Hari Om Parents,
The following is what we did during today'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)
13. "Srirama Rama Ramethi" (page 129 in My Prayers book)
14. "Manojavam Maaruta" (page 152 in My Prayers book)
Activities:
1. We have introduced 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.
2. We sang our Rama bhajan "Jaya Jaya Tulasi" (page 141 in My Prayers book) together today. Most of the kids have gotten familiar with the bhajan and it's sounding great.
3. 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. I muted everyone so that the kids wouldn't have any potential distractions from each other. Several students got the count correct! The rest of them were very close. They all were visibly thrilled!
4. We did some coloring towards the end of class. If you have some extra time at home, please have the kids complete their coloring pages in their Bala Ramayana coloring books. Please stop on Lesson 36. Please reiterate that the kids are recalling the story as they are coloring.
5. Please have the kids continue writing their Likitha Japa. You can send photos of them in to earn house points.
6. We had a brief meeting with the parents after class to discuss our Year End Celebration.
We began today's story with a brief recap. Most of the kids were ready to jump in and answer questions. Lanka was in a very bad place with signs of war everywhere. Our setting started in Ravana's palace, where he was totally dejected, feeling shame, revenge and grief. He was slowly coming to a realization that he may have done something wrong. The stubborn nature of Ravana, even at this point prevents him from surrendering to Rama. He had made up his mind to go down fighting. He had a new divine chariot made for him, he loaded it up with all of his weapons. He dressed up in his best silk attire and adorned himself with jewellery made of gold and precious stones. All his ten heads were shining brilliantly. He knew in his end was near, but yet he put on a brave face and rode out towards the battlefield. The people of Lanka watched their king pass through the city and they were saddened as they too knew that it would be their last glimpse of their proud warrior.
Ravana terrorized the vanaras as he sped through the battlefield with his ten heads blazing. His intent was to fight Rama and anyone else in his way was taken down with immense power. In a similar fashion, Rama's arrows were tracking and taking down the rakshasas in every direction. Ravana's rage doubled when he encountered Vibhishana. Lakshmana tried to block Ravana only to be taken down. Hanuman immediately moved him off the battlefield and used the herbs that he had from the mountain to revive him. Then the duo who were equally matched faced each other. The waters stood still, the wind stopped and the sun became dark as signs of ill omens for Ravana. The devas and gandharvas watched, holding their breath and not even blinking.
Rama shot one divine astra after the other, injuring Ravana but was unable to take him down. Every time he shot an arrow and took off one of his heads, another one grew back! Ravana laughed hideously every time it happened! Rama was bewildered. Indra sensed Rama's distress and decided to send down a divine chariot along with Maatali, a charioteer. Both Rama and Ravana were wounded. Ravana could sense that his final hours were approaching. Maatali prompted Rama to use his divine astra that he had received from Sage Agastya. Rama aimed the divine arrow at Ravana's chest and released it. It flew like a hissing serpent and pierced Ravana's chest. That humongous and radiant figure came down with a thunderous bang that shook the earth and heavens. The vanaras celebrated and the remaining rakshasa's scattered away. The devas showered flowers from above. The sun began to shine, the trees swayed in the breeze, birds chirped and Mother Nature was happy. Lakshmana, Sugriva, Hanuman, Jambavan, Angadha and Vibhishana looked at Rama with a sense of love, joy and admiration!
Vibhishana looked at his brother's motionless body with sadness and pity. But he refused to perform his final rites. Rama was by his side to counsel him by saying, "Your Brother is My Brother Too"! He said that Ravana died a brave warrior, on hearing those words, Vibhishana agreed. Lanka was in a disastrous state. Vibhishana was crowned King. Mandodari was heartbroken and she had supported her dear husband's every move, though she had tried multiple times to change his mind, she decided to enter Ravana's funeral pyre. We paused our story here.
Please go to the link below to check out the pictures from this week's class
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOSwh_aQgtnmw47uNFPLybwYI-Y753e9SxrW57FdEI_U0mkXzEIUJojDKa6ecT81A?key=bmlZWlNPTnZieDF4Wk9BZjQ1eTQ3S05KTm51VHlR
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
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zeus7FhUTvnCfUB7BxhnTYFr4lHq5R7mMh5HVwL_8_Q/edit?usp=sharing
Regards,
Keerthi Kobla and Dipti Chauhan
