Bala Vihar Program – Chinmaya Madhuvan

Bala Vihar is a group of children, meeting once a week, at a set venue, for 90 minutes, for the sole purpose of learning our precious culture, spiritual wisdom, and related values through books, stories, and games

Bala Vihar inculcates the values of Sanatana Dharma, as taught in our scriptures–Shrimad Bhagavad Geeta, Upanishads, Epics and Puranas-helping us to grow into responsible citizens of tomorrow. Balavihar classes for various age groups are conducted by trained sevaks and sevikas. These voluntary dedicated workers impart to children, the glory of our rich culture, aiming at character formation and reverence for our ancient heritage.

The high ideals and values from our great scriptures are taught in the form of stories, games, quizzes, crafts, bhajans, hymns, shlokas, skits, dances, etc. The current syllabus includes: Bala Ramayana, Bala Bhagavatam, Symbolism in Hinduism, Hanuman Chalisa, Why do We in Indian Culture and selected extracts from the Upanishads and the Bhagawad Geeta.

The greatest boon given by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda to the younger generation is Balavihar. Balavihar provides a spiritual and cultural orientation to children of the modern age. The rationale of the Balavihars as elucidated by Pujya Gurudev in the “March of the future” talk is summarized below:

To train the children and inculcate in them a reverence for our ancient culture, and inspire them to live up to it with correct understanding.
To create self-confidence to serve and act cheerfully.
To generate a true affection in all contacts, inculcate personal discipline and a true spirit of leadership.
To mould their capacity to express and assert their individuality. To bring out their dormant faculties and detect defects; cultivate and improve their creative abilities
To help children to develop a healthy resistance against temptations in the atmosphere in which they grow.
To provide an atmosphere to grow with noble ideals, healthy emotions and physical discipline.