Hari Om! dear Parents,
Happy Ramanavami and Hanuman Jayanthi to all!
We had another good session on Zoom. Thank you Swamiji, Coordinators, parents and children.
We started our class with the beginning prayers followed the Vedic chant;
Om namo aste bhagavan..
We then chanted trayambakam 11 times for the benefit of people suffering from the pandemic.
The children took turns and chanted 10 verses from Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita.
This week our curriculum was on ‘the attitude of gratitude’ based on our scriptures,
Discussed the pancha maha yagnas: Yagnas represent an attitude of gratitude.
Deva yagna—offerings to the Gods. This yagna serves 2 purposes. It helps to clean the environment and also to express our gratitude to all the natural forces like air, water etc.
Pitr yagna—offering oblations to our ancestors. This tradition helps to create an environment of mutual love and respect among people and ensures harmony in the family and society.
Bhuta yajna—Feeding animals and birds, pets or any being that has life.
Manushya yagna—Worship of guests and the needy or Athithi devo bhava! This includes our attitude towards our fellow human beings, which is being polite and not insult anyone.
Brahma yagna—Study of scriptures, lighting a lamp and saying a prayer. This helps us to grow spiritually
Discussed that these yagnas performed with the right attitude and spirit can save us from the sins we may have committed during our daily chores.
Our next discussion was based on prenatal samskaras.
Discussed all living beings come from HIM, the Lord.
Discussed we are what we eat. Parents to be, are responsible for the life coming through them, or our future generation.
Told Bhakta Prahalad’s story.
Prahalada was the son of the demon king Hiranyakasipu. His wife, Kayadhu was a pious lady. Once Hiranyakashipu went to Mandarachala mountain to meditate. The devas grabbed this opportunity and kidnapped Kayadu who was pregnant at that time. Narada, a devotee of the Lord told the devas to release her and he kept her in his ashram and imparted Brahma Vidya to her. The baby born, later known as Prahlada received the knowledge in his mother’s womb. This knowledge had a great impact on him and he is revered and respected even today.
Discussed the foods we eat can be classified them as satvic, rajasic and tamasic.
Discussed its effects on our body and mind. Lord Krishna talks about them in the Bhagavad Gita chapter 17.
Discussed foods which provides us with strength, good health and joy are termed as satvik.
Food that is bitter, sour, hot, pungent etc. which may produce pain and discomfort to us are classified as rajasic.
Food that is stale, putrid etc are classified a tamasic.
Discussed that we should cultivate the taste for satvika food as it will help us to think clearly and reach our goals.
The children took turns to sing the arathi and the recited the pledge.
Pranams
Nirmala and Purnima