October 26, 2014

Hari OM!

Beginning Prayers

·         Om Saha Navavathu

·         Agajaanana Padmaarkam

·         Yaakundendu

Stotram:

GuruStotram – Practiced Sloka 1 2, 3, 4 & 5, and learnt Sloka # 6.

Sarvaśrutiśiroratna virajitapadāmbuja 

vedāntambujasūryo yaḥ tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ [6]

Salutations to that Guru, who is like the Sun (which enables the blossoming of) the lotus of Vedanta, and at whose lotus feet abide the crown jewels of all the Veda.

Quiz:

Before continuing with the story, we did the Crossword Puzzle from the 'Bala Ramayana Junior Balavihar',  recalling some characters and events in Balakanda Story so far. Children took turns answering the questions, and also writing the answers on the blackboard.

Story time:

We started the next Kanda in Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda.

We talked about how happy Ayodhya was with Sri Rama and Princess Sita's arrival. Thus passed 12 years. Soon, King Dasharatha was thinking about retiring to the forest after handing over the kingdom to Sri Rama. As his coronation was being planned, Manthara-the hunchback maid of Keikeyi sowed the poisonous seed in Keikeyi's mind that only Bharatha should be made King. So, Keikeyi asks Dasharatha to give her the 2 boons (promised earlier) - 1. Bharatha should be made king. 2. Rama should be sent to the forest for 14 years. This devastates King Dasharatha, but in order to be true to his dharma he sends for Rama and gives him the orders to go to the forest. Rama takes these orders as calmly as he did when he was told he would be coronated. Lakshmana and Sita convince Rama that they will accompany him in his exile to the forest. They depart to the forest, amidst a very sad Ayodhya.  

The King Dasharatha is grief stricken. That night he confesses to Kaushalya the story of Sravana. " A young prince Dasharatha had learnt the art of shooting at his target without seeing it. One day while he was out hunting he heard the sound of an elephant drinking water and immediately shot his arrow only to find he had hit a young boy filling water in a pitcher. His name is Sravana and he says that he was taking the water to his blind parents. Prince Dasharatha asks Sravana's forgiveness as he had shot at Sravana by mistake. Sravana asks Dasharatha to got to his parents and dies. On seeing Sravana's blind parents Dasharatha explains his mistake and tells them of their son's death and seeks their forgiveness. The parents tell Dasharatha that even though he committed the sin unknowingly he will still have to bear the consequences. He too will suffer separation from his beloved son." Thus narrating the story to Kaushalya King Dasharatha breathes his last with Rama's name on his lips. Ayodhya is in mourning.

Conclusion:

We ended the class with Shanthi Mantra.

Comments:

Children are making progress with Sloka and Guru Stotram. Please make them practice on a frequent, if not, a daily basis, so that they can keep up with the rest of the class. Also, some kids are missing ‘My Prayer Book’, and ‘Bala Ramayana Junior Balavihar' books. Please remember to send those in.

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

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 November 2, 2014.