Hari Om! Parents,
Grade 1 welcomed lots of new kids to our Week 2 class! We started with
deep breathing and Om chanting. Opening Prayers started with Sahanaa
Vavatu, followed by Vakratunda Mahakaya, Saraswati Namastubhyam and
Guru Brahma shlokas. Children learnt "Sri Rama Rama Rameti" and "
Ramaaya Ramabhadraya" shlokas (My Prayers book pg.129,141). We talked
about showing respect for Bhagwan when saying prayers and having the
proper posture for chanting shlokas. The children shared names of
their favourite gods and godesses and will learn special prayers for
each. Please make sure they practice all the shlokas regularly.
We continued with the Bala Kanda of the Ramayana story. The four
princes are growing up from toddlers to teenagers. Under the tutelage
of their Guru Sage Vasishta they learnt vedas, upanishads, archery and
other arts of warfare. All four brothers excelled, but Rama outshone
the rest. He was the ideal son and a born leader. Rama and Lakshmana
had deeper affection for each other, while Bharata bonded closely with
Shatrugna. One day the powerful Sage Vishwamitra arrived at King
Dasharatha's court. This was the same rishi who had Lord Shiva's boon
as master of all weapons including all-powerful "brahmastra". Sage
Vishwamitra was a brahmarishi so the king received him with reverence.
After prostrating to the sage, King Dasharatha asks if there was
anything he could do for him he would gladly do it. Sage Vishwamitra
was performing a special yagna, but the rakshasas Subahu and Mareecha
were disrupting the sacred ritual. He required Rama's help to protect
the yagna as he was best qualified to deal with the powerful
rakshasas. The king is shocked since Rama is not even sixteen years
old, how could he fight treacherous rakshasas. The king offers to go
with the rishi along with his army instead of Rama. Vishwamitra's
anger flared when he heard the king go back on his word. Sage Vasishta
stepped in and advised the king to send Rama with the rishi. He
reminded the king that by protecting the sage Rama will gain fame and
glory. He asks the king to send Lakshmana to protect Rama. King
Dasharatha reluctantly agrees and the two princes leave Ayodhya with
Sage Vishwamitra. After a few days journey they arrive at the Dandaka
forest where the demon Taataka lived. Taataka was a strong, beautiful
maiden who had been cursed by Sage Agastya to become a flesh eating
demon. Sage Vishwamitra told Rama that she along with her son Mareecha
had turned the beautiful forest into an ugly dreadful place. Rama
twanged his bow and Taataka attacked him with huge boulders. The sage
asked Rama not to hesitate to kill a woman, but to do his dharma and
protect good from evil. With a well aimed arrow Rama put an end to
Taataka and the forest became beautiful again. We paused the story and
learnt the "Atma Nivasi Rama" bhajan (My Prayers book pg.149). The
children have started coloring in their Ramayana coloring books and
completed up to Lesson 3.
Gentle reminder that class starts promptly at 7 pm. Children need some
time settling down, so please arrive on time.
Your child must bring a Balavihar bag, Balavihar Handbook, Ramayana
Coloring Book, My Prayers book and crayons/ color pencils to every
class. Please write your child's name and grade on their belongings,
if lost they can be easily identified.
Jai Sri Ram!
- Rashmi and Uma
Grade 1 welcomed lots of new kids to our Week 2 class! We started with
deep breathing and Om chanting. Opening Prayers started with Sahanaa
Vavatu, followed by Vakratunda Mahakaya, Saraswati Namastubhyam and
Guru Brahma shlokas. Children learnt "Sri Rama Rama Rameti" and "
Ramaaya Ramabhadraya" shlokas (My Prayers book pg.129,141). We talked
about showing respect for Bhagwan when saying prayers and having the
proper posture for chanting shlokas. The children shared names of
their favourite gods and godesses and will learn special prayers for
each. Please make sure they practice all the shlokas regularly.
We continued with the Bala Kanda of the Ramayana story. The four
princes are growing up from toddlers to teenagers. Under the tutelage
of their Guru Sage Vasishta they learnt vedas, upanishads, archery and
other arts of warfare. All four brothers excelled, but Rama outshone
the rest. He was the ideal son and a born leader. Rama and Lakshmana
had deeper affection for each other, while Bharata bonded closely with
Shatrugna. One day the powerful Sage Vishwamitra arrived at King
Dasharatha's court. This was the same rishi who had Lord Shiva's boon
as master of all weapons including all-powerful "brahmastra". Sage
Vishwamitra was a brahmarishi so the king received him with reverence.
After prostrating to the sage, King Dasharatha asks if there was
anything he could do for him he would gladly do it. Sage Vishwamitra
was performing a special yagna, but the rakshasas Subahu and Mareecha
were disrupting the sacred ritual. He required Rama's help to protect
the yagna as he was best qualified to deal with the powerful
rakshasas. The king is shocked since Rama is not even sixteen years
old, how could he fight treacherous rakshasas. The king offers to go
with the rishi along with his army instead of Rama. Vishwamitra's
anger flared when he heard the king go back on his word. Sage Vasishta
stepped in and advised the king to send Rama with the rishi. He
reminded the king that by protecting the sage Rama will gain fame and
glory. He asks the king to send Lakshmana to protect Rama. King
Dasharatha reluctantly agrees and the two princes leave Ayodhya with
Sage Vishwamitra. After a few days journey they arrive at the Dandaka
forest where the demon Taataka lived. Taataka was a strong, beautiful
maiden who had been cursed by Sage Agastya to become a flesh eating
demon. Sage Vishwamitra told Rama that she along with her son Mareecha
had turned the beautiful forest into an ugly dreadful place. Rama
twanged his bow and Taataka attacked him with huge boulders. The sage
asked Rama not to hesitate to kill a woman, but to do his dharma and
protect good from evil. With a well aimed arrow Rama put an end to
Taataka and the forest became beautiful again. We paused the story and
learnt the "Atma Nivasi Rama" bhajan (My Prayers book pg.149). The
children have started coloring in their Ramayana coloring books and
completed up to Lesson 3.
Gentle reminder that class starts promptly at 7 pm. Children need some
time settling down, so please arrive on time.
Your child must bring a Balavihar bag, Balavihar Handbook, Ramayana
Coloring Book, My Prayers book and crayons/ color pencils to every
class. Please write your child's name and grade on their belongings,
if lost they can be easily identified.
Jai Sri Ram!
- Rashmi and Uma
