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Name:_____________________________________________________________

My Address is:

Street:_____________________________________________________________

City: ____________________________ State: ____________ Zip: ____________

Grade: ________ Group: ____________ Home Phone #: _________________

Email Address: ______________________________________________________

If found please be kind enough to return it to me or bring it to Chinmaya Mission Chicago –Yamunotri.

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Chinmaya Mission

Chinmaya Mission was founded in 1953 by devotees of Swami Chinmayananda in India. They formed thenucleus of a movement of spiritual renaissance that now encompasses a wide range of spiritual, educationaland charitable activities, ennobling the lives of thousands in India and outside its shores. The Mission isadministered by Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Mumbai, headed by Swami Tejomayananda.

Following the teacher-taught tradition (guru-sisya parampara) since time immemorial, Chinmaya Missionmakes available the ageless wisdom of Vedanta, the knowledge of the One Reality, and provides the tools torealize that wisdom in one's own life. To give maximum happiness to the maximum number for the maximumtime is the tenet that drives members to uplift humanity beyond selfish and sectarian attitudes and activities.Each person's gain is manifold: personal growth, heightened efficiency, contentment, and living in peace andharmony.

There are over 250 Chinmaya Mission centers in India, and almost 50 outside of India.

Bala Vihar & Yuva Kendra is where the children from kindergarten to high school are inculcated with ourculture and values which would help in their life, by trained teachers. They follow a Chinmaya prescribedscheme of studies on Bhagwad Gita and other texts, and also take up socially useful activities.

Bala Vihar

In Bala Vihar, the rich cultural heritage of India, including its teachings on moral values, is taught to childrenand youth at different levels, using the medium of stories, drama, arts and crafts, and discussion. Children arealso taught popular Bhajans (Hindu hymns) and Slokas (Spiritual Verses). Chinmaya Mission centers havebecome models for teaching India’s rich spiritual heritage and the fundamentals of Vedanta to the nextgeneration. The Bala Vihars are organized into grades which match the grade of the child in school. Each of thegrades caters to the age group of the child. The grades range from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12.

"The purpose of Bala Vihar is to impart values to the children and art of right thinking among the youth."

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His Holiness Swami Chinmayananda

His Holiness Swami Chinmayananda, founder of Chinmaya Mission, taught spirituality as the art of living. Throughjnana yoga (the Vedantic path of spiritual knowledge), he emphasized the balance of head and heart, pointing outselfless work, study, and meditation as the cornerstones of spiritual practice.

Not satisfied by worldly aspirations or his degrees in literature and law, Balakrishna Menon pursued spiritualstudies for nine years in the Himalayas, under the guidance of Swami Sivananda (Divine Life Society) and thetutelage of Swami Tapovanam. He eventually came to share this Vedantic knowledge with the masses, in the formof the dynamic teacher known as Swami Chinmayananda.

Swamiji is renowned worldwide as a spiritual master and one of the foremost teachers of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita.He is credited with the renaissance of spirituality and cultural values in India, and with the spreading of the agelesswisdom of Advaita Vedanta, as expounded by Adi Shankaracharya, throughout the world.

Swami Chinmayananda attained mahasamadhi in August 1993. His legacy remains in the form of written, audio,and video publications; social service projects; Vedanta teachers whom he taught and inspired; and ChinmayaMission centers worldwide, serving the spiritual and cultural needs of local communities.

Additional biographical information can be found in Journey of a Master, Ageless Guru, Swami Chinmayananda: ALife of Inspiration and Service, and At Every Breath, A Teaching.

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His Holiness Swami Tejomayananda

His Holiness Swami Tejomayananda, the present spiritual head of Chinmaya Mission worldwide, is fulfilling thevision that Swami Chinmayananda charted. As he puts it, “I am not in Swamiji’s shoes; I am at His feet.”

Swami Tejomayananda has served as acharya (dean) of the Sandeepany institutes of Vedanta (gurukulas ofChinmaya Mission) in India, and as acharya in Mission centers in India and the US. He has writtencommentaries on scriptural texts, translated Swami Chinmayananda’s commentaries into Hindi, and authoreda number of books. A key contribution is Hindu Culture: An Introduction, which has been acclaimed for itsclear description of the basics of Hinduism and adopted as a reference text in some American high schools.

Swamiji excels in expounding upon a wide spectrum of Hindu scriptures, from Ramayana, to ShrimadBhagavad Gita, to the Upanishads. His easy manner, combined with his in-depth analyses and devotionalrenderings of Vedantic texts, have drawn many newcomers into the spiritual fold.

