he fell at the feet of the noble host and submitted the stolen article with tears of repentance trickling down his cheeks.
Everyone wondered how such a good man could stoop so low. Then someone suggested it might be that the person who cooked the food transmitted this fault to him through the food she prepared. And when they examined the history of the neighbour, they found she was infact an irrepressible thief!
The tendency to steal had, by subtle contact, indeed affected the food she prepared. This is the reason why spiritual aspirants are advised to live only on fruits and tubers, when they reach a certain stage of spiritual achievement.
To purify the mind and the intellect for the correct reflection of the truth, the first caution is regarding the food one intakes. And this is no trivial matter when it comes to progressing on the spiritual path.
