October 19, 2014

Hari OM!

Beginning Prayers

·         Om Saha Navavathu

·         Agajaanana Padmaarkam

·         We learnt the new Saraswathi Sloka:

“Yaa Kunde[a-I]ndu-Tussaara-Haara-Dhavalaa Yaa Shubhra-Vastra-[A]avrtaa
Yaa Viinnaa-Vara-Danndda-Mannddita-Karaa Yaa Shveta-Padma-[A]asanaa |
Yaa Brahma-Acyuta-Shankara-Prabhrtibhir-Devah Sadaa Puujitaa
Saa Maam Paatu Sarasvati Bhagavatii Nihshessa-Jaaddya-Apahaa ||1||

Meaning:
1.1: (Salutations to Devi Saraswati) Who is Pure White like Jasmine, with the Coolness of Moon, Brightness of Snow and Shine like the Garland of Pearls; and Who is Covered with Pure White Garments,
1.2: Whose Hands are Adorned with Veena (a stringed musical instrument) and the Boon-Giving Staff; And Who is Seated on Pure White Lotus,
1.3: Who is Always Adored by Lord Brahma, Lord Acyuta (Lord Vishnu), Lord Shankara and Other Devas,
1.4: O Goddess Saraswati, Please Protect me and Remove my Ignorance completely.

Stotram:

GuruStotram – Practiced Sloka 1 2, 3, & 4, and learnt Sloka # 5.

cinmayaṁ vyāpi yatsarvaṁ trailokyaṁ sacarācaram

tatpadaṁ darśitaṁ yena tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ [5]

Meaning: Salutations to that Guru, who has shown to me That Pure Consciousness, which pervades all the three worlds, including all movable/immovable objects.

Quiz:

We began with a ‘Character Description’ quiz where kids were asked to tell three things they know about a character.

Story time:

We continued the story from Ram-Sita Wedding. Along with Ram, his brothers also got married at the same time,  Lakshmana  to Urmila, Dasharatha’s other daughter, Bharatha & Shatruguna to Mandavi & Shrutakirti. With heavy heart, Dasharatha sent Sita off, to Ayodhya, with Rama and family. Vishwamitra went to the Himalayas to continue with his Tapas, after blessing the newly wedded couples.

  Vishmitra was actually a king before he became a Brahma Rishi. One day tired from a battle when he was returning home with his army he reached the Ashram of Sage Vasishta. Vasishta welcomed the king and took care of him and his army with good food and nice place to rest. Vishmitra was surprised that a sage could provide all the comforts and then found out that Vasishta had a magic cow named Sabala. Vishmitra wanted the cow for himself but Sage Vasishta was not willing to part with it so enraged Vishwamitra fought with Vasishta but Vasishta won the battle. Vishwamitra went to the forest to do a penance for many years and came back with powerful weapons to fight with Vasishta but he lost again. After many such trials he gave up on revenge and then did penance to overcome his anger and became a Brahma Rishi.

As they were returning to Ayodhya, they saw some signs of bad omen, such as, the sky becoming dark, earth trembling, trees shaking etc., In front of them, suddenly appeared Parashurama, with matted locks, burning eyes, and a brilliant face. He had a bow, an arrow, and a battle-ax. Since his father Jamadagni was killed by a Kshatriya, he wanted to get rid of all the Kshatriyas. Parashurama asked him to bend ‘Vishnu’s bow’ that he was holding, since he already broke ‘Shiva’s bow’ in Mithila. Rama lifted the bow, strung it, and fixed the arrow, and asked Parashurama, ‘Where should I destroy ? Your tapas or your power of movement’ since he could not kill a Brahmin. Parashurama asked Rama to take away the fruit of all his penance, and after paying his respect to Rama by doing ‘Pradakshina’, went back to the Himalayas. Eventually Dasharatha and his party reached Ayodhya. Everybody was happy to see the Princes and their new wives in Ayodhya.

You might want to ask your kids for the new names/terms learnt in this class. Wives of the brothers, Parashurama, his father’s name, Pradakshina etc.,

Activity:

Kids did another beautiful craft activity today for the upcoming Diwali festival. They painted and decorated a ‘Diya’ which we hope they would have lighted with a candle during Diwali.

Conclusion:

We ended the class with Shanthi Mantra.

Comments:

We celebrated the birthday of Lasya and Aniruddh. Thanks to Lasya’s Mom for the birthday goodies. As always, please have the kids practice the Slokas and Guru Stotram at home regularly.

Reminders:
Please remember to send along the following items in your child’s bag:

Class Text Books/Workbook:

·         My Prayer Book

·         Ramayana Characters Children’s Workbook

·         Bala Ramayana Junior Balavihar

Supplies:

1.       Crayons

2.       Sharpened Pencils

3.       Erasers

4.       Notebook

5.       Glue

6.       Age appropriate child proof scissors

7.       A folder to keep their pictures/artwork

and a nut free Snack/Drink to have during the break

Next class is on October 25th 2014.