What is Bala Vihar?

In Bala Vihar, the rich cultural heritage of India, including moral values, are taught to children and youth at different levels, using the medium of stories, drama, arts, crafts and discussion. Children are also taught popular Bhajans and Slokas. 

In promoting and teaching the universal philosophy of Oneness (Advaita Vedanta), children are made to understand that although Hinduism may appear to have many Gods, the Truth (God) is the one ultimate Reality, and thus it is one God appearing as many forms.

Chinmaya Bala Vihar Curriculum includes various devotional, philosophical & ethical texts and topics, focusing in the early years on developing love for God, in the elementary years on learning & practicing value based living, and in the teenage years on understanding spirituality and fundamental Vedantic principles. The syllabus covers topics and texts from Hinduism's Vedas, Puranas and Itihasas. It is child-friendly and taught on age-appropriate levels.

Purpose

• Instill in our children and youth a reverence for ancient culture and to inspire them to live up to it with correct understanding.

• Create self-confidence so that they are able to serve others.

• Generate personal discipline, dynamic leadership, and true affection in all their contacts.

• Develop a healthy resistance against temptations in the environment in which they grow.

Curriculum

Dhruva: Kindergarten

Text Book: Alphabet Safari
Simple values like aspiration, brotherhood, cleanliness, etc. are taught through animal stories and coloring. Through simple hands-on activities and demonstrations, children learn that just because something is not seen does mean it is not there! Hence, the need to fix our mind.
Shlokas: Invocation, Daily Prayers, Sankatanasana Ganesa Stotram, Ganesha Pancha Ratnam
Sevaks: Namrata Vakkalagadda, Vinay Prithani

Prahalada: Grades 1 and 2

Text Book: Sri Hanuman, The Super Superman
The metaphor for the text is, "Have a backbone like a ruler and rule the word." Learn from Hanumanji the values like courage, strength, fearlessness, alertness, eloquence, etc., as they are the vitamins that make our mental backbone strong; thus, develop a majestic personality like Hanumanji. Children also learn through discipline that they can earn merits in the world by studying Hanuman Chalisa and following its teachings.
Shlokas: Invocation, Daily Prayers, Sharada Stotram, Hanuman Chalisa

Sevaks: Preya Dave, Chitra Nair, Suyog Padgaonkar, Raji Arora

Nachiketa: Grades 3 and 4

Text Book: Bala Bhagavatam
Through the stories of different avatars of Lord Sri Vishnu, children learn to own up to their own actions, learn to ask for only what they need, and not necessarily what they desire.
Shlokas: Guru Stotram, Achyutashtakam, Madhurashtakam, Shree Ganga Stotram
Sevaks: Dhanya Limaye, Nikhil Ladva

Aruni: Grades 5 and 6

Text Book: P.O. Box Mr. God & Key to Success
P.O. Box Mr. God and Key to Success have been developed from Sri Ramacaritamanasa, composed by Tulsidas, and have the theme of "God, who is Omnipresent, where do I find Him in the world, what are His addresses?" As the topic is taught, children understand that each one of us is His address and we can find Him within us, if we learn how to live out life full of love and kindness to all. Key to Success teaches children how to achieve success in the world by living a lfie that is rich in values. Emphasis is on the mind and how a disciplined mind achieves happiness and peace.
Shlokas: Rama Stotram, Guru Paduka Stotram, Shree Ganga Stotram

Sevak: Jagadish Devarajan

Shri Rama: Grades 7+

Text Book: Yato Dharmah, Tato Jayah
The main theme, as the title Yato Dharmah, Tato Jayah suggests, is to teach children that where there is Dharma, there is victory in life; one must follow Dharma. The text dives deep into teaching what is Dharma, how to live by Dharma, along with the story of Mahabharatam and a comparative analysis of the main characters and their Dharma in the epic.
Shlokas:  Lingashtakam, Tapovana Shatkam, Shree Ganga Stotram

Sevak: Hema Sundaram