Balavikas is a structured program designed for children to learn about many aspects of Hindu culture. The mission of Balavikas is to give our children a value based cultural education based on the fundamental tenets of Hinduism. Balavikas has adopted Purna Vidhya, a Vedic Heritage Teaching Program developed by Swami Dayananda Saraswati and his disciples. The core values like Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema, Ahimsa and Bhakti are imparted through levelled age appropriate curriculum. The curriculum starts with simple Panchatantra moral stories, progressively introduces bhakthi stories, Ramayana, Bhagavatha Purana, Mahabharatha, and fundamental Values. The students also learn yoga and shlokas that could be incorporated in their daily life.

As a part of Value Based education, Balavikas organizes charitable activities, where children and parents can actively participate in serving the needy people. In Balavikas, various cultural, art and craft activities are also conducted to make this experience enjoyable and memorable to our students.

Structure:

Balavikas class meets 10:30 am – 11:45 am, on Sundays at the Hindu Temple of Greater Tulsa. Balavikas academic calendar starts in August and ends in May and has Fall, Winter and Spring breaks. Please refer to Balavikas calendar for any scheduled holidays. A cultural event to showcase the children’s learning in Balavikas is conducted before Winter break. In every semester the students will have an opportunity to participate in one community volunteer program. Students will also be encouraged to participate in temple celebrations and cultural programs.

• 10:30 to 11:00 am Yoga and Shloka – All students participate as a group in learning yoga.
• 11:00 to 11:45 am (younger kids leave by 11:30)– Students are grouped in to six levels, based on their age and proficiency. Purna Vidya (Vedic Heritage Teaching program) is adapted for instruction.
• Level 1 - Panchatantra Stories- Introduces children to Panchatantra stories imparting moral values
• Level 2 - Puranic Tales for the young – Introduces children to short bhakti stories.
• Level 3 – Ramayana – students are taught the great epic tale of Lord Rama, and his exemplary life and his strict adherence to Dharma.
• Level 4 - Bhagavatha Purana – Introduces children to Hindu Mythologies like Dhasavatharams, Harichandra, Shakunthala etc. It also teaches various steps involved in performing day to day pooja and prayer.
• Level 5 - Mahabharatha --A great epic of Bharata Dynasty, with Krishna as the main character along with Pandavas and Kauravas is taught to students by relating the stories at that time, to current real-world situations.
• Level 6 – Values- Students learn personal values like truthfulness, humility, nonviolence, doing the right thing etc. They also learn how, when one’s thought, word and deed are aligned, and personal values are aligned with universal values, he/she is at peace and is enlightened.