हरी ॐ
Dear Parents,
Dear Parents,
This week was especially good, and the children were eager to sit and listen. The schedule was as such:
Opening Prayers: Om Sahanā vavatu, followed by the chants Om Sree Ganeśaya Namaha, Sree Saraswatyai Namaha, Sree Sat Gurubhyo Namaha.
Meditation: A couple of minutes of silence.
Story: Yudhisthira crowned the Yuvaraja creates much angst and hatred in Duryodhana and he confronts Dhritarashtra, who tells him to adjust to the situation, but he says refuses to agree.
A year later Duryodhana hears of his citizens praising Yudhisthira and Bheeshma and Arjuna winning over many new lands and tells his father to send away the Pandavas for a year. Dhritarashtra, wanting to support his son, calls Kanika to hatch a plot to rid themselves of the Pandavas. Dhritarashtra tells the Pandavas to go to the city of Varnavata for a year to spend time. Duryodhana, happy to know of the Pandavas' imminent departure, asks Purochana to rush to Varnavata and build a huge palace for the Pandavas make of lac and wax. And perfume it heavily so that nobody suspects. Vidura, upon learning of the plot, gives advice to Yudhisthira as they leave for Varnavata, that there are dangers greater than swords and weapons.
In Varnavata they are welcomed with joy, and the Pandavas live in the lac palace. Bheema, upon entering the palace, sniffs the wax in the walls. Yudhisthira advices his brothers to keep quiet and act normal, since no one could go against Dhritarashtra and Duryodhana. A miner friend of Vidura comes to Varnavata with the intention of digging a tunnel rom the palace to the banks of the Ganga, one that will be used by the Pandavas in their escape from the imminent danger. The miner overhears Purochana's plan to set fire soon, and asks Yudhisthira to plan their escape earlier. A grand feast is organized in the lac palace, where a mother and her 5 sons are also invited to attend. In the middle of the night, when the mother, her 5 sons and Purochana are fast asleep, Bheema quickly sets fire to the palace and escapes with his mother and his brothers via the tunnel. The palace burns down, and brings much grief to the elders in Hastinapur. Bheeshma is told by Vidura that the Pandavas are alive and well and about the treachery of Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana, and Sakuni. Meanwhile the Pandavas reach the banks of the Ganga and head toward Siddhavata.
Discussion: We will be conducting regular discussion sessions in class to answer questions, and raise modern day topics relevant to the Mahābhārata.
Geeta Chanting: Guided chanting with Sw. Shantanandaji. Please have the children practice the verses 1-4 every day.
See you all on Friday, Nov 22 at 7pm.
Pranāms,
Akshay and Nivedita