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Our Acharya: Pujya Swami Sharanananda

Swami Sharanananda hails from Puri in Orissa. Being inspired by Pujya Gurudev H.H. Swami Chinmayanandji,he joined the two year brahmachari training course in Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai, in the year 1986. Hewas trained by H.H. Swami Tejomayanandaji. He was given Brahmachari Diksha in 1988 and became Br.Sharana Chaitanya. He has served Chinmaya Mission centers in Anugul, Rourkela and Calcutta. He has beenthe resident Acharya at Chinmaya Mission Chicago since March 1993.

On July 9, 1995 he was initiated into Sannyasa Diksha by H.H. Swami Tejomayanandaji and became SwamiSharanananda. He conducts yogasana and other scriptural classes during Chinmaya Mission family camps inAmerica and Canada. Swamiji likes to be with children. He places great importance on value based living.

Email: swamiji@chinmaya-yamunotri.org

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Code of Conduct and Discipline Policies

The goal of Chinmaya Mission is to foster intellectual and spiritual growth in a safe environment. In order to keep ourchildren safe and to inculcate disciple for all Bala Vihar children and adults, the following rules and regulations havebeen established and should be adhered to.

Dress Code

All children, adults, teachers should remember that Chinmaya Mission is a place of Worship and should dressappropriately.

Guidelines:

Highly recommended outfits: salwar suits for girls and pajama-kurta for boys

Other comfortable outfits may be worn as long as they are decently covering the bodies

Clothing should not display profanity or offensive slogans / symbols

No hats allowedItems not allowed during the two-hour Bala Vihar session at Badri/Yamunotri

No cell phones in classrooms or shrine: if a child must carry one, it should be turned off for the duration of thesession. It may be used outside the class and shrine time.

No game boys or other electronic games should be brought to the classrooms

No candy or chewing gum during the session.Absences

If a child will be absent, parents must inform the teacher ahead of time

With 3 consecutive unexplained absences, the teacher will contact the family to check on child.Punctuality

BE ON TIME ; ARRIVE AT LEAST 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO START SO THAT SHOES AND COATS CAN BE PUT INPROPER PLACE. CLASS STARTS AT 2:30 PM.

If a child is late, he/she is expected to wait outside the classroom until the teacher opens the door, which willbe after opening prayers.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTRUB CLASS ONCE IT HAS BEGUN

All Children ARE REQUIRED stay for the entire time including the concluding session from 4:00-4:45 PM.Shoes

ALL SHOES MUST BE PLACED NEATLY ALONG THE CORRIDOR WALLSCleanliness

As mission members it is our responsibility to keep the classrooms and surrounding property neat and clean

No littering inside or outside the building

All garbage must be thrown in the appropriate garbage bins.

No food or drinks allowed in the gymLost and Found

Please label all belongings clearly. Although all attempts are made to keep lost and found for a reasonable timeperiod, items may not be returned if lost.

ParentsParents are strongly encouraged to attend the adult study groups. Please do not hang around the hallwaysduring the classes and concluding prayers. Parents should not be sitting in the classrooms with their kidswithout prior permission from teachers.

THE CONCLUDING PRAYERS ARE A VITAL PART OF THE BALA VIHAR CLASS. ALL CHILDREN AND ADULTS AREREQUIRED TO ATTEND THE CONCLUDING PRAYERS FROM 4:00-4:45 PM.

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Bala Vihar & Yuva KendraSyllabus 2007-2008

All classes begin with chanting of Invocation Prayers, Guru Stotram and daily prayers. Bhagavad Gita Chapter VII is in thebinder and prayers are in Hridi Bhavayami book. All text books have to be purchased. Every Student should have a copy ofHridi Bhavayami, which can be purchased from the book store.

