Hari Om parents!
We started our class as usual with the opening prayers.
Kids learned to chant Bhagavat Gita Chapter 1, Slokas 3 & 4. We also practiced slokas 1 through 4. Please let the children listen to Swamiji's Gita chanting given in the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVaQ1AsTFVEK4MvW4zOX3dd7ct-7nFwWC
This week kids learned about Hiranyaksha and how every action has its own consequence through the story of Jaya & Vijaya.
Hiranyaksha hides earth under water. Lord Vishnu, incarnates as a boar (Lord Varaha), comes out of Lord Brahma's nostrils. Lord Varaha dives deep into the ocean, fights and kills Hiranyaksha and brings earth back out of water for a new beginning.
Jaya & Vijaya are the gate keepers (Dwara Paalakas) of Vaikunta. When the four SanatKumaras(Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana, and Sanatkumara) visited Vaikunta to have darshan of Lord Vishnu, the dwarapaalakas insult the SanatKumaras by denying them entry. Jaya & Vijaya were cursed by the SanatKumaras to take birth on earth and be away from their beloved Lord Vishnu. Jaya & Vijaya realized their mistake but prayed to Lord Vishnu to undo the curse as they could not stay away from the Lord. Lord Vishnu didn't undo the curse as actions have consequences. However, Lord Vishnu provided solace and gave Jaya & Vijaya choice between 3 Janmas as Enemy of the Lord ( and be eventually be killed by the Lord himself) or 7 Janmas. Jaya & Vijaya chose 3 Janmas as they would constantly be thinking of Lord and be killed by Him reasoning that 3 janmas is a shorter wait than 7 janmas; so they go back to Vaikunta faster. We asked the kids what option would they haved pick. Some wanted merry life for 7 Janmas but eventually understood why Jaya & Vijaya picked 3 Janmas. "It is difficult to stay away from loved ones for too long" is what we concluded at the end.
In the 1st Janma, Jaya & Vijaya were born as Hiranyaksha & Hiranyakashipu. In the second janma - they were born as Ravana and Kumbhakarna and in the third janma they were born as Sishupala and Dantavakra.
We had a class activity and kids were given strings and Cheerios to make bracelets. The challenge was to make the bracelets with their eyes closed. We are very proud to say nobody cheated. They found ways to help each other and make their individual bracelets better. Through this activity kids understood that any situation that is presented to us can be made to what we like. We can either make it Hell or make it Heaven.
We ended our class with Likita Japa & Swamiji's video.
Note: Next class is on 12/8/2019.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
śrī kṛṣṇārpaṇamastu
Venu Avva
Vasavi Mukkamala
