Week 10
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 15 (page 18). 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 7th & 8th 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.
Our adventures through Bala Ramayana continued.
The trio continue on with their life in Chitrakuta, becoming more comfortable with their surroundings and accepting that this would be their way of life for 14 years. Sita is pleased to be close to nature and enjoys the natural beauty of what Chitakuta has to offer. Sita accompanies her husband and Lakshmana many times to collect fruit, flowers, nuts and berries.
One day, Rama becomes alert to the sound of an oncoming army and requests his brother to climb a tree to see what is approaching. Lakshmana like all those prior to him, assumes that Bharata is coming with evil intentions of harming Rama. But he was immediately calmed down by Rama, as he teased him by saying that he would ask Bharatha to give Lakshmana the throne, as he was sure that Bharatha would listen to Rama! As the army moved into closer proximity, they see Bharata and Shatrughan in bark garments. Bharatha immediately falls at Rama's feet begging for forgiveness. Rama was very nonchalant, enquiring about the kingdom, the people and his father. Bharata responded by saying he did not accept to be king as only the first born was to take that role and as for their father, he conveyed the horrifying news of his demise! Rama is drowned by sorrow, swoons and faints. Sita and the brothers revive him and they perform the final rites and rituals.
Rama then explained to Bharata that everything - sadness, happiness - is the play of fate. Having taken human birth, we must bow our heads before the destiny marked for us and accept them as they are. Kingdom, wealth, name, fame - all these mean nothing. All these things shall pass. Why weep for them? He tells his beloved brother not to grieve. He then asks him if there is anyone on earth to whom sorrow, disease,and death have not visited?
Rama makes his point by saying that he needs to uphold "Dharma", and must keep his promise to his father, so will not be able to return to Ayodhya at that point. Bharata then agrees to a compromise, asks for Rama's sandals, takes them and places them on his head. He agrees to run the kingdom for 14 years till Rama returns to Ayodhya. He would live a simple life like the rest of the people and have Rama's sandals take the throne.
Rama realizes that even though Chitrakuta was a perfect location for their stay and Sita was very comfortable there, he decided to move further into the depths of the Dandaka forest to prevent the people from temptation of coming to meet the trio. As they continue their journey, they encounter several Rishis, get their blessings and are presented with powerful Astharas. On their way, they encounter various demons as well. A notable one was the huge rakshasa Viradha. He had the boon of no death. He scares Sita and puts her on his shoulder. Rama and Lakshmana are furious, then both of them take Sita's spot. The brothers chop off Viradha's arms and all other body parts till he thumps onto the ground and his neck find Rama's feet and he is finally liberated. The trio arrive at Sutikshana's ashram. They accept to make that their home and to protect the Rishis from demons.
10 years went by...the trio went from one ashram to another, slaying demons and collecting astharas. Sita didn't understand why Rama was doing this and involving himself in violence. Rama explained that it was Kshatriya Dharma to protect the Rishis. Rama had a great desire to see Sage Agastya. We then told the kids why Agastya was so powerful and the story about the Vindhya mountain range. Rama, Sita and Lakshmana continue their journey further south. Then we told them the story about the clever demon brothers Vatapi and Ilvala & about their cunning plan they used to kill multiple rishis. Agastha used his own clever plan to consume and digest Vatapi and used his own terrifying vision to burn Ilvala to ashes. The kids enjoyed that part very much. The trio arrive at Agastya's ashram, he was overjoyed to see them. They took the sage's blessings. Rama was then gifted a bow that Vishvakarma had made for Vishnu and then made their way towards Panchvati. 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
