Hari Om Parents,
The following is what we did during Sunday'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. "Samudra vasane devi" (page 11 in My Prayers book)
8. "Saraswathi namasthubyam" (page 12 in My Prayers book)
9. "Subham karothi kalyanam" (page 12 in My Prayers book)
10. "Karacharana krithamva" (page 12 in My Prayers book)
11. "Sri Rama Rama Ramethi" - New
Activities:
- 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 the concentration. A few got the count correct & most were really close.
- We have introduced most of the Dainikaprarthanah (means Daily Prayers) & 3 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 & before going to bed. This will help them learn, memorize as well as develop a lifelong habit of morning prayer & daily prayer.
- If you have some extra time at home, please have the kids complete their coloring pages in their Bala Ramayana coloring books. Some kids have missed a class or 2, & we have had a few abbreviated sessions due to other activities & were unable to fit the coloring activity in. Please stop on Lesson 24. Please reiterate that the kids are recalling the story as they are coloring.
- We practiced our Geeta chanting. Please continue to practice the slokas with your kids. They will be learning slokas 41-56 & that will be their requirement for the Geeta Chanting Competition. Please refer to the following website gitachanting.net for the right pronunciation. Most kids have familiarized themselves with the first 3 slokas! Please record videos & send your individual child chanting the shlokas to the Geeta Chanting Team cnjbalaviharhouses@gmail.com to earn house points. We introduced shloka 50 this week.
- Towards the end of class, we colored Lesson 23 & 24. We then played a short game of "Teacher Says" & did some yoga stretches.
The brothers continue on towards River Pampa. They arrive at Sage Matanga's ashrama. There they meet an old tapasvini named Sabari. When it was time for her guru to depart for this world, she too wanted to die! But Sage Matanga had told her that her duties on earth are not complete & that she had to encounter Sri Rama prior to her departure. So she had been very patiently awaiting His arrival. On seeing the brothers, she shed tears of joy that literally washed Rama's feet! She had gathered some forest berries for them but wanted to make sure that they were sweet & not sour, so tasted each berry & sorted only the sweet ones on a plate & offered them to Rama. Lakshmana was not happy about this & was about to prevent her from serving them, when Rama said he would love to have them & accepted her plate that was an offering of supreme devotion! Sabari's time had come to an end. With Rama's permission, she lit a fire & stepped into it & ascended to heaven.
The duo walked on in search of Sugriva. As they were wondering though the beautiful forest, they couldn't help but think of how Sita would've absolutely adored the surroundings. From the top of the Rishyamuka mountain, the fugitive vanara king Sugriva & few of his faithful followers saw the brothers approaching. They immediately thought it was Bali sending someone to harm them. Minister Hanuman decided to disguise himself as a brahmin & went on to intercept the duo