October 5, 2014

Hari OM!

Beginning Prayers

• Om Saha Navavathu
• Agajaanana Padmaarkam

Stotram:

GuruStotram – After practising Sloka 1 & 2, we learnt Sloka # 3.

Gurur-Brahmaa Gurur-Vissnnur-Gururdevo Maheshvarah |

Gurure[-I]va Param Brahma Tasmai Shrii-Gurave Namah ||1||

 

Meaning:

1.1: The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru Deva is Maheswara (Shiva),

1.2: The Guru is Verily the Para-Brahman (Supreme Brahman); Salutations to that Guru.

Navarathri:

We started the class talking about Navarathri celebrations, including Saraswathi Pooja, and Vijaya Dasami. Lord Rama worshipped Goddess Durga for nine days, in order to gather the strength and power to kill Ravana. He wanted to release Sita from the clutches of powerful demon king Ravana, who had abducted her. Those nine nights became to be known as Navratri and the tenth day, on which Lord Rama killed Ravana, came to be called Vijayadashmi or Dusshera, signifying Rama's (good) triumph over Ravana (evil).

Value of the Month:
This year, we have started to observe 'Value of the month'. This month's value is - Sathyam/ Sense Control / Victory over bad qualities / Light of knowledge. We talked about how it is so relevant to Sathyam class, and also the theme for the class, which is Ramayana, and how Rama exemplifies all these qualities.

Story:

We recapped the story from last class. We continued the story of how the news of birth of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatrughuna made all the Ayodhya-Vaasis (people of Ayodhya) happy. There was dancing, singing, and merry-making. The king celebrated by distributing presents, cows, horses etc.  As the brothers grew, they showed great remarkable qualities. Rama showed a steady devotion to duty and truth. Rama was the best archer, and he outshone his brothers in every sphere.  All the parents wanted their children to be like Rama. When Dasaratha was basking in the glory of his sons, Vishwamitra, the great sage visited his court.  Feeling very happy, and blessed to be visited by the great sage,  King Dasaratha told him that he would do whatever he wants him to do, and give him anything that he asks for. Vishwamitra rejoiced on hearing this, and explained the purpose of his visit which was to get Rama to protect the Yagna, from Rakshasaas especially Mareecha and Subhahu.  Dasaratha was completely shocked by this request, but after Sage Vashista convinced him, he was OK to sending Rama and Lakshmana.  

Rama and Lakshmana went with Vishwamitra to help him fight the demons. We talked about how Rama and Lakshmana were very excited about this adventure, and how Sage Vishwamitra convinced a hesitant Rama to kill Tataka.  Vishwamitra praises Rama and teaches him the use of divine weapons.

Rama and Lakshmana along with Vishwamitra crossed the River Ganges on a raft and finally reached Vishwamitra's ashram 'Siddhasrama'. The next day Vishwamitra started his Yajna and for 5 days and nights everything went smoothly. On the 6th day Marica and Subahu appear in the sky ready to disrupt the Yajna: Rama uses the 'Manavastra' to tie Marica in a bundle and hurl him near the sea; he then uses the 'Agneyastra' to kill Subahu. Vishwamitra complete his yajna without any problems.

We concluded this week's lesson by talking about how Vishwamitra decides to take Rama and Lakshmana to Mithila to attend a yajna conducted by King Janaka.

Quiz:

We did a mini-quiz on the story so far. There was enthusiastic participation, and it was heartening to know that children are paying attention.

Yoga:

We also did some simple yoga exercises  such as Trikonasana (Triangle Pose), Vriksasana (Tree Pose), Badhakonasana (Butterfly Pose) and some gentle stretches.

Games:

We played ‘4 Corners’ based on the Ramayana Characters, that children loved, and participated actively.

Conclusion:

We concluded the class with Shanti Mantra.

Reminders:

Some kids are still learning the Prayer Slokas, and Guru Stotram taught so far. Please have them practice at home regularly.

Next week, we will be celebrating Ram-Sita Wedding. Please feel free to dress your kids in festive Indian Clothes.

As always, please 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:

·         Crayons

·         Sharpened Pencils

·         Erasers

·         Notebook

·         Glue

·         Age appropriate child proof scissors

·         A folder to keep their pictures/artwork

and a nut free Snack/Drink

Next class in on 12th October 2014.

September 21, 2014

Hari Om 

Beginning Prayers

As in the first class, we started off the class with Om chanting three times, followed by 'Om Sahanavavathu', and the new Ganesha Sloka for this year, which is:

Agajaanana Padmaarkam
Gajaananam Aharnisham
Aneka Dam Tam Bhaktaanam
Eka Dantam Upasmahe

Stotram:

We chanted the first Guru Stotram, and also learnt the second Guru Stotram.

Ajnyaana-Timira-Andhasya Jnyaana-[Aa]n.jana-Shaalaakayaa |
Cakssur-Unmiilitam Yena Tasmai Shrii-Gurave Namah

(Please see ‘My Prayers’ )

We had a good and loud chanting when we split the class into two groups.  Please have the kids practice these Slokas at home.

Story Time:

We started the story time with the story of Valmiki. How he turned from a robber to a Sage, and how he got the name Valmiki, and what it means. (Anthill) We also learnt how he started to write Ramayana. We all wanted to live in Ayodhya, after learning about its beauty, and its people, especially that there was no fight or war. (Ayodhya – Place of no ‘yudh’ (war)). King Dasharatha ruled Ayodhya, assisted by his Guru Vashista. Kousalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra were his wives. But King Dasaratha was very sad because he did not have any kids. His Guru Vashista asked him to perform the ‘Putra Kameshti Yagna’.  After performing that yagna, he was blessed with 4 sons - Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna. Please ask them to retell these stories.

Activity:
We colored the ‘Putra Kameshti Yajna’ Scene from the story that we learnt today.

Conclusion:
We concluded the day with ‘Om Poornamadah’ Shanti Prayer.

Om Poornnam-Adah Poornnam-Idam Poornnaat-Poornnam-Udacyate
Poornnashya Poornnam-Aadaaya Poornnam-Eva-Avashissyate ||
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

(Please see ‘My Prayers’)

Comments:
We had a great Sloka chanting today. Hope to keep up with the enthusiasm, and energy in the coming classes.

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 5, 2014.  Happy Navarathri!

September 14, 2014

Hari Om

A very warm welcome to the first Sathyam Class of Balavihar 2014-15!

Beginning Prayers

We started off the class with Om chanting three times, followed by

Om Sahanavavathu

Vakra thunda

Saraswathi Namasthubyam

Stotram:

We went on to learn the first Guru Stotram.

akhaṇḍamaṇḍalākāraṁ vyāptaṁ yena carācaram

tatpadaṁ darśitaṁ yena tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ [1]

(Please see  'My Prayers' book)

Please have the kids practice this at home. We will continue learning Guru Stotram one new sloka at a time.

Introductions:

We went around the class introducing ourselves, and shared what we did over the summer. We had fun trying to recall the Ramayana characters, and stories that we already knew, and learning some new ones.

Activity:

We will be doing a folder on ‘Bala Ramayana’ to be filled with various arts and crafts on Ramayana stories, as we learn through each class. We colored ‘Ram Parivar’ today that will go on the front page of the folder.

Meditation/Japa:

We did 'Likhita Japa' today. We wrote the name of Lord Rama quietly, 11 times.

Conclusion:

We concluded the day with ‘Om Poornamadah’ Shanti Prayer.

Om Poornnam-Adah Poornnam-Idam Poornnaat-Poornnam-Udacyate

Poornnashya Poornnam-Aadaaya Poornnam-Eva-Avashissyate ||

Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

(Please see  'My Prayers' book)

Comments:

We had a great first Balavihar class this year. We had 9 lovely, enthusiastic and active friends that participated in classroom activities.  Most are returning students, and few are new.

Reminders:

Please 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 September 21st, 2014.

We are looking forward to a fun and spiritual year with your child!

***************************************************************************************************************************** 

Please review the following information pertaining to Sathyam Class:

Learning Goals:

Bala Ramayana: Goal for children is to easily learn Ramayana. Bala Ramayana tells us about the Lord of the Kosala Country, Sri Rama. This epic is divided into seven Kandas – Bala, Ayodhya, Aranya, Kiskinda, Sundara, Yudha and Uttara.

