Dedicated to our Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda

Dedicated to our Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda

Hari OM!

This blog is designed to serve as a library of art and craft ideas for our balavihar children. We hope that you will find this site useful. Please feel free to use any (or all) of the projects you see posted here. We ask, however, that you refrain from publishing (in any form) these templates, instructions, and photographs, unless you receive written permission. These projects are being provided for your own personal use or use in the Balavihar classroom.


All art projects are categorized by 1) material, 2) use, and 3) type. For example a Diya greeting card would be under the labels "Paper" and "Cards," while a Lord Hanumaan puppet would be found under "Paper," "Toys and Puppets" and "Gods and Goddesses." Most materials for these projects can easily be purchased from any local craft store — and some projects involve materials you already have laying around the house.


We would love to hear your suggestions and ideas about any of the information you find on this site. And, if you have any projects that you would like to share with other seviks/sevikas, please send a picture of the finished piece, as well as instructions on how to make the project – so we can post it.


Happy Creating!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Turtle Drawing

Print the page below and draw a turtle. We like to use these activity sheets in our Kindergarten class during the "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample below, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayons

कूर्मः
kūrmaḥ
turtle

Click on the image and then print.
Make sure you adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Bee Drawing

Print the page below and draw a bee. We like to use these activity sheets in our Kindergarten class during the "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample below, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayons

मधुमाक्षिका
madhumākshikā
bee

Click on the image and then print.
Make sure you adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Rabbit Drawing

Print the page below and draw a rabbit. We like to use these activity sheets in our Kindergarten class during the "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample below, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayons

शशकः
śaśakaḥ
rabbit

Click on image below and print.
Make sure you adjust your printing size, if necessary.


Spider Drawing

Print the page below and draw a spider. We like to use these activity sheets in our Kindergarten class during the "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample below, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayons

तन्तुनाभः
tantunābhaḥ
spider

Click on image below and print.
Make sure to adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Cat Drawing

Print the page below and draw a cat. We like to use these activity sheets in our Kindergarten class during the "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample below, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayons

बिडालः
biḍālaḥ
cat

Click on the image below and print.
Make sure you adjust your printing size, if necessary.


Elephant Drawing

Print the page below and draw a picture of an elephant. We like to use these activity pages in our Kindergarten "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample we have given, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayon

गजः
gajaḥ
elephant

Click on the image below and print.
Be sure and adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Fish Drawing

Print the page below and draw a picture of a fish. We like to use this activity sheet in our Kindergarten "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample we have given, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayon

मत्स्यः
matsyaḥ
fish

Click on the image below and print.
Be sure to adjust printing size, if necessary.

Lion Drawing

Print the page below and draw a picture of a lion. We like to use this activity page in our Kindergarten "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample we have given, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print Out (see below)
Black marker/crayon

सिंहः
simhaḥ
lion

Click on the image below and print.
Be sure and adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Mouse Drawing

Print the page below and draw a picture of a mouse. We like to use these activity pages in our Kindergarten "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample we have given, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print Out (see below)
Black marker/crayon

मूषकः
mūṣakaḥ
mouse

Click on the image below and print.
Be sure to adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Numbers 1-10

Coloring/Activity sheets for children to learn numbers 1-10 in Sanskrit. Please note that these numbers are in the Neuter Gender.

Click here for number pages

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Lord Raama's Lotus Feet

Here is a very simple outline of Lord Raama's feet for the children to do their creative likhita japa with. All you need are a few colored writing pens and a copy of the image below. Have fun!

Click on the image and then print. 

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Peacock Feather Drawing

The peacock feather is a fun image to do creative likhita japa with — the lines are extremely easy to follow. A good writing strategy is to start at the base of a line and work upwards. Make sure to finish one full line of the feather before moving on to the next.

Because older children are able to write smaller (and have greater focus), they might want to try a full mantra such as ऊँ श्री कृष्ण शरणं मम (om shree krishna sharanam mama). Younger children will probably fare better with filling the picture with ऊँ, aum or OM and using colors. What is important for us to remember is that the objective with these art exercises is that the child experiences joy while chanting the Lord's name — how "well or proper" they do it is secondary :-)

Happy Likhita Japa!!!

Materials:
• Good writing pens

Black artist pens, with different sized nibs, create beautiful tones. An excellent pen to look for is Prisma Color. You can find them at any quality craft or art store. A complete set comes in sizes .005, 01, 03, 05 and 08 — which is a perfect range of line widths. Other good pens are Micron (by Sakura) and Staedtler Triplus Fine liner.

Click on the image and print. If you want lighter lines, adjust your printer contrast setting.


Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Lotus Mandala



This Lotus Mandala was designed for creative likhita japa. With the first image, the child can write their mantra tracing the lines and then color it in with crayons — or better yet, design and color it with likhita japa! (The second image was drawn with ऊँ and OM.) 

For a finishing touch — don't forget to add sequins and gems for decorations.

This lotus is abstract enough that it can also be used as a Sun.

Another idea for an art project, is to print this on card stock paper. Once the lotus is completely decorated and colored in, cut around the circle and glue onto a greeting card. Make sure you reduce the image to your desired size before printing.

Tip: If you want the outlines to be extremely faded, just adjust the lightness on your printer and then print.






Monday, August 30, 2010

Ganesha Mandala

This page was designed for creative likhita japa. With the first image, the child can write their mantra tracing the lines and then color it in with crayons — or better yet, color with likhita japa! (The second image was drawn with ऊँ गं गणपतये नमो नमः OM gam gaNapataye namo namaH.)

For a finishing touch — don't forget to add sequins and gems for decorations.

Another idea for an art project, is to print this on card stock paper. Once Lord Ganesha is completely decorated and colored in, cut around the circle and glue onto a greeting card. Make sure you reduce the image to your desired size before printing.

Tip: If you want the outlines to be extremely faded, just adjust the lightness on your printer and then print. 

To print the page below, click on the image and then print.


Likhita Japa Mandala (2)

This is an outline for making a creative likhita japa mandala. The child can write around the mandala or make abstract designs inside the boundary — whatever they choose! Color pens are more fun and promote creativity with younger children, so we recommend having at least 4 or 5 different colors available.

Have fun!!

For some pattern ideas go to the label "Lihita Japa" (on the right side of this page.)

To print the mandala outline below, click on the image and then print.


Likhita Japa Mandala 1

This is an outline for making a creative likhita japa mandala. The child can write around the mandala or make abstract designs inside the boundary — whatever they choose! Color pens are more fun and promote creativity with younger children, so we recommend having at least 4 or 5 different colors available.

Have fun!!

For some pattern ideas go to the label "Lihita Japa" (on the right side of this page.)

To print the mandala outline click on the image and then print.

Rangoli (Drawn in OM)

The Rangoli pattern was created with likhita japa (ऊँ and OM). This page is for children to practice their creative likhita japa with. If the child is going to write in colors, it is suggested that they have at least 4 colors to start with. For black and white likhita japa, we suggest having different sized Black pen widths available to create tones.

Another idea for an art project, is to print this on card stock paper. Once the Rangoli is completely decorated and colored in, cut around the pattern and glue onto a greeting card. Make sure you reduce the image to your desired size before printing.

Materials
• Writing pens in different colors (or black) and sizes. (005, 01, 03 and 05 are recommended sizes to begin with. Most of these pens can be found in a good quality stationary or art store. We use Prisma Color, Staedler and Sakura brands.)

The colored image below was done with Prisma Color pens (size 005).

For ideas on different pattern techniques, visit the label "Likhita Japa" (on the right side of this page.)

 To print the page below: Click on the image and print.

Diya (Drawn in OM)

This diya coloring page was created by OM likhita japa. This is a perfect page for young ones to practice their creative likhita japa with. They can color and decorate this page by writing ऊँ in many different colors and sizes — or they can just plain color.

Another idea for an art project, is to print this on card stock paper. Once the diya is completely decorated and colored in, cut around the circle and glue onto a greeting card. Make sure you reduce the image to your desired size before printing.

Materials:
Colored writing pens in different nib widths. (Ultra Fine, Fine, and regular are good sizes to begin with.)

To Print the page below. Click on the image and print.



Friday, June 11, 2010

Shiva Lingam Mandala (Likhita Japa)



















This mandala is dedicated to Guruji
Summer Camp 2010


Click on the image to view enlarged.

This mandala was created with likhita japa of "ऊँ नमः शिवाय" (OM namah Shivaaya.) Lightly trace the inner and outer circles with a pencil and bowl (or circle templates) . Once you are satisfied with the proportions, begin the likhita japa session with your writing pens. All pencil lines should be gently erased after the ink has thoroughly dried. The Shiva Lingam was painted (with gouache) in the center as a point of reflection after the japa session was completed.

Materials
• Good quality writing pens with different nib sizes
• Good quality Bristol paper (smooth vellum surface)
• Pencil
• Graphic eraser
• Gouache paints
• Paint brushes
• Gold metallic calligraphy pen/ink

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

OM Likhita Japa



















Click on image to view enlarged

This likhita japa was created from doodling patterns (see previous posting in May archive.) The entire mandala was designed with variations on OM.

Materials Needed:
• A smooth surface paper
• Pens of different sizes
• Bowls (or compass) for tracing circle outline
• Pencil
• Quality graphic eraser

Lightly sketch the outline design with a pencil — your details will emerge from the japa. Do not sketch the writing in ... that should be performed in ink when you begin your session. Gently erase all pencil lines only when you are completely finished with the likhita.

Experiment with color, too!