February 5, 2012

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)

 

Stotram:

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

   We reviewed the first three verses.

Geeta Chanting:

• We chanted the first 5 verses of Chapter XII.

Story:

We reviewed the story of Ramayana until the point that Rama and Lakshmana are searching for Sugriva.  As they are walking through the forests, Sugriva sees 2 humans coming and he suspects if they are spies from his brother Bali So, he sends his minister Hanuman to find out more about them..  Hanuman approaches them and introduces himself and finds out more them.  He is immediately attracted to their simplicity and becomes great friends with them. He carries them on his shoulder to meet Sugriva.  Sugriva promises to help Rama and Lakshmana if they help him win the kingdom back from his brother Bali.  Sugriva tells Rama about a misunderstanding between him and his brother that caused a rift between them which is why Sugriva is hiding in the Rsyamukha mountains.  Rama asks Sugriva to challenge Bali to a fight and Rama promises to kill Bali.  However Bali and Sugrive look so alike that Rama is not sure which is which. In the meantime, Sugriva gets beaten up by Bali.  He comes back to Rama disappointed that he did not keep up his end of the promise.  Rama explains the similarity between them and suggests that Bali wear a garland of flowers and challenge him again.  He does and this time, Rama shoots an arrow from behind a tree that takes Bali's life.  Rama then explains to Bali that it was fair to kill him while in hiding since htat's what they do when they hunt.  Bali feels blessed to be killed by Rama and asks Sugriva to take over the kingdom and his wife and son, Angada.

The monsoons set in, and they are unable to proceed in their search for Sita.  Meanwhile, Sugriva is rejoicing in the kingdom and forgets about his promise.  Hanuman goes to Sugriva and reminds him and he asks that all vanaras assemble within a day to start searching for Sita.  Lakshmana too comes looking for Sugriva to find out the status of the search. 

Activity:

Today, the kids colored a picture of Hanuman introducing himself to Rama and Lakshmana

Games:

We played Four Corners today

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

Conclusion:

We concluded with arti and pledge

Comments:

The kids are doing well in class.  They are participating well during the story and games.