Hari Om!
Here is a brief summary of class activities on December 8th, week 10.
1. Beginning Prayers:
- We revised the Ganesha Pancharatnam, please have the children practicing this at home.
2. Mahabharata:
- We started with the story from the escape of the Pandavas from the wax palace. The people in the town of Varanavrata were shocked that the palace had burned down and blamed Dhritarashtra and Duryodhana for this event. They intimated the King of the Pandavas' and Kunti's passing. He arranged for the last rites to be performed for the deceased. Meanwhile the Pandavas crossed the Ganga and reached a dense forest. They were tired and exhausted to travel anymore. Then Bhima gathered them all and carried them and started traveling. They all had a hard time, with physical exhaustion and hunger. Once when they were sleeping, a rakshasa by name Hidimba saw them and thought they were fit to be eaten. His sister Hidimbi however became really fond of Bhima. As Hidimba attacked the sleeping Pandavas, Bhima fought with him and killed him. Hidimbi requested Kunti to permit Bhima to marry her. Kunti agreed, and Bhima and Hidimbi got married.She had a son, Ghatotkacha and she promised that she and her son would always come and help them as and when needed. All they had to do was think of them. Kunti and the Pandavas left them and moved on in their journey. They wandered across many regions, belonging to various famous kings. Once, they were met by Vyasa who offered them words of comfort and directed them to Ekachakrapura to the house of a brahmana. The Pandavas lived there, begging for their food and engaged in simple austerities. One day, they heard the father in the household cry out and they came to know that it was the family's turn to feed the demon Bakasura. Kunti offered Bhima, as she wanted to repay the host's generosity in taking care of them. Reluctantly they agreed. Bhima killed Bakasura and the townspeople began to wonder who did this great deed. The brahmana host just told the it was some one who was highly skilled in divine mantras who took pity oh him and did this deed. Time passed and one day, through visitors, Pandavas came to know about the princess Draupadi and her upcoming swayamvara. Draupadi was the daughter of Draupada, born from the sacrificial fire fro the yagna which Draupada performed to beget a son who would kill Drona. She was dark-skinned and fragrant, the most beautiful woman of her time. The Pandavas were eager to attend the swayamvara and so they took leave of their host and journeyed towards Kampilya. Vyasa met the Pandavas and informed them that Draupadi was destined to have five husbands and they were meant for her.
On their way to Drupada's kingdom, Arjuna ran afoul of a gandharva named Angaraparna (Chitraratha) who was bathing in a river with his wife. In the battle that followed, Arjuna destroyed his chariot and defeated him, but spared his life. The grateful gandharva granted him divine vision and each of the brothers hundred horses and promised to help him whenever he was in need.
Then, the Pandavas and Kunti reached Panchala and the Pandavas went to participate in the swayamvara.
3. Geeta Chanting:
- We have now learnt upto 10 verses in classes. Please have the children continue to practice at home, as we will continue to record and submit the verses to the Houses team.
4. Reminders:
- Please make sure the children are in class by 9:15am
- Remember to sign up for the stage performance on Feb 9th
- Please send a note book (old/half-used is fine) or the likhita japa note book for writing in class.
Thanks
Abhirami Shrinivas
Rekha G Pai
