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)
- "Thvameva Maathacha" (page 62 in My Prayers book) - New
- "Subham karothi kalyanam" (page 12 in My Prayers book)
- "Bhramarpanam" (page 13 in My Prayers book) - New
Activities:
- 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 so far. Please stop on Lesson 17 (page 20). 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 9th, 10th & 11th shlokas 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 had to end class a bit early as we had the privilege of listening to the Swaranjali stage performance.
We did a quick quiz like recap to get back onto our journey through Bala Ramayana. With Sage Agastya's location recommendation in mind, the trio arrive at Panchavati. Upon arrival, they encounter Jatayu. He introduces himself as King Dasaratha's friend, relative of Garuda and his presence was to keep a watch out for Sita. They found a nice location near the Godavari river, for their home for the rest of their exile. Laksmana was excellent with his building skills that he had learnt from Sage Vasishta. In no time, he had a cute little hut built and the trio were discussing how Bharata and Shatrughan were living simple lives and all 4 brothers were eagerly awaiting their reunion.
As the season slowly changed to winter, a lady demon Surpanakha was a shapeshifter, (daughter of Vaisrava muni) was cursed to live this life of an ugly roaming demon due to her past bad deeds, showed up asking questions what the trio was doing in her neck of the woods! She instantly fell in love with Rama and asked him to marry her. Rama mockingly says he's married to Sita and that would not be possible and leads her to believe that Lakshmana is equally good looking and is not there with a wife. So settles and then asks Lakshmana to marry her. He then goes on to say that he's Rama's slave and it wouldn't be appealing to her to be a slave of a slave and convinces her to ask Rama to leave Sita for her. On hearing that she is really tempted and tells Rama the same and says she would eat Sita up! On hearing that, Rama dives to protect his wife and orders Lakshmana to control the situation. Lakshmana immediately chops off Surpanakha's ears and nose! An earth shattering scream erupted from her mouth, she ran away and disappeared into the Dandaka forest.
Surpanakha with blood gushing from her ears and nose areas, approaches her rakshasa brothers Khara and Dusana, who were surrounded by a court full of demons. She makes a complaint against Rama and Lakshmana conveniently leaving out her fault in the incident! Khara immediately sent 14 of his most powerful demons to go slay Rama and Lakshmana. Surpanakha went along to witness the incident. On seeing them coming, Rama tells his brother to take Sita to the cave and keep guard. Rama took the 14 of them out in an instant. Surpanakha immediately reported the outcome. An army of 1,400 was then assembled and led by Khara, Dusana and Trisha. Similarly, Rama was able to wipe out that Rakshasa army, except for Akampana who was the sole survivor. The Devas showers flowers from heaven on seeing Rama's grand success!
Akampana who was visibly trembling, rushes to Lanka to convey this devastating news to their leader Ravana! Akampana also states that he should do some smart planning by kidnapping the beautiful Sita, causing anxiety for Rama would be the only way to defeat Rama as he was way too powerful! The enraged Ravana approaches Marica for council on how to avenge his sister's humiliation. Marica who was performing penance at an ashram, advises that Rama will put an end to the Rakshasa race, so told Ravana to leave it alone! He agrees and forgets about Sita.
Surpanakha arrives the next day and is shocked and enraged that her brother has not done anything! She too triggers the thought of the beautiful Sita as being a perfect matrimonial match for her beloved brother Ravana. He then promises his sister that he will take revenge. Ravana then demands Marica to change his form into a Golden Deer to attract Sita's attention. Then to distract Rama and Lakshmana so that he could kidnap Sita. Marica reluctantly accepts his king's order, knowing well that this was the beginning of the end of the rakshasa race. We paused 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
