Hari Om,
Here is a brief summary of class activities for Week 19, March 8, 2020
1. Opening Prayers
2. Spirit Day on March 1, 2020: The children had a blast with all Spirit Day activities, enjoying all the hands-on activities and acing the quizzes.
3. Mahabharata:
- The Pandavas started their exile in Kamyaka forest. Meanwhile in Hastinapura, Dhritarashtra was worried about the Pandavas returning with a vengeance after the 13 years. He asked Vidura for counsel and Vidura wisely advised him to return them their kingdom and if Duryodhana disagreed, to punish him and make Yudhishtra king of all of the Kuru lands. Infuriated by this, Dhritarashtra ordered him to leave Hastinapura and be with the Pandavas. Vidura left and met with the Pandavas, but Dhritarashtra soon sent a messenger to get him back. Duryodhana and Karna, wanting to put down the Pandavas for good, prepared their armies to march on the Pandavas but Vyasa dissuaded them. Sage Maitreya came to Hastinapura, and narrated how Bhima singlehandedly destroyed Kirmira, Bakasura's brother and Hidimba's friend. He advised the Kauravas to befriend Pandavas. Duryodhana kept silent, but slapped his thigh in defiance. He was cursed by Sage Maitreya that Bheema would break that thigh with his mace, and the curse would be nullified if Duryodhana befriended the Pandavas.
- Krishna , Dhrishtadyumna and many other kings and princes came to visit the Pandavas in Kamyaka forest and counseled them to not grieve and that ultimately, they would emerge victorious. Once in a coversation, Draupadi asked how Yudhishtra could live without anger at Duryodhana and not plot to attack him. Yudhishtra said the virtue of forgiveness is superior and practically, the Pandavas had to acquire skills and strength to match the might of the Pandavas. He gave the knowledge given to him by Vyasa to Arjuna which would enable him to obtain blessings from Lord Shiva and Arjuna, with his trustry Gandeeva, set off on a quest for weapons.
- Walking incessantly over the Himalayas, Arjuna reached a place called Indrakeela. There he met a sage, who stopped him and said that having reached this divine place, he should not keep his weapons. Arjuna stood firm that he needed them in his journey. Pleased with his determination, Indra revealed himself and granted him his blessings that Arjuna would indeed behold Shiva. Arjuna performed great penance, eating very little and as time went on, nothing but air. Pleased with his determination and devotion, Lord Shiva along with Parvati and his ganas, came in the form of a hunter and his associates. H engaged Arjuna in a contest to kill a boar (an asura by name Mooka had taken this form). Arjuna asked the hunter why he shot at the boar after Arjuna, and the hunter claimed it was his arrow that hit first. Angered, Arjuna engaged in a contest with the hunter, but was not able to make a mark on him.He tried with various weapons, to no avail. Bruised by the hunter's counter attacks, he went to steady his mind by worshipping Lord Shiva. He saw the flowers he offered the Shiva Linga on the hunter and immediately realised who the hunter was and fell at his feet. Lord Shiva granted him divine vision, blessings of assured victory and the Pashupatha astra. He advised him to not use the divine weapon on an impulse.or on anyone inferior in strength.
4. Our next class will online! Please make sure you are in the WhatsApp group to get the zoom link.
Regards
Abhirami Shrinivas
Rekha G Pai
