Chapter 12 :: THE BHAGAVAD-GITA FOR CHILDREN

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Om Shree Gneshaya Namah!!! CHAPTER 12

normal">PATH OF DEVOTION Jai: Should we worship or meditate every day,

Grandma, or just on Sundays?

3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in"> Grandma: Children should

do some form of worship, prayer or meditation everyday. Good habits must be

formed early. Jai: You said that God is formless but also has forms.

Should I worship God as Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Durga or should I worship a

formless

God? Grandma: Arjuna asked Lord Krishna the same question in the

Gita. (Gita 12.01) Krishna told Arjuna that worship of God with a form with

faith is easier and better for most people, especially for beginners. But a

true devotee has faith in everything: the formless God, and God with a form,

such as Rama, Krishna

Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">, Hanuman, Shiva, and the Divine Mothers

Kali, Durga, Sarasvati.

Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">Jai: How should I worship, Grandma?

Go to the worship or meditation room before going to school and pray. Sit

straight, close your eyes, take

few slow and deep breaths, remember your IshtaDeva and ask his or her blessing.

Focusing your mind on your IshtaDeva with eyes closed is called meditation. You

may also silently repeat a mantra such as ‘OM’ or ‘Ram, Ram, Ram, Ram, Ram’ a

FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">few times. Jai:

When I start to meditate, I can’t concentrate my mind, Grandma. My mind

starts to go everywhere. What should I do? Grandma: Don’t worry,

this even happens to adults. Try to concentrate or focus again and again. With

practice, you will be able to focus your mind well, not only on God but also on

your study materials. This will help you get good grades. You can also pray to

God and worship by offering fruits, flowers, etc. to your IshtaDev with love.

Also, remember the Lord of learning, such

mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"> as Lord Ganesha, Hanuman, or Mother Sarasvati

before starting your studies. Don’t be selfish and work hard. Accept the

results of your work without getting upset by bad results. Try to learn from

your failures, never give up and improve yourself. Jai: Is that all I

have to do,

Grandma? Did Khrisna say anything else? Grandma: You should also

develop good habits such

mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"> as obeying your parents, helping others in need,

not hurting anybody, being friendly to all, saying sorry or asking forgiveness

if you hurt anyone, keeping your mind calm, being grateful to those who have

helped you, and saying thank you. God loves and helps those who act in this

way. Such people are called devotees or Bhakta. (Gita 12.13-19) If you don’t

have any one of these good habits, try hard to develop them. (Gita 12.20)

Jai: Is it possible for a child to be a Bhakta?

5.0in 5.5in 6.0in">Grandma: I already told you the story of Dhruva, now

I will tell you the story of another child Bhakta. His name was Prahalada.

mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"> 14. The Story of Bhakta Prahalada

FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">Hiranyakasipu was

the king of demons. He did very difficult spiritual practice, and lord Brahma

gave him a boon that he could not be slain by man or beast. The boon made him

arrogant, and he terrorized all the three worlds, saying that there were no

gods other than himself and that men and demons must worship him. He had a son

named Prahalada, a religious

10.0pt">child who always worshipped Lord Vishnu. This angered his father

greatly; he wanted to drive the thought of Vishnu out from his son’s mind, so

he turned him over a strict teacher to train him to worship only Hiranyakasipu

as God and not Vishnu. Prahalada not only refused to listen to the

teacher, but started teaching the other students to worship Vishnu. The teacher

was very angry and reported this to the King. The King ran into his son’s

room, and shouted, “I hear you have been worshipping Vishnu!” Trembling,

Prahalada said softly, “Yes father, I have.” “Promise me that you will not do

that again!” demanded the king.

TEXT-ALIGN: justify; tab-stops: 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in

5.0in 5.5in 6.0in"> “I cannot promise,” Prahalada immediately answered. “Then

I will have you killed,” shouted the King. “Not unless it is the wish of Lord

Vishnu,” replied the child. The King tried his best to get Prahalada to change

his mind, but nothing worked.

tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in

6.0in"> He then ordered his guards to throw Prahalada into the

ocean, hoping that would frighten Prahalada into promising not to worship

Vishnu anymore. But Prahalada remained loyal to Vishnu and kept praying to Him

in his heart with love and devotion. Guards tied him to a huge rock and threw

him into the ocean. By God’s grace, the rock fell away and Prahala

mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">da floated safely to the surface of the water. He

was surprised to see Vishnu on the shore. Vishnu smiled at him and said, “Ask

me anything you want.” Prahalada, replied, “I don’t want a long life. I just

want the strength to always love God and never turn my heart against Him.”

0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; tab-stops: 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in

4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in"> Lord Vishnu granted Prahalada’s wishes. When Prahalada

returned to his father’s palace, the King was stunned to see him alive.

6.0in">“Who brought you out of the sea?” he demanded . “Lord Vishnu,” said the

child, simply. “Do not say that name before me,” boomed his father. “Where

is your Lord Vishnu? Show him to me,” he challenged. “He is everywhere,”

replied the child. “Even in this pillar?” asked the King. “Yes, even in this

Pillar!” replied Prahalada confidently. “Then let him appear before me in

whatever form he wants,” cried Hiranyakasipu and broke the pillar with his iron

club.

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4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in">Out from within the pillar jumped a being called

Narasimha, who was half man and half lion. Hiranyakasipu, stood helplessly

before him. Frightened, he called out for help, but none came. Narasimha picked

up Hiranyakasipu and placed him on his lap, where he mauled his body and tore it

apart. Thus Hiranyakasipu met his end.

'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">God blessed Prahalada for the

deep faith he placed in Him. After the death of Hiranyakasipu, demons were

crushed and the Devas took over the world once again from demons. To this day,

the name of Prahalada is counted among the great devotees.

10.0pt">Chapter 12 summary: The path of devotional love of God is very easy to

practice. This path consists of daily deity worship, offering fruits and

flowers, singing hymns (Bhajans) in praise of the glory of God, and developing

certain good habits. "Gurur Brahma Gurur VishnuGurur Devoh Maheshwar;Gurur

Shakshat ParambramhaTashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah"May the Merciful Sri Sai Baba

always shower His grace on us and our families and remove our problems and

anxieties by giving us all - strength , goodluck, success and happiness with

peace of mind.Sai bhakt,Deepa

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