February 10, 2013

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 1-7. We worked slokha 7 this week. 
• Lingashtakam - We reviewed the first five stanzas of Lingashtakam and learnt the 6th one.
• Gita Chanting: We reviewed the first and second slokas of Chapter 13 

Story:

Rama and Lakshmana continue their journey towards the south. As they reach the banks of River Pampa they 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. As they are walking through the forests, Sugriva sees 2 humans coming and he suspects that they might be 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.  Ram and Lakshmana tell Sugriva their story and asks Sugriva's help to reach Lanka. 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.  Sugriva and Rama promise friendship to each other. 

Activity: 

The children colored a picture of Lakshmana cutting off Surpanakha's nose. 

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 Feb 23rd, 2013.