September 09, 2012

Hari OM!

Beginning Prayers

• Om Saha Navavathu
• Vakratunda Mahakaya
• Saraswathi Namastubhyam
• Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu

Stotram:

• GuruStotram (My Prayers, Page 9) - We did sloka 1

Story:
We described Ayodhya and how beautiful a city it is.  It is where King Dasharatha was ruling, and there was no fight/war in the city - hence the name.  We also talked about how King Dasharatha ruled such a happy peaceful kingdom but was sad himself.  He was sad because he had no kids and his guru asked him to perform the putrakameshti yagna.  On performing that yagna, he was blessed with 4 sons - Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrugna.

Activity:
The kids colored a picture of Rama/Sita.
Meditation/Japa:


Games:


Conclusion:
We conluded the day with

• Om Purnamadah

Comments:
We had a wonderful start to our Balavihar year.  All the kids enjoyed doing their own Ganesha idols in the cafeteria.  We had about 9 friends in class today, most of whom seem to be not new to Balavihar.  We have a very enthusiastic bunch of kids, who were willing to participate in all the activities and class discussions.  We talked about how everyone spent their summer and how excited they are to be back in Balavihar.


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. 1st grade Balavihar books - Bala Ramayan, coloring book and a copy of 'My Prayers'

Next class is on September 23rd, 2012

June 10, 2012

We did our opening prayers and had a long chat about our summer plans.  Today was our last class of Balavihar for the academic year 2011-2012.   Dhruv brought everyone some snacks.

We also played hangman and 4 corners in class today.

See you all in september!

June 03, 2012

Beginning Prayers

• Om Saha Navavathu
• Vakratunda Mahakaya
• Saraswathi Namastubhyam
• Ramaya Ramabhadraya
• Buddhir Balam Yashodhairyam
•  Krishnaya Vasudevaya.

Story:

We continued our story and discussed how Sri Rama requested Sita to dress herself in royal queen-like clothes before appearing before him.  Then Sita was asked to take the Fire Test.  Sita had to prove to the world that she was pure inspite of having stayed at Lanka for a year.  To do that, she asked Lakshmana to light a fire, and she stepped onto it.  Agni-deva came out of the fire holding her and announcing to the world that she was very very pure.  After that, Sri Rama happily accepted her and took her back to Ayodhya.  Then was the happy coronation of Rama, Sita in Ayodhya and they lived happily ever after.
Activity:

We played hangman in class and the kids did pretty well.  Later on, we went out to bask in the sun and play some outdoor games.

Comments:

We celebrated Sri Rama's coronation and our year end with a party.  We had a number of yummy treats to eat in class.   The kids wanted to dance their samskriti program again - it was hard to convince them that they didnt have to.

We have one more class before the year ends.  It has been an unbelievable quick year and we have had lots of fun teaching the kids this year.

May 20, 2012

We had Samskriti program this day and our class performance was absolutely wonderful. Thank you parents and Anagha for all the practice sessions.

MAY 6TH, 2012

Beginning Prayers

• Om Saha Navavathu
• Vakratunda Mahakaya
• Saraswathi Namastubhyam
• Ramaya Ramabhadraya
• Buddhir Balam Yashodhairyam
•  Krishnaya Vasudevaya.

Bhajans:

Stotram:

Story:

It is now Indrajit's turn to fight the vanara army.  He kills most of the vanaras and Rama and Lakshmana were soon caught in a net of poisonous darts.  The brothers were in a death-like coma.  Jambavan who was himself wounded looks for Hanuman and requests him to go the Himalayas immediately.  He asks Hanuman to look for a hill between the Kailasa and Rsabha peaks and bring four specific herbs which will help revive the divine brothers.  When Hanuman reached the Himalayas he finds the hill with a lot of herbs, unable to figure out which four were needed he brings the entire hill to the battlefield. The herbs not only help revive Rama and Lakshmana but also the vanara army.  The vanaras attack Lanka at night and set fire to every house and palace.  Ravana sends the sons of Kumbhakarna but they are killed. Ravana once again sends Indrajit.  The ferocious vanara army puts up a great fight.  Angered by this Indrajit uses his magical powers to create a maya Sita, places her in a Chariot and kills her with an arrow.  The vanaras believe this trick and carry the news to Rama and Lakshmana who throws their weapons down in dejection.  Vibhisana intervenes and mentions Indrajit's magical powers and asks Lakshmana to finish Indrajit immediately. Lakshmana goes with Hanuman to fight Indrajit and finally kills him.  Ravana hears this news and is heartbroken.  He gets angry and decides to kill Sita for real but one of his minister's remind him not to be a coward but go fight Rama himself. Ravana now prepares for battle with Rama


Ravana rides to the battlefield in full glory knowing fully well that he was going to meet his death. He attacks the vanara army and slowly makes his way to Rama.  Lakshmana tries to stop him but is rendered unconscious by Ravana. Hanuman ones again brings the hill of herbs to revive Lakshmana.  Finally Rama and Ravana come face to face and a great battle follows. The raksasas accompanying Ravana are killed easily.  Now Rama and Ravana fight with each other.  Both aim their divine astras at each other, both are wounded.  Rama cuts of Ravana's heads one by one but is confused to see that another head would rise to take its place. Lord Indra sends his divine chariot and charioteer Matali to help Rama.  Rama wounds every limb of Ravana but Ravana is still fighting. Matali whispers to Rama to use the divine astra given by Agastya.  Rama kills Ravana with that astra. Everyone is overjoyed and Mother earth breathes freely.  Once again truth triumphs. Vibhisana is saddened by Ravana's death and at Rama's request performs the last rites of Ravana.  Vibhisana is crowned king of Lanka and starts the task of rebuilding Lanka. 

Activity:

Games:

Likhita Japa:

Conclusion:

We practiced the dance for Samaskriti.

Comments:

We met with the parents and reviewed the timings of the remaining practice sessions.  We reviewed the costume requirements as well.  We have a stage rehearsal on Saturday, Nay 12 at 2.30 pm.  We looking forward to seeing all the kids that day. 

April 29, 2012

Beginning Prayers

• Om Saha Navavathu
• Vakratunda Mahakaya
• Saraswathi Namastubhyam
• Ramaya Ramabhadraya
• Buddhir Balam Yashodhairyam
•  Krishnaya Vasudevaya.

Bhajans:

Stotram:

• Gurustotram & Lingashtakam.  We reviewed the last verse of Lingashtakam.

Story:

Ram gives the signal to the vanara army and the battle begins. The vanaras and the raksasas fought fiercely.  The generals on both sides are well matched.  Angada fights with Indrajit and kills his charioteer.  Indrajit gets angry and starts shooting poisonous and serpent darts at Rama and Lakshmana.  The brothers are annoyed at first but are rendered helpless by the serpent darts.  The vanaras are confused and surround the brothers and they start weeping.  Meanwhile Indrajit tells Ravana that Rama and Lakshmana are dead.  Ravana is overjoyed and asks some raksasas to tell Sita about the death of the brothers.  He asks that Sita be flown over the battlefield so she can see the truth for herself.  Sita sees Rama and Lakshmana lying helplessly and cries bitterly. Then the rasksasi Trijata points out that Rama and Lakshmana's faces still has the divine glow and says that they are not dead but will be revived soon. Sita is cheered by these words.  Suddenly the ocean rises and Garuda, the king of birds alights in the midst of the vanaras.  He gently strokes the unconscious bothers and they sit up with renewed strength and energy. The vanaras shout with joy and Ravana comes to know that the princes are revived and ready to fight. 


Ravana calls a fierce raksasa Dhumraksa to the lead the army to the western gate.  He fights with Hanuman and his vanaras and is killed by Hanuman. Ravana then asks Vajradamstra to fight against Angada but he too is killed by Angada. Ravana grows afraid as each of his brave warriors are slain. Prahasta his commander-in-chief reminds Ravana that all this could have been avoided if Ravana had returned Sita to Rama. Prahasta is also killed in the battle.  Ravana himself leads the army and fights with Hanuman and Lakshmana.  Lakshmana is wounded and becomes unconscious.  Ravana then comes face to face with Rama.  They fight fiercely and Rama knocks off Ravana;s crown, his chariot and destroys all his weapons. Ravana stands in front of Rama bedraggled and harassed.  Rama tells Ravana to go home, rest and come back the next day with fresh weapons. Ravana returns to his palace and decides to wake up his sleeping brother Kumbhakarna.  The raksasa wake him up with great difficulty.  Kumbhakarna hears from Ravana the grave situation he is in.  Kumbhakarna is not happy about Ravana's deeds but decides to stand by his brother.  He goes out and fights with the vanara army, eats up a lot of them, makes Angada, Sugriva and Nila unconscious. He parades the streets of Lanka with Sugriva on his shoulders, Sugriva regains conscience and his spring comes back to him, he lands int he midst of the vanaras. An annoyed Kumbhakarna wounds Hanuman and asks to fight with Rama.  In the battle that follow Kumbhakarna is killed by Rama.  Ravana is shaken when he hears this news. His sons decide to go out and fight with the vanaras and one by one they too are killed. Ravana is heart-broken but is determined to continue fighting.  He organizes his defenses again and the raksasa army is once again prepared to face the vanara attack. 

Activity:

Games:

Likhita Japa:

Conclusion:

We had assembly today.

Comments:

We continued our Samaskriti practice this week and will continue in the next class.  We have a practice session on Saturday May 5th at 4.00 pm.  Details will follow in an email.  For those who are participating attendance is a must.  We still have to learn the final part of the dance. Samaskriti is on May 20th and we have only a few more opportunities to practice.  Every child must be present to make this a decent performance.  Even if one child is missing it throws our routine as each child has a part to play. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.  We will have a stage rehearsal on Saturday May 12th from 2.30 to 3.00 pm.  We get only 30 minutes for practicing on the stage so attendance is a must and please be on time.  This will be the stage at the Bridgewater school.  We get only this one chance to practice on stage before the May 20th show.

April 22, 2012

Beginning Prayers

• Om Saha Navavathu
• Vakratunda Mahakaya
• Saraswathi Namastubhyam
• Ramaya Ramabhadraya
• Buddhir Balam Yashodhairyam
• We learnt a new sloka this week - Krishnaya Vasudevaya.

Bhajans:

We reviewed some of the bhajans we learnt this year. 

• Rajathi Rajaya
• Vigneshvara Vinayaka
• Rama Lakshmana Janaki
• 
  

Stotram:

• Lingashtakam:

   We reviewed the first six verses. We learnt the seventh and eighth verses this week.

Story:

Vibhisana shares with Rama the preparations that are being made in Lanka for the war. But the immediate issue was to cross the sea.  Rama undertakes a fast for three days but no help seemed to be coming.  Rama is outraged and asks Lakshmana for his bow and arrow.  He shoots at the ocean with anger, the waves are in turmoil, the animals are dying, the Sea God shows himself to Rama and pleads with him to stop.  he tells Rama that it is against the nature of the ocean to be shallow and part to give way for the army to cross the sea, instead he recommends that Rama appoint Nala (son of Visvakarma) as the chief engineer to build the bridge and promised to hold it together for the vanara army to cross.  Rama does so and the the vanara army under the leadership of Nala worked without any rest and the bridge is completed in 5 days.  They use boulders, massive trees and hills to build the bridge and the Sea God holds it together for them.  They write 'SriRama' on every materials and their devotion is the cement that holds the bridge together. Rama, Lakshmana along with the vanara army cross the sea and reach the shores of Lanka. 


On seeing the army Ravana's grandfather advised Ravana to do what is just and return Sita to Rama. He tells Ravana that his luster has gone down with Rama setting foot on Lanka.  Ravana gets angry and refuses to listen to reason.  He says that even if the whole world is against him he will fight with Rama.  Rama sends Angadha as a messenger to try to reason with Ravana one last time. But Ravana tries to attack Angadha, Angadha uses his might to rise int he air and flies aways but not without breaking the turrets of Ravana's castle.  Ravana considers this an ill-omen and tries to resort to tricks.  he thinks that if can convince Sita to be with him then Rama will return a dejected man.  he get a magician to make a head like Rama's and takes it to Sita saying that Rama has died in the battle.  sita cries bitterly but in the meantime Ravana's generals come for him as te vanara army has started attacking Lanka. As Ravana leaves sita the false head goes up in flames as for it to maintain its appearance Ravana's presence was needed.  A good raksasi named 'Sarama' explains Ravana's deceit to Sita; sita is overjoyed to hear that Rama is alive and well just as the trumpets blare and the drums of the vanara army sounds. Sita is glad but the hearts of the citizens of Lanka tremble with fear. 

Activity:

The children colored a picture of the vanara army building the bridge.  

Games:

We played four corners today.

Likhita Japa:

Conclusion:

We concluded with arti and pledge

Comments:

We continued our Samaskriti practice this week and will continue in the next class.  We have a practice session on Saturday, April 28th at 4.00 pm.  Details will follow in an email.  For those who are participating attendance is a must.  Samaskriti is on May 20th and we have only a few more opportunities to practice.  Every child must be present to make this a decent performance.  Even if one child is missing it throws our routine as each child has a part to play. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.  We will have a stage rehearsal on Saturday May 12th from 2.30 to 3.00 pm.  We get only 30 minutes for practicing on the stage so attendance is a must and please be on time.  This will be the stage at the Bridgewater school.  We get only this one chance to practice on stage before the May 20th show.