Hari Om Parents,
We had a great Friday yesterday with all your children. As we had children coming in we got the children start the day with Likhita Japa. We are writing "Sri Krishna Sharanam Mama" for Likhita Japa this year..
We then proceeded to our routine. We said Om 3 times and then starting class with our Opening Prayers(Om Sahanavavatu).
1. Chanting My Prayers: Since all the kids who attended 3rd grade were already taught the My Daily Prayers we chanted it. For the benefit of the newcomers, the Daily prayers are in My Prayers Pg,11 of green book. The following are the shlokas
a. Karagrevasathe Lakshmi
b. Gangecha yamunechaiva
c. Saraswati namstubyam
d. Brahmarpanam
e. Subhamkaroti kalyanam
f. Karacharana kratamvaak
g. Kayenavacha manasaindriyeyva
2. Story, Birth of Krishna: When Vasudeva stepped out of the jail, he with his baby in the basket he walked straight into a thunderstorm. He quickly made through the dark streets the citizens were sleeping. He soon arrived at the banks of river Yamuna. Her waters were surging and twirling as the river was swelling. Vasudeva, entered fearlessly as he was following the Lord's instructions and he carried the basket with the baby on his head. Seshanaga, the thousand headed serpant served Krishna as an umbrella. Water rose from knee to hip to shoulder of Vasudeva but he kept walking. Yamuna, wanted to touch the Lords feet. Krishna knew the reason so he put his little feet out and the river receded and paved a way so Vasudeva could walk across the river.
When Vasudeva entered Mathura it was quiet. He entered Nandas house and placed the baby boy near the mother and took away the baby girl newborn from Yashoda's side. Yashoda, was asleep and she was so happy to become a mother she did not even know if it was a boy or girl.
He crept away and returned to Mathura. As soon as he was back the prison gates closed one by one the chains tightened around them and the guards awoke and heard the newborn baby's cry. They ran to give the news to Kamsa. Kamsa awoke fully dazed from sleep and his mind was filled with fear as he woke up from his nightmare and immediately walked towards the prison. Looking at Kamsa Devaki held the baby tight but Kamsa as planned picked the baby by her legs and was to smash the head against prison walls. Suddenly the baby slipped from Kamsa's fingers and took the shape of Goddess. "Fool! You have gained nothing by killing innocent babies. Your enemy is already born and when time comes will destroy you. Did you dare to believe that you could avert the will of the Lord?"
Kamsa was dumbstruck and started shivering and after a bit came to his senses. He took the chains of Vasudeva and Devaki and feel at their feet. He asked them to pardon him for his sins of killing their innocent children. Vasudeva and Devaki felt sorry for Kamsa.
But Kamsa's goodness was short lived as he kept bad company. Once he came back to his palace his daitya ministers instilled the thought that he had nothing to loose. He should ask his henchmen to go all over his kingdom and kill all the babies who were born the last 10 days. They added Devas are afraid of you and would do nothing and ask for his permission to destroy Vishnu.
Points to Ponder
1. Everyone of us has good thoughts and evil thoughts. When an evil thought comes to us how do we deal with it.
2. How do we know who are the children we should be friends. Is it good to keep company of friends who are bully or mean to others
3. Shlokas: Krishnashtakam we revised first three verses and added the 4th verse. Pg.109 of My Prayers(Green book)
Things to remember
1. Please try to be in class 5 mins before class time. Class starts at 7 PM sharp. It is important we start class on time so that we can finish our syllabus.
2. Please make sure the children have a composition notebook and a pencil with eraser as they come.
3. Check completed Home work: Write a small paragraph on why mother earth is sad and how you can make them happy.
To do at home regularly
1. Say Daily Prayers
2. Do Likhita Japa for 5 mins (this helps all of us to focus)
3. Chant Gita regularly.
We then proceeded to the Prayer hall for The Opening Day for the Houses followed by Closing Prayers Aarti and Pledge.
Our Next class is on October 25th.
We are excited to have your children in our class and can't wait to meet you all next week.
Pranaam,
Meena and Vijilakshmi
