Hari Om Parents,
Happy 2020!
The following is what we did during this week's class.
Shlokas:
1. "Om Saha navavatu" (page 8 in My Prayers book)
2. "Vakrathunda Mahakaya" (page 27 in My Prayers book)
3. "Karegre vasate" (page 11 in My prayers book)
4. "Akanda-mandalakaram" (page 61 in My Prayers book)
5. "Ajnana-timirandhasya" (page 61 in My Prayers book)
6. "Gururbrahma" (page 61 in My Prayers book)
7. "Thvameva Maathacha" (page 62 in My Prayers book)
8. "Samudra vasane devi" (page 11 in My Prayers book)
9. "Saraswathi namasthubyam" (page 12 in My Prayers book)
10. "Subham karothi kalyanam" (page 12 in My Prayers book)
11. "Karacharana krithamva" (page 12 in My Prayers book)
12. "Bhramaarpanam bhrama havih" (page12 in My Prayers book)
Activities:
- Please continue to practice the Geeta Chanting slokas with your kids. They have been introduced to slokas 1-16 in Chapter 1 and that will be their requirement for the Geeta Chanting Competition. Please refer to the following website gitachanting.net for the right pronunciation. Most kids have familiarized themselves with the first 3 slokas! Please record videos and send your individual child chanting the shlokas to the Geeta Chanting Team cnjbalaviharhouses@gmail.com to earn house points.
- We have introduced most of the Dainikaprarthanah (means Daily Prayers) and 4 slokas from the Gurustoram. Please have the kids make it a habit to chant the above shlokas every morning, (lighting the lamps / evening) after their bath/shower. This will help them learn, memorize as well as develop a lifelong habit of morning prayer and daily prayer.
- If you have some extra time at home, please have the kids complete their coloring pages in their Bala Ramayana coloring books. Some kids have missed a class or 2, and we have had a few abbreviated sessions due to other activities and were unable to fit the coloring activity in. Please stop on Lesson 23. Please reiterate that the kids are recalling the story as they are coloring.
- We played the Concentration Game. After the chanting of 3 "Om's kids keep their eyes closed. They count the number of stones being dropped into a box during the quiet time. Later they give the count of the stones dropped. The game quiets the mind and improves concentration. A few got the count correct and most were really close.
- We had to cut the class short as there was a stage performance quiz show by the 7th grade team on Ramayana, that we all enjoyed.
After an extended recap of our story so far, we continued on to reiterate some key points. We told the class that Ravana did not listen to Marica's stern advice against trying to offend Rama, due to his blind desire to capture Sita. We also talked about how Rama thought, if the "Golden Deer" was actually real, then he would capture it for Sita so that she can have it as a pet. If it ended up being a raksasa, then he would kill it, no harm - no foul! Either way, he thought that he had nothing to lose, even though Lakshmana did not approve of his plan. After Marica was shot by Rama's arrow, he called out for help in Rama's voice! Lakshmana that it was another trick and was still very hesitant to leave Sita alone as he did not want to disobey his brother. Unfortunately, he ended up having to leave Sita in their ashram alone as she threatened him severely! He drew a line around the hut and gave her stern instructions as to "NEVER" cross the line under any circumstance as that was her "force field". She agreed to Lakshmana's conditions and forced him to depart to help his brother. Unfortunately Ravana in the disguise of a Rishi, tricks Sita into crossing over the force field to give him biksha! Thus Sita gets captured by Ravana!
Our story setting this week began in the Dandaka Forest, where Ravana has kidnapped Sita and they are flying high through the angered sky. Ravana had a strong grip on Sita's hand, Sita was struggling to free herself with all her might and she was screaming at the top of her lungs as Ravana's chariot was racing through the forest.
At that point, Jatayu was sleeping atop a tree and instantly awoke recognising that familiar voice of princess Sita! He immediately flew up in the air, introduced himself as the king of eagles & tried to reason with Ravana...King to King to prevent this adharma. When there was no way to sway Ravana's evil intentions, Jatayu began to fight with all his might. He killed the chariot's demon faced mules and Ravana's chariot smashed to the ground. He then attacked and injured Ravana. Sita was very fearful of Jatayu's well being, as she could see him getting weaker...she tells him to fly away and inform Rama and Lakshmana of what is happening.
Jatayu wanted to protect the princess and continued to fight as Ravana pulled out his sword & chopped off his wings! Sita immediately found the strength to yank herself loose and went to Jatayu's side. At this point, Ravana went and caught Sita by her hair and dragged her along with him, bringing infinite shame and disgrace to his royal family and all rakshasas. The duo continued to fly southward. As they did so, Sita decided to drop her jewels whenever she saw people from the sky, hoping that they will be clue for Rama, showing what direction she was being taken in.
Ravana and Sita finally reached Lanka and there he put evil Rakshasis incharge of Sita. They were told to make her forget Rama. But Sita refused to do so and was constantly meditating on her husband's name. The enraged Ravana told her that she will get 1 year to change her mind. If she did not, at that point he would instruct his rakshasis to cut her up, cook her and serve her as Ravana's breakfast! Ravana wanted to make sure that he and his kingdom were on high alert. He increased his army presence all around his island border. He also sent some of his raksashas back to the Dandaka forest to keep an eye on Rama and Lakshmana, and find out what their plans are. We stopped our story here.
Our journey continued. The brothers meet. Rama is extremely disappointed with Lakshmana for disobeying his stern instructions to take care of Sita and not to leave her side. Lakshmana had to defend his actions, as Sita was tricked by the demon's fake voice, even though Lakshmana was very sure that it was a rakshasa's trickery. Rama feared the worst possible scenario that his beloved Sita might've been eaten up by a demon. On reaching their ashrama, they did not see her. Grief stricken Rama, continued to accuse his brother of abandoning Sita! The surroundings were also gloomy, the birds were silent, the flowers were droopy and the animals had tears in their eyes. Rama went on to search under rocks, behind bushes and even asked the trees if they had seen his beloved Sita. Lakshmana tried his best to console his brother by reminding how he has overcome so much heartbreak so far and that they will definitely find Sita. After gaining his composure, the duo set out southwards.
As they continued on, they suddenly came across some flowers scattered on the ground. Rama immediately identified them as the ones he had picked for Sita that morning! They then saw small footprints and very large ones too.They also saw a jewel studded bow, a broken chariot, a crown and awful faced mules! They could visualize a struggle. As Rama turned around looking for more clues, he found some beads from Sita's necklace...his sorrow turned into blazing anger! He picked up his astaras and vowed world destruction! Lakshmana eventually calmed him down by saying that the ones responsible should pay for their actions, but the innocent shouldn't have to. On hearing those words of wisdom, the brothers saw a huge form close by. They saw Jatayu, with his wings and legs cut off from the battle. He kept himself alive to narrate the happenings to Rama. After doing so, he receives Rama's blessings and passes away. The brothers perform the final rites for the faithful king.
The brothers travel southward. They are suddenly captured by a monster Kabandha. It had one eye and a mouth with sharp teeth in the middle of its stomach, it had no head or legs. Rama & Lakshmana immediately took their swords out & chopped off the monster's arms. The huge form landed with a thump. The monster then told them that he was a heavenly being, but was cursed by a rishi for scaring him and would be freed only by Rama. Having chopped off his arms and grabbing hands, his desires were removed liberating him. The brothers burned the body and from the flames came a heavenly body that told them to go to the banks of the river Pampa, find the vanara king Sugriva on Rsyamuka hill and he will help you find Sita. Please ask the kids who Kabandha, what it means to be a Kabandha & if it is right to be like Kabandha.
The brothers continue on towards River Pampa. They arrive at Sage Matanga's ashrama. There they meet an old tapasvini named Sabari. When it was time for her guru to depart for this world, she too wanted to die! But Sage Matanga had told her that her duties on earth were not complete & that she had to encounter Sri Rama prior to her departure. So she had been very patiently awaiting His arrival. On seeing the brothers, she shed tears of joy that literally washed Rama's feet! She had gathered some forest berries for them but wanted to make sure that they were sweet & not sour, so tasted each berry & sorted only the sweet ones on a plate & offered them to Rama. Lakshmana was not happy about this & was about to prevent her from serving them, when Rama said he would love to have them & accepted her plate that was an offering of supreme devotion! Sabari's time had come to an end. With Rama's permission, she lit a fire & stepped into it & ascended to heaven. 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
