January 22, 2012

Hari OM!  Happy New Year!

Beginning Prayers

• Om Saha Navavathu
• Vakratunda Mahakaya
• Saraswathi Namastubhyam
• Ramaya Ramabhadraya
• Buddhir Balam Yashodhairyam

Bhajans:

We reviewed the following three bhajans 

• Vigneshwara Vinayaka

• Rama Lakshmana Jaanaki Jai Bolo Hanuman ki
• Om Shiva Om Shiva Paraatpara Shiva
• Hari Naam Bina (Guru Bhajan)

We have started learning the Guru Bhajan and we will continue this in the next class. 

Stotram:

• GuruStotram (My Prayers, Page 9) - We did slokas 1, 2, 3, 5 and 14
• Lingashtakam:

   We did the first and second slokhas.

  
  

Geeta Chanting:

• We learn the first 3 verses of Chapter XII.

Story:

We recapped the story from the last class.

We continued the story this week.  Marica tried to make Ravana see reason by telling him that what he plans to do is against Dharma and as a King he should not do 'Adharma'. Ravana refuses to listen to reason and Marica has no choice but to obey his king. Meanwhile Spring has blossomed in Pancavati and sita is picking flowers from the garden when she sees a pretty golden deer with delicate silver spots trying to lure her into play.  She aks Rama to get the deer for her but Lakshmana cautions saying that it might be the trick of the Rakshasas. Rama thinks that if it is indeed a Rakshas he will kill it but if not he will bering the deer to sita.  He orders Lakshmana to guard Sita and goes after the deer. After chasing it for some time Ram kills the deer only to see it take the shape of Marica and call out to Lakshmana and sita in Rama's voice.  Sita persuades ad threatens Lakshmana to go to Rama's help and while Lakshmana is away Ravana comes in the guise of a Sadhu and takes Sita away.  Sita screams for help and begs Ravana to let her go. Jatayu hears Sita's cries and asks Ravana to let Sita go.  When Ravana refuses Jatayu puts up a brave fight but Ravana cuts his wings with his sword.  He takes Sita to Lanka.  Meanwhile Rama and Lakshmana realize that Sita is missing and go in search of her.  They come across Jatayu and learns that Ravana has kidnapped Sita.  Jatayu dies and Rama does the last rites for Jatayu.  The go south towards Lanka in search of Sita.  At Lanka Sita refuses to marry Ravana and says that her husband will come for her and kill Ravana.  Ravana imprisons Sita at the 'Asokavana' and asks Raskshasas to surround her and trouble her hoping she will change her mind and marry him. 

Activity:

Today, the kids colored a picture of Sita asking Rama to get her the golden deer. 

Games:

We did not have time for a game today.

Likhita Japa:

Conclusion:

We concluded by doing the Aarthi and Pledge in the classroom.

Comments:

The kids are still working on learning the Gurustotram.  Parents, please work with the kids on the Gurustotram. They also have to practice Lingashtakam - Slokas 1 and 2.

We started teaching verse 1, 2 & 3 of Chapter 12 for Geetha Chanting.  There are extra Geeta Chanting classes on Fridays in Basking Ridge and on Wednesdays in Bridgewater.  Please try to bring your kids for these sessions so they learn to chant the Geeta.  Please encourage your children to participate in the Geeta Chanting competion.

Parents, please encourage your children to participate in WOW-Sanskrit word of the week.

Please get back to Radha Iyer regarding Samskriti participation.  We have to assign roles and start practicing in the next two weeks.  

Reminders:

Please try to send the following items in your childs bag:

1. Crayons
2. Pencil
3. Notebook
4. Glue
5. Snack/Drink
6. A folder to keep their pictures/artwork.
7. Scissors
8. 1st grade Balavihar books - Bala Ramayan, Ramayana characters and a copy of 'My Prayers'; assembly handbook.