Hari Om! Parents,
Warm welcome to the 2018-19 Grade 1 Balavihar Class! We are Rashmi and Uma, your child's Balavihar teachers for this year. Class begins at 7 pm on Fridays, please arrive promptly so we can begin on time.
A quick update for parents who missed our introduction session last class. Topic for Grade 1 is "Bala Ramayana". The required book is available at the Publications desk near the Temple, please get one for your child. The "My Prayers Book" is also required as the class will learn shlokas and bhajans from there. That is also available at the Publications desk. Lastly, your child must bring their "Chinmaya Vrindavan Balavihar Handbook 2018-19" to every class. It contains Gita chanting verses for practice, and they will refer to it for Aarti and Pledge. Your child can also bring crayons and colored pencils for coloring activity.
In the last two classes we did the following:
"Sahanaavavatu" prayer, introduced ourselves, spoke about Maharishi Valmiki, Rama as Bhagavan Vishnu's Avatar and started the Ramayana story. Class heard about Ayodhya (place where there is no fight), King Dasharatha and his three wives, the "putrakameshti yaga", birth of the four princes.
Class two the story continued with the princes growing up and becoming skilled in warfare and archery. The arrival of Sage Vishwamitra, his request, then Rama and Lakshmana setting out to protect the sage's yagna from the rakshasas. Their arrival on Dandaka forest and ensuing fight, and then concluded with the death of Tataka. After a quick quiz about characters in the story, the class learnt "Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi" and Verse 1 of Guru Stotram. They sang "Utthe bhi Rama kaho" bhajan before heading out to Aarti.
You can reach out to both of us with any questions or concerns. Jai Shree Ram!
Pranaam,
Rashmi and Uma
