Hari Om Parents,
We started our class with chanting Om 3 times and Om Saha navavathu. Next, we chanted our daily prayers 'Karagre Vasathe Lakshmi', 'Samudra vasane devi '. We introduced the new slokas 'Gangecha yamune chaiva' and 'Saraswathi Namasthubhyam' this week. We explained the meaning of slokas and they also learned when we chant these slokas during the day. Please encourage the kids to learn these slokas as part of their daily routine.
Karagre Vasathe Lakshmi - As soon as you wake up, look at your palms and chant (pg.11 in My Prayers Book)
Samudra vasane devi - Before you step off from a bed and your feet touch the ground (pg.11 in My Prayers Book)
Gangecha yamune chaiva - Before / during bath
Saraswathi namasthubhyam - Before studies
Story: Kids together recap the story & we continued our journey as Rama and Lakshmana followed Viswamitra and reached the banks of Sarayu river. The next morning, they proceeded on their journey and reached Kamashrama. They rested there for the night and the next morning after offering their prayers, Rama and Lakshmana along with Viswamitra crossed the Ganges river and came into the Dandaka forest. We described the Dandaka forest as dark, deep, ugly, and full of wild animals, where Tataka resided in. First Rama hesitated to kill Tataka because she was a woman. Then Viswamitra told Rama that it is the dharma of a Kshatriya to protect good or destroy evil. Rama twanged his bow. She advanced upon Rama with huge boulders to shower upon him. Then Rama shot arrows and cut off all her limbs. Rama with a well-aimed arrow pierced her chest. She was killed. Sage Viswamitra embraced him and the devas rejoiced from heaven. We discussed why Tataka & Maricha were cursed by sage Agastya to lead ugly demons. Kids learned to not do wrong actions even when angry. We had a short class this week. All the kids assembled in the prayer hall for Saraswathi pooja.
Activity: They sang 'Atma Rama Ananda Ramana' bhajan (pg.143 in My Prayers Book) at the end of class.
Best Regards,
Sailatha & Sita
