Hari Om Parents,
We had a very good Friday with all your children. As we had children coming in colorful Indian wear for our picture day it felt like our Diwali continued for another week. Thank you to all parents for sending in food boxes as Diwali giving spirit. We got the children started 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:
Celebrations in Gokula : Mother Yasoda was filled with love as she saw the baby in the morning and was very much attracted to the baby. Hearing the good news of the baby Gokula was overjoyed. Since, the baby was the baby of the village chieftain Nanda the people of Gokula lined up in front of the house in long lines only to meet the baby. Gokula was very well decorated with flowers and garlands with fragrance and lamps lit.
In Nandas house they were doing pujas and thanking the lord for blessing them with a baby. Nanda generously gifted cattle and wealth in plenty to the brahmins and the poor. All the gopas wore new clothes their brightest and best dressed in long skirts and adorning themselves in celebration. They went to Nandas house with milk, curd and yogurt as gifts to Yasoda. As they reached Nandas house they formed a line to hold the baby and waited more as they got attracted to hold the baby as they were got attracted to him. They danced and sang in celebration and so what started as celebration turned to be extreme happiness.
Kamsas Evil Plans : The celebrations in Gokula reached the ears of Kamsa. Kamsa, had a sneaky suspicion that this baby was his enemy. His crooked mind came with evil thoughts and he planned to kill the baby with one of his frightful rakshasis Putana.
As ordered by Kamsa, Putana went to Gokula. She by her maya made her look like a beautiful young lady. She looked so charming and beautiful that people of Gokula looking at her felt that Godess Lakshmi had herself come down to bless the baby at Nandas house.
She reached Yasodas house and sat near the baby playing with the baby and asked Yasoda for a glass of water. When Yasoda went in to get the water she picked the baby and tried to feed the baby her own poison. She did not realise she was trying to kill the Lord himself (that which was not possible). So, when she tried to feed him poison the lord not only sucked the poison but also sucked out the life out of the rakshasa. As she started loosing her life her maya shakti left her and she retained her original huge body and she gave a big cry. Yasoda, came worried out to see her child and found the baby smiling and playing on top of the body.
The people of Gokula cut the body into parts so they could burn. When they burnt the body, it gave a very sweet fragrance. The tamasic body of the demonic sorceress had been purified by the Lord's touch.
Points to Ponder : Bhagwan is kind. He only saw Putana had come to feed him. Though with a wicked desire the Lord had the feed. So, how can he not liberate her. God Forgives
Kamsas Trickery : When Kamsa realized Putana had failed he summoned the mighty asura Trnavarta. Trnavarta could raise dust storms and cyclones at a moments notice, and could easily sweep away heaviest objects. One day Mother yasoda was sitting in the courtyard playing with her baby. She realized the baby's weight was feeling heavier by the minute. So, she put the baby down and went out to call her neighbours to see what was wrong.
In the meantime Trnavarta saw the chance and raised a terrific dust storms. With the dust storm risen everyones eyes and noses were filled with sand and dust and he took the baby and ran out. As he went higher and higher in the eye of the storm. His plan was to smash the baby from very high. But the baby got heavier and heavier and he could not go up. Finally, the rakshasa was cought by the throat and the divine child started choking and finally he dashed to the ground. Like a huge mountain he lay dead.
The dust settled and the air cleared but the baby could not be found anywhere. Finally a search party found the baby on Gokula's outskirts playing on the rakshas lifeless body.
They got the baby home to Yasoda. Yasoda, immediately took care of the baby realizing the child must be hungry gave him his feed. Once the baby's tummy was full, he gave a wide yawn and to Yasodas amazement inside his mouth she could see the whole universe. Overwhelmed by this she closed her eyes. This was one of the first acts of divinity that Mother Yasoda experienced.
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.
Ask them to read their book in Stories of Krishna. We noticed few children as one of the books that they read. We also heard from one child that their grandparents read the stories along with them. This is really very nice to hear. Wanted to share this idea to the parents and grandparents to read along.
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 November 22nd. No class on November 8th and 15th.
We will meet for Surabhi at Royal Albert Palace, Edison, NJ. This is an opportunity to meet other families and also enjoy some good music. To get more details please click on the link below http://www.chinmayavrindavan.org/surabhi/
It is a long two week break till we meet. So, please practice at home regularly.
Pranaam,
Meena and Vijilakshmi
