January 29, 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 four 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 reviewed the first and second slokhas and learnt the third sloka.

  
  

Geeta Chanting:

• We learnt the first 3 verses of Chapter XII.

Story:

We conducted a quiz to recap the last two classes. The children participated enthusiastically and the boys won with 3 points. 

We continued the story this week.  Rama and Lakshmana continue to go through the forests toward Lanka. Suddenly they encounter a hideous looking creature with no head and legs. The monster grabs Rama and Lakshmana and his powerful arms encircle them.  The monster has a mouth in his stomach  and an ugly red eye in his chest.  His name his Kabandha. Realizing that the strength is in his arms, Rama and Lakshmana cut off his arms.  Kabandha screams in pain and recollects that he is a celestial being cursed by a risi.  He had to wait for Rama to liberate him.  He thanks Rama and tells him to seek the help of the Vanara King Sugriva who lives on the banks of River Pampa.  As they reach the banks of River Pampa the come across Sabari's asrama.  Sabari a disciple of Sage Matanga spends her life doing tapas.  Her guru tell her that will be rewarded for her tapas by meeting the God himself. Sabari hears of the arrival of Rama and Lakshmana and realizing that Rama is the Supreme being washes his feet with her tears.  She then lovingly offers fruits to Lord Rama, fruits she has tasted to make sure that they were sweet and juicy.  Lakshmana is angry that the old lady is giving eaten fruits to Rama but Rama smiles and serenely eats the fruits enjoying himself.  Sabari feels that her time has come and becomes one with God. The princes continue their journey in search of Sugriva.  Meeting Sabari has strengthened their minds. 

Activity:

Today, the kids made a bow and arrow using straws as arrows.

Games:

We did not have time for a game today.

Likhita Japa:
The kids wrote Rama's name 11 times in complete silence.

Conclusion:

We attended the assembly in the cafetaria.

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, 2 and 3.

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.