Hari Om Parents,
Our 1st Grade balavihar kids are doing great & now reciting prayers to the next level. Majority of kids have memorized shlokas & lead the class while chanting. This way they inspire each other to recite. Keep up the good work. We are so proud of all of them! Please encourage them to recite at home too. Following are our daily prayers:-
1. Karagre vasathe Lakshmi - Before you wake up
2. Samudra vasane devi - Before you step off from a bed and your feet touch the ground
3. Gange ca yamune caiva - Before/During bath
4. Sarasvati namastubhyam - Before studies
5. Brahmarpanam brahma havih - Before Meals
6. Subham karoti Kalyanam - Before evening light
7. Shri rama rama ramethi rame rame manorame - Pg.129 in My Prayers Book
Verse 1, 2, 3 & last verse (tvameva maata ch pita tvameva) of Guru Stotram - Akhanda mandalakaram - Pg.61 in My Prayers Book
Yoga:- We stretched touching the toes & while doing few yoga poses like tree pose, warrior pose etc.
Geeta Chanting :- We did Geeta chanting with our Swamijiś video. Some of the kids have memorized verse 41 & 42, we will be practicing verse 43 & 44 in the upcoming class. Please record videos & also send your childś individual geeta videos to the Geeta Chanting Team cnjbalaviharhouses@gmail.com to earn house points. We will also record the class group chanting.
Please find the link to the Gita chanting below:
Ramayana story time:- As usual we played the "Concentration game" before narrating the story. Kids are always excited to hear Ramayana story & curious to ask questions. Kids together recap the story & we continued our journey as Rama & Sita are back to Ayodhya after wedding & King Dasharathaś cup of happiness was full. Almost 12 years passed & Rama & his brothers were dutiful & aided their father in all state matters. One day king Dasharatha decided to crown Rama as a king & everyone felt that Rama would be a wise ruler. Sage Vasishtha came forward & suggested that following day is the most auspicious day for Rama to be crowned as King. Ayodhya people were overjoyed to hear the news & started all the preparations. When Queen Kaikeyiś maid, Manthara finds out about Ramaś coronation ceremony, she sow the poisonous seed in Kaikeyiś mind by telling her that Bharata will always live in fear of Rama & you have to fight for Bharataś right to be king. The poisonous seed grew in Kaikeyiś mind & clouded her understanding. Kaikeyi reminds Dasharatha about the two boons she had received by saving his life in a battle. With the first boon, she asked Bharata should be crowned as king & with the second, Rama should be sent to the forest for 14 years. King Dasharatha was shocked to hear that & fell sick. Calm & controlled Rama took his fatherś blessings to fulfill his wish. King Dasharatha lays motionless chanting Ramaś name. Lakshmana asks Ramaś permission to accompany him in the forest. Sita insists Rama that wifeś place is by her husbandś side & she would not live apart from him. Rama agrees to let her come. Bharata & Shatrughna were at Kekeya, their grandparents place.
In previous two classes we also covered the part of Rama, Sita & Lakshanama heading towards the forest , Guhaś hospitality, farewell of Rama, Sita & Lakshamana at the banks of Ganges by charioteer & minister Sumantra & Guha. Later Sumantra going back to Ayodhya & giving Ramaś loving messages to his dear father & mothers. King Dasharatha remembering the incident of his youth & telling the story of Shravana before the last moments of his life. Ayodhya grief stricken, Sage Vasishtha sending swift messengers to Kekeya to fetch back Bharata & Shatrughna.
Activity:- Kids also played four square game & tasted surprise sweet treat of munchkins in the class.
Please check that children have these supplies in their balavihar bag:-
· My prayers book (available @ chinmaya bookstore)
· Ramayana coloring book, it is also available at our Chinmaya bookstore.
· They will need to bring their crayons or coloring pencils or markers for coloring.
· Pencil & eraser
· Balavihar Handbook
Please stay tuned of our tomorrowś email regarding 1st grade annual stage performance on Jan. 13th.
Thanks for the opportunity to spend quality time with your children!
Sincerely,
Pranjali & Sailatha