Learn thru’ stories, crafts, shlokas and games.

Please note:

Please arrive on time to Balavihar. Assembly starts at 9:30am on Sundays and Classroom instruction starts at 10am.

Please have your breakfast before class, so you are alert and energetic.  Please bring in a nut free snack for the break.

Please bring in all your supplies and books and completed homework to each class.

Please let us the kids and also the teachers know which class the parent will be during the class.

Schedule to attend all of the scheduled classes.  If you are going to be absent, email or call teacher and inform in advance. (Possibly the week before).  Let us know, of any planned vacation or when you plan to be away due to any other commitment.

December 8 2013

December 8th 2013 

Hari OM!

 Beginning Prayers 

• Om Saha Navavathu 
• Vakratunda Mahakaya
• Namaste Sarade Devi
• Dyana Mulam Gurur Murthihi
• Sri Rama Rama Rameti 

 Stotram: 
  GuruStotram (My Prayers, Page 61) - We learnt sloka 8 after reviewing the first 7

 Geeta Chanting: 
  Geeta (Chapter 14, Page 21) - We learnt the first 3

 Story: 
    Ayodhya is in mourning. Sage Vasistha sends for Bharata who is on vacation. Bharata who has been restless lately returns to Ayodhya and is confused to see the sad faces on his way to his mother's palace. There his mother tells him about the death of the old king and how she had planned and succeeded in making Bharata the king of Ayodhya. Bharata is shocked. The story continued with Kaikeyi telling Bharata how happy she was to secure the kingdom for him and how she banished Rama to the forest. Bharata and Shatrugna on hearing this are really shocked and angry and yell and scream at Kaikeyi. Shatrugna, who is usually quiet, also drags Manthara on the floor. Bharata performs the last rites for his father and then tells the court that he will go and bring Rama back and make him the king. Ayodhya is very happy and follow Bharata into the forest to bring back Sri Rama. Guha and Sage Bharadwaja meet Bharata and give their blessing and help to bring back Rama. When Lakshmana sees Bharata coming in the forest he misinterprets Bharatha's intentions - he thinks Bharatha is coming to kill Rama. Rama convinces him that there's no way Bharata would do that. Bharata is dressed in ascetic clothes just like Sri Rama and tells him how King Dasharatha is no more. Sri Rama faints on hearing this and on recovering performs the last rites for his father. Then Bharatha tries to convince Sri Rama to come back and take over the kingdom. Rama refuses and tell him the greatest philosophy that joys and sorrows come in pairs. Everyone's got to do what their duty is and whichever way destiny takes them. Rama has vowed to his father to stay an asceitc life in the forest for 14 years and he will have to keep his word. On hearing this, Bharatha is sad but agrees to run the kingdom as Rama's representative for 14 years till Rama comes back. Bharatha then asks for Sri Rama's paduka (Slippers) and takes it home on his head. He tells Rama that his paduka will sit on the throne and rule the kingdome. Meanwhile, Bharatha will live like Rama, in a hut as an asceitc outside Ayodhya and run the kingdom on his behalf.

Meditation/Japa: 
   Likhita Japa

 Activity:
  None

Games:
   Quiz

Conclusion:
  We conluded the day with
 Om Purnamadah

 Reminders: 
     Please try to send the following items in your childs bag:

•  Crayons 
• Pencil 
• Notebook 
• Glue 
• Snack/Drink 
• A folder to keep their pictures/artwork.
• 1st grade Balavihar books - Bala Ramayan, coloring book and a copy of 'My Prayers' 

Next class is on Dec 15, 2013.

November 24, 2013

November 24th 2013 

Hari OM!

 Beginning Prayers 

• Om Saha Navavathu 
• Vakratunda Mahakaya
• Namaste Sarade Devi
• Dyana Mulam Gurur Murthihi
• Sri Rama Rama Rameti 

 Stotram: 
  GuruStotram (My Prayers, Page 61) - We learnt sloka 7 after reviewing the first 6

 Bhajans: 

 Story: 
    We talked about how Rama, Sita and Lakshmana depart to the forest, amidst a very sad Ayodhya.We continued the story about how Rama, Lakshmana and Sita met Guha a tribal chief on the way and then they bid farewell to Guha and Sumantra the Charioteer and crossed the river Ganga. They then seeked Rishi Bharadwaja's advice as to where to set up their Ashram. Rishi Bharadwaja advices them to set up the ashram at Mt.Chitrakuta in Tapovan. When they reach Chitrakuta they liked the environment and Lakshmana quickly puts up a house of mud with thatched roof. Meanwhile Sumantra returns to Ayodhya with the empty chariot. 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.

Meditation/Japa: 
   Likhita Japa

 Activity:
  The kids traced the path of Rama on the Map and colored the feet.

Games:
   Quiz

Conclusion:
  We conluded the day with
 Om Purnamadah

 Reminders: 
     Please try to send the following items in your childs bag:

•  Crayons 
• Pencil 
• Notebook 
• Glue 
• Snack/Drink 
• A folder to keep their pictures/artwork.
• 1st grade Balavihar books - Bala Ramayan, coloring book and a copy of 'My Prayers' 

Next class is on Dec 8, 2013.

November 17, 2013

November 17th 2013 

Hari OM!

 Beginning Prayers 

• Om Saha Navavathu 
• Vakratunda Mahakaya
• Namaste Sarade Devi
• Dyana Mulam Gurur Murthihi
• Sri Rama Rama Rameti 

 Stotram: 
  GuruStotram (My Prayers, Page 61) - We learnt sloka 6 after reviewing the first 5

 Bhajans: 

 Story: 
    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.

Meditation/Japa: 
   None

 Activity:
  The kids colored a picture of Manthara poisoning the mind of Kaikeyi.

Games:
   Quiz

Conclusion:
  We conluded the day with
 Om Purnamadah

 Reminders: 
     Please try to send the following items in your childs bag:

•  Crayons 
• Pencil 
• Notebook 
• Glue 
• Snack/Drink 
• A folder to keep their pictures/artwork.
• 1st grade Balavihar books - Bala Ramayan, coloring book and a copy of 'My Prayers' 

Next class is on Nov 24, 2013.

October 27 2013

October 27th 2013 

Hari OM!

 Beginning Prayers 

• Om Saha Navavathu 
• Vakratunda Mahakaya
• Namaste Sharade Devi
•  Sri Rama Rama Rameti 

 Stotram: 
  GuruStotram (My Prayers, Page 61) - We learnt sloka 5 after reviewing the first 4

 Bhajans: 

 Story: 
    Rama was very eager to see the Rudra bow. It was so big and so heavy that about 5000 soldiers had to pull in a 8-wheel carriage into the palace. Rama's eyes shone when he saw the bow. Many princes tried to lift it but alas no one could. King Janaka was a little disappointed that there was no strong prince who could lift the bow that his daughter could. Just then Rama came up, lifted the bow with one hand, strung it and broke the bow. There was a divine sound and everyone in the kingdom could hear the roar of the bow. King Janaka was very thrilled and he promised Sita in marriage to Rama. Word was sent to King Dasharatha about the proposal and the king and his 3 queens came to Mithila for the wedding. Rama married Sita, Lakshmana married Urmila , Bharata married Mandavi and Shatrughna married Srutikriti. Everyone was happy, however King Janaka was sad that his beloved daughter would not live with him anymore and that she was moving away to live with her husband.

Meditation/Japa: 
   None

 Activity:
  The kids made a picture frame and pasted a picture of Rama and Sita. They then decorated the frame.

Games:
   Quiz

Conclusion:
  We conluded the day with
 Om Purnamadah

 Comments: 
     We celebrated Rama and Sita's wedding in class with some special snacks. Thanks to all the parents who sent in treats. The kids were dressed nicely for the wedding. And as it is a tradition to gift something at a wedding, the kids decided to something bad in them to Rama so that they can all be like Rama.

 Reminders: 
     Please try to send the following items in your childs bag:

•  Crayons 
• Pencil 
• Notebook 
• Glue 
• Snack/Drink 
• A folder to keep their pictures/artwork.
• 1st grade Balavihar books - Bala Ramayan, coloring book and a copy of 'My Prayers' 

Next class is on Nov 17, 2013.