Class Texts

Pre-KG (Prahlada)Ganesha Stotram (Sankatanashana - Stuti Vandana My PrayersBhagavad Gita Ch.VII (Chanting) Tarangini Vol. 1 &2Stories based on Values, Chinmaya Alphabets Tell Me A Story – Part 1Arts, Crafts & GamesGreat Saints: Swami Chinmayananda and Swami TejomayanandaTeachers: Shilpa Ramprasad, Veena Bhalala, Leela Singh

KG (Dhruva)Ganesha Stotram (Ganesha Pancharatnam) My PrayersBhagavad Gita Ch.VII (Chanting) Tarangini Vol. 1 &2Stories based on Values, Chinmaya Alphabets Tell Me A Story – Part 1Arts, Crafts & GamesGreat Saints: Swami Chinmayananda and Swami TejomayanandaTeachers: Archana Anant; Anitha Bellary; Haritha Kajjam

Grade 1 (Nachiketa)Sharada Stotram (Stuti Vandana) My PrayersBhagavad Gita Ch. VII(Chanting) Bala RamayanaStories based on values and texts Tarangini Vol. 3, 4, 5, 6

Arts, Crafts & Games Tell Me A Story – Part 2Great Saints: Swami Chinmayananda and Swami TejomayanandaTeachers: Raji Prasad; Sushma Yadalam

Grade 2 (Gyaneshwara)Meenakshi Pancharatnam My PrayersBhagavad Gita Ch. VII (Chanting) Bala RamayanaStories based on values and texts Tarangini Vol. 3, 4, 5, 6

Arts, Crafts & Games Tell Me A Story – Part 2Great Saints: Swami Chinmayananda and Swami TejomayanandaTeachers: Sunitha Gadey; Jothi Arun

Grades 3 & 4 (Aaruni)Madhurastakam (Stuti Vandana) My PrayersBhagavad Gita Ch.VII (Chanting) Bala BhagavatamSkits, Tests & Quizzes Tarangini Vol. 7

Pride Goeth Before a FallArt of God Symbolism

Great Saints: Swami Vivekananda and Shree RamakrishnaTeachers: Lakshmi Bhagavatula; Padmaja Khanna

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Class Texts

Grades 5 & 6 (Shree Rama)Ramayan Vandanam, Sitarama Dhyanam My PrayersBhagavad Gita Ch. VII (Chanting) ParablesExtempore Speeches, Skits & Quizzes I Love You LettersStories and lessons based on texts Tarangini Vol. 8

Values - Gita Ch. XII (sl.13-19)Great Saints: Swami Sivananda and Swami ChidanandaTeachers: Lakshmi Kadiyala; Rajul Bhalala; Sinduja Kosgi

Grades 7 & 8 (Shree Krishna)Siva Manasa Puja (Stuti Vandana) My PrayersBhagavad Gita Ch. VII (Chanting) Art Of LivingExtempore Speeches, Skits & Quizzes Hinduism - Sanatana Dharma

Tarangini Vol. 9, 10Values - Gita Ch. XIII (sl. 7-11)

Great Saints: Swami Tapovan Maharaj and MeerabaiTeachers: Shankar Anant; Indu Sriram

Grades 9 & 10 (Chinmaya)Geeta Dhyanam My PrayersBhagavad Gita Ch. VII (Chanting) Self-UnfoldmentExtempore Speeches & Skits Hindu CultureWritten AssignmentsDiscussion & Debates on selected topicsLessons based on Values and TextsGreat Saints: Bhagavan Adi Shankaracharya, Maa AnandamayiTeachers: Shubi Mansukhani; Lakshmi Gollapudi; Ashok Kajjam

Grades 11 & 12 (Tapovan)Taittriya Upanishad (Stuti Vandana) My PrayersBhagavad Gita Ch. VI (Chanting) On Wings and WheelsExtempore Speeches & Skits The Art Of Man MakingWritten AssignmentsDiscussion & Debates on selected current topicsLessons based on Values and TextsGreat Saints: Bhagavan Vedavyasa, SharadamaaTeachers: Ashok Bhatia; Krithika Mahesh

Adult Study Groups

Study Group Text

Vyasa - Sevaks: Premal Joshipura. Viney Kaushal Atma Bodha

Vashistha - Sevaks: Sriram Chitti, Ganapati Shankar Bhaja Govindam

Vishwamitra - Sevaks: Kartik Ramprasad, Lakshmi Karpoor, Vivek Naik Kindle Life

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Chinmaya YamunotriContact Information for Teachers, Sevaks, Sevikas, Coordinators

Teacher/Sevak/Sevikas Class (Grades) Phone # Email AddressLeela Singh Prahlada (Pkg) 847-918-7577 leela.singh@gmail.com

Shilpa Ramprasad Prahlada (Pkg) 847-549-6538 shilparamprasad@yahoo.com

Veena Bhalala Prahlada (Pkg) 847-302-2383 veeble015@aol.com

Anitha Bellary Dhruv (Kg) 847-548-9083 anitha_sapuru@yahoo.com

Archana Anant Dhruv (Kg) 847-549-0501 asanant@comcast.net

Haritha Kajjam Dhruv (Kg) 847-855-1768 hkajjam@hotmail.com

Jothi Arun Gyaneshwara (1) 847-263-8626 jothiarul@hotmail.com

Sunitha Gadey Gyaneshwara (1) 847-459-1662 cnrcgadey@yahoo.com

Raji Prasad Nachiketa (2) 847-681-0644 rprasad2@gmail.com

Sushma Yadalam Nachiketa (2) 847-279-1662 yadalam_sushma@hotmail.com

Lakshmi Bhagavatula Aaruni (3-4) 847-816-1971 divyanitya@comcast.net

Padmaja Khanna Aaruni (3-4) 847-383-5167 padmajakhanna@comcast.net

Lakshmi Kadiyala Shree Rama (5-6) 847-793-0190 lkadiyala@comcast.net

Rajul Bhalala Shree Rama (5-6) 847-302-2383 nbhalala@aol.com

Sinduja Kosgi Shree Rama (5-6) 847-970-6894 sindujakosgi@yahoo.com

Indu Sriram Shree Krishna (7-8) 847-478-8471 indu.sriram@sbcglobal.net

Shankar Anant Shree Krishna (7-8) 847-549-0501 asanant@comcast.net

Lakshmi Gollapudi Chinmaya (9-10) 847-265-0253 lgollapudi@clcillinois.edu

Shubi Mansukhani Chinmaya (9-10) 847-680-8555 sm@technolcorp.com

Ashok Kajjam Chinmaya (9-10) 847-855-1768 akajjam@hotmail.com

Ashok Bhatia Tapovan (11-12) 847-680-4735 bhatiaa@technolcorp.com

Krithika Mahesh Tapovan (11-12) 847-816-7401 krithika_m@hotmail.com

Premal Joshipura Vyasa 847-362-6073 pmjem@sbcglobal.net

Viney Kaushal Vyasa 847-367-9697 vkmvfour@gmail.com

Ganapati Shankar Vashishta 847-634-9052 smtvgshankar@comcast.net

Sriram Chitti Vashishta 847-855-0524 srirama_chitti@yahoo.com

Kartik Ramprasad Vishwamitra 847-549-6538 kartik_ram@sbcglobal.net

Lakshmi Karpoor Vishwamitra 847-348-1067 laks_karpoor@yahoo.com

Vivek Naik Vishwamitra 847-215-4787 vivek_naik_us@yahoo.com

Ashish Kathuria Hindi 847-816-0218 chinmayahindi@yahoo.com

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Chinmaya Mission–YamunotriContact Information for Teachers, Sevaks, Sevikas, Coordinators

Other Coordinators

Activity Sevak/Sevikas Phone # Email Address

Acharya Swami Sharananandaji 630-654-3370 Swamiji@chinmaya-yamunotri.org

Address/Phone/EmailChanges

Ratnakar Nanavaty 847-231-5047 mail@chinmaya-yamunotri.org

Books Ratnakar Nanavaty 847-231-5047 mail@chinmaya-yamunotri.org

CelebratoryEvents

Shubi MansukhaniRajul Bhalala

847-680-8555847-295-2383

sm@technolcorp.comnbhalala@aol.com

Chinmaya Rides Jyothi Peruri 847-296-8567 sankaraperuri@hotmail.com

Donations/Pledges/FundRaising

Ashok BhatiaRajul BhalalaPremal JoshipuraViney Kaushal

847-680-4735847-295-2383847-362-6073847-367-9697

bhatiaa@technolcorp.comnbhalala@aol.compmjem@sbcglobal.netvkmvfour@gmail.com

Geeta Chanting Rajul BhalalaRoopa Gaonkar

847-295-2383847-478-1716

nbhalala@aol.comragoankar@yahoo.com

MonthlyBhajans

Pramila BhatiaRajul BhalalaKartik Ramprasad

847-680-4735847-295-2383847-549-6538

bhatiaa@technolcorp.comnbhalala@aol.comkartik_ram@sbcglobal.net

Registration Ratnakar Nanavaty 847-231-5047 mail@chinmaya-yamunotri.org

SaturdayTransportationfor Acharyas

Venkat GadeyAshok Bhatia

847-459-1662847-680-4735

vgadey@yahoo.combhatiaa@technolcorp.com

Stuti Vandana Sinduja KosgiHemalatha Shastry

847-970-6894847-549-0052

sindujakoshi@yahoo.comcsundaresh9@netsquito.com

Weekly Prasad Leela SinghShobna Navayath

847-918-7577847-937-1472

leela.singh@gmail.comnavayath_s@hotmail.com

Please send your mailing address, phone # and email address changes to mail@chinmaya-yamunotri.org. It is critical we have the correct contact information, so we could provide youwith latest updates regarding our activities in a timely manner.

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STUTI VANDANA

Stuti Vandana - corresponding pages in the Hridi Bhavayami book. CD is also available at the Book Store for$5.00.

1. Shanti Mantra: pg. 4.2. Daily Prayers: pg 5.3. Sri Guru Stotram: pg. 134. Sankatanashana Ganesha Stotram: pg.305. Sharada Stotram: pg. 36.6. Lingashtakam: pg. 58.7. Narayana Suktam: pg. 1208. Sri Rama Stotram: pg. 55.9. Achyutashtakam: pg.50.10. Nirvana Shatkam: pg 6711. Gita Dhyanam: pg. 71.12. Gita Ch.12: 9913. Gita ch.15: 10414. Tattiriya Upanishad: pg.`12215. Concluding Prayers: pg.14116. Vedic Aarati: pg. 15417. Chinmaya Mission Pledge: pg. 14518. Chinmaya Mission Pratignya(Pledge in Sanskrit): pg. 146.

Guidelines for getting a Stuti Vandana Medal:There are a total of 16 medals for Stuti Vandana. One medal will be given for each Stuti listed. Once the stutis arememorized, the children can chant to the assigned sevak / sevika at 4.45 pm on regular Saturday sessions. Onededicated Sevak / Sevika will be teaching the Stutis to interested children from 2:00pm - 2:30 pm. The Stutis should bechanted with Clarity, Correct Pronouciation and should be complete as given in the Hridi Bhavayami book. Children willbe asked to repeat the stutis to be eligible for getting a medal if they get more than 1 prompt and 2 pronounciationmistakes. Children are advised to follow the tune for the stutis from the Stuti Vandana CD.

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Gita Chanting Guidelines

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Bhagavad Gita Chanting Competition

Judges’ Scoring Rules

(for related questions, please contact Swami Sharananandaji)

1. Completeness of Chanting : (total of 15 points for Chapter VII, Slokas 1 - 15)

(a) The verses are to be chanted in correct order and fully.

(b) One point for each fully and completely chanted verse.

(c) Prompting: One prompting will be allowed with no deduction of a point.No second prompting is allowed.

(d) Missed Verse: One point to be deducted for each missed verse, i.e.,- any verse missed partially or completely,

- inserting the missed verse anywhere out of sequence- mixing lines of different verses-

(e) The introduction (i.e. atha pañcamo …) and the ending (i.e. iti srimad bhagavad …)do not count towards completeness and must not affect the scoring.

If the participant corrects their own mistake and proceeds to chant, there is no deduction,

However, note that this may affect the subjective score for ‘Confidence’ and/or ‘Ease of Chanting’.

2. Clarity of Chanting: Total of 10 points.

a. Diction - crispb. Tone – continuous and smoothc. Flow – in Anushtup Chhanda, (i.e. breaking each line after the 8th letter)

Example; samnyasam karmanam krsna … break … punaryogam ca samsasi

3. Confidence and Ease of Chanting : Total of 10 Points

a. Poise – composureb. Presentation - verses chanted in correct order, without interruptions, fumbling, or

need for ‘prompting’.

4. Pronunciations:

(a) a ‘visarga’

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- should be pronounced fully only when applicable(typically at the break of a line or at the end of a line),

example; samkhyayogau prthagbalah, or pravadanti na panditah

- is not to be chanted fully in the middle of the lineexample: samnyasah karmayogasca

(b) ‘deergha’ should be chanted twice as long as the ‘hrasva’.example: suNIscitam (short) versus manaSA (long)

(f) sandhi vichheda to be done properly

(g) halant should be chanted properly

(h) the following letters are to be chanted with clear distinction from each other- i.e. ka versus kha, ga vs gha (ghore), ta, tha (e.g. nishtha), da, dha (e.g. budhhir), etc.- all S,Sh and S with slant over and Sh with dot under to be clearly pronounced.- avagrahas are not to be chanted. ( s letter in Sanskrit)

(i) distinction should be made in ‘n’ sounds, e.g. karmaNI versus vakyeNA

(j) a participant making the same type of mistake repeatedly shall be penalized only once.