हरी ॐ
Dear Parents,
Dear Parents,
We had a wonderful start to our class this week, with a visit from Sw. Prakashanandaji from Chinmaya Mission in Trinidad and Tobago. He addressed the children from 7-7:30, and had a wonderful interactive story to share.
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: Hidimbi, now married to Bheema, takes the Pandavas and their mother to Lake Salivahana. A year later, she gives birth to Ghatotkacha. Soon, the Pandavas leave for Ekachakra. Baka, an asura had been terrorizing Ekachakra, finds his next victim in the Brahmin, whose home shelters the Pandavas. Bheema offers to go in his place and defeats the cannibalistic asura, much to the joy of the citizens of Ekachakra.
In the midst of all this rejoicing, a world traveller visits the Brahmin's home in Ekachakra and reveals stories of Drupada's hatred for Drona, Drupada's Putrakameśti yagna (to have a son who would kill Drona and a daughter to give in marriage to the brave Arjuna), and the resulting births of Dhrishtadhyumna and Draupadi, the unfortunate deaths of the Pandavas in the burning of the lac palace, the suspicions on Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana and Śakuni, and so on. He also mentions that Drupada doesn't believe that the righteous and mighty Pandavas could be dead, which is why he organizes a swayamvara for his daughter, Draupadi. Hearing this, Kunti decides to go to Kampilya in the kingdom of Panchala.
Discussion: We had a discussion on what we would prepare for our class presentation on February 14th. the children have decided on a modern day reenactment of a few events from the Mahabharata.
Geeta Chanting: Guided chanting of verses 7and 8 with Sw. Shantanandaji. Please have the children practice the verses 1-8 every day.
See you all on Friday, Dec 6 at 7pm.
Pranāms,
Akshay and Nivedita
