Hari OM!
Beginning Prayers
- Om Saha Navavathu
- Vakratunda Mahakaya
- Saraswathi Namastubhyam
- Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu
- Ramaya Ramabhadraya slokha.
- Budhir Balam
Stotram:
- GuruStotram (My Prayers, Page 9) - We reviewed slokas 1-8.
- Lingashtakam - We reviewed the first six stanzas of Lingashtakam.
- Gita Chanting: We learnt 7 slokas of Chapter 13
Story:
We continued the story this week. All the vanaras gathered for the search and Sugriva divided them into four groups. They were each sent in different directions and were given one month time to search for Sita and bring back news about her. The group under Satabali went north, the group under Vinata went east, the group under Susena went west and the group under Hanuman, Jambavan, Nila and Angada went south. Rama felt that Hanuman would be the one to bring news of Sita so he gives Hanuman his signet rings and tells him to give it to Sita when he sees her. Thus Rama establishes his trust in Hanuman and their bond is formed forever. The vanaras who had gone north, east and west return within a month with no news. Now all hopes lay on the group that went south. The vanaras proceeding south come across a cave that smells of lotus flowers, have trees made of gold with emeralds for leaves and rubies for flowers. In the caves lives a tapasvini names Svayamprabha, on hearing Rama's story from Hanuman she transports them out of the cave through her powers. The vanaras open their eyes and see the blue ocean in front of them. They are scared of the water and are wondering aloud if they should return. Hanuman reminds them that they should fulfill their mission and intensify their search. Unknown to them they are being watched by a vulture who on hearing the name Jatayu calls out to them. The vanaras who were reminiscing about how Sita was abducted by Ravana and how Jatayu tries to save her finds the vulture and brings him some water. We learn that the vulture is Sampati, Jatayu's brother whose wings got burned by the sun while he was trying to protect Jatayu. Sampati with his keen eyesight looks across the ocean and tells them that he sees Sita sitting amidst horrible raksasas in a garden in the city of Lanka.
Now that they knew where Sita was the vanaras have to decide as to whom amongst them will cross the ocean and meet Sita. All of them discuss how many yojanas they can jump. Then the wise Jambavan looks at Hanuman and tells him that there is no doubt that only Hanuman is up to the task of crossing the ocean. He reminds Hanuman that his shoulders are as powerful as Garuda's wings and urges him to use his divine strength. On hearing this Hanuman feels his hidden strength come out and he grows and grows into an enormous mountain. He is inspired with a tremendous zeal to fulfill Rama's mission. He tells the vanaras that in order to take the jump he has to press his foot hard on the earth and to do that he had to climb a hill. He climbs on top of the Mahendra Hill and after praying to Rama, Surya, Indra, Brahma and his father Vayu he presses his foot on the mountain. It trembles under his foot, water gushes forth from the rocks, the tress shed leaves and and the animals get scared. Hanuman is now ready to take his jump to cross the ocean.
Hanuman gets ready to take the jump to cross the ocean and reach Lanka. He gets in the position to jump and with arms widespread plunges forward. Maruti meets with multiple obstacles on the way. First a mighty mountain named Mainaka obstructs him. She offers her hospitality on the request of the Ocean-King. Hanuman affectionately replies that he will take up her offer another time as he wants to focus on the task at hand. Mainaka bows deeply and lets him proceed. Sometime later a monster named Surasa emerges from the ocean and ask Hanuman to enter his mounth. Hanuman tries to avoid him but Surasa is determined that Hanuman enter his mouth. Hanuman increases his body to a size bigger than the monster's mouth; the monster, the Naga maiden increases her body, Hanuman then shrinks himself to a speck and quickly darts in and out of Surasa's mouth. Laughingly he says that he has fulfilled Surasa's wishes, Surasa gives his blessing to Hanuman to complete his mission successfully. Later he is obstructed by a raksasi, Hanuman enters her mouth and rips her body and comes out. Finally he reaches Lanka.
Activity:
Meditation/Japa:
Games:
None
Conclusion:
We conluded the day with
- Om Purnamadah
Comments:
Please encourage them to practice the slokas at home. Please also have them read the pages that refer to the above part of the story from the Ramayana book. We do quizzes in every class and the kids will find this useful.
Next class is on Mar 10th, 2013.
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