Hari Om Parents,
The following is what we did during Sunday's class.
Shlokas:
- "Om Saha navavatu" (page 8 in My Prayers book)
- "Vakrathunda mahakaya" (page 27 in My Prayers book)
- "Karegre vasate" (page 11 in My prayers book)
- "Samudra vasane devi" (page 11 in My Prayers book)
- "Om Saraswati namastubhyam" (page 12 in My Prayers book)
- "Akanda-mandalakaram" (page 61 in My Prayers book)
- "Ajnana-timirandhasya" (page 61 in My Prayers book)
- "Gururbhrama" (page 61 in My Prayers book)
- "Subham karothi kalyanam" (page 12 in My Prayers book)
Activities:
- We played the Concentration Game. After the chanting of 3 "Om"s kids keep their eyes closed. They listen quietly and count the number of stones being dropped into a metal box, in their mind during this quiet time. Later they give the count of the stones dropped. The game helps with focus and improves concentration. Many of them got it right this time, most of them were close. They are all eager to get it right the next time!
- We continued coloring in our Bala Ramayana coloring book. Some kids have missed a class or 2, & we have had a few abbreviated sessions due to other activities & were unable to fit the coloring activity. The kids can color the pages in the middle that they haven't completed them so far. Please stop on Lesson 13 (page 16). Please reiterate that the kids are recalling the story as they are coloring. We do not have class next Sunday due to the Thanksgiving long weekend. If your child is behind on coloring, please have them catch up if time permits. Thank you.
- We introduced the 5th & 6th shloka of Chapter 1 in The Geeta. They are in our handbooks in both Sanskrit & English. Please help the kids practice the slokas that were taught in class. The kids will be learning slokas 1-16 & that will be their requirement for the Geeta Chanting Competition. Please refer to the following website for the Gita. gitachanting.net for the right pronunciation. Please also refer to Swamiji's video link for practice.
We continued our journey through Bala Ramayana with a quick recap of where we ended during our previous class. This week, we got back to Grief- stricken Ayodhya. We were in King Dasaratha's room, he was lying on his bed and was slowly narrating to his beloved queens, the curse of Sravana's parents and how it was coming true! He begged Kausalya and Sumitra for their forgiveness. His eyes were getting heavy, his hearing slowly declining, he was struggling to breath as he was crying out "Ha Rama! Ha Lakshmana! Ha Sita! Rama! Rama! His head drooped and oil in his room lamp ran out as he took his final breath.
Ayodhya at that point had just been hit with a double whammy of Rama's banishment and their king's passing. Sage Vasishta was the only voice of reason at that point. He tells the messengers to go Kaikeya to bring back Bharata and Shatrughna, bearing gifts and without telling them about Ayodhya's condition. Bharata had been feeling bad omens and was not sure what to expect. As the brothers passed through Ayodhya, they were not greeted by anyone, everyone was sad and sort of angry too. The confused brothers arrive at the palace and Kaikeyi is the only one there to greet him. He immediately asks why his father is not there...as he always welcomes them back with a warm and loving embrace. He then becomes aware of the plot that Mantara had cooked up and how his mother became poisoned.
Bharata is ENRAGED! He does not believe his ears. A "HULK" like personality began to brew inside of him. Bharatha began to blame himself for all the disastrous outcomes that were created by his mother, on his behalf! Shatrughna, who was by nature a very calm and collected prince, lost all sense of control on seeing Manthara! He even became terribly violent towards her. He eventually calmed down. Bharatha does not want the throne, he immediately went to beg for forgiveness from Kausalya and Sumithra. The funeral takes place with sage Vasishta's guidance. Everyone's initial reaction on seeing Bharata is rage! But then they eventually find out that he had nothing to do with his mother's evil acts. Bharata refuses to take the throne and insists on seeing Rama. Everyone wanted to do the same. So the whole of Ayodhaya headed towards Chitrakuta like a large army. Bharata went in bark garments and denied any special treatment or food. Their journey continued for 2 days and they were nearing the banks of river Ganga. Guha could see an army from a distance and he immediately sets his tribe up for battle, but some of the elders advise him otherwise. Then on closer analysis, they realise that Bharata was not coming with any evil intention. Bharata was in an eager haste to see Rama so they departed early the next morning. As they neared Chitrakuta, Rishi Bharadvaja was observing the army approaching and had a similar initial reaction as the others. But soon he too realized that Bharata had nothing to do with his mother's plan and guided him to proceed in the direction of Chitrakuta. We paused our story here.
Please go to the link below to check out the pictures from this week's class
Each week's update is maintained on Google docs, if for any reason you are unable to attend class on a certain Sunday, you are requested to check for weekly updates so that your child does not miss out. Below is the link
We require at least 1 parent inside the ashram during the full duration of the class. You are free to choose an Adult Study Group or sign up to Volunteer or Meditate/Read in the Temple.
Required books for Grade 1
My Prayers Book
Bala Ramayana Coloring Book
Regards,
Keerthi Kobla and Dipti Chauhan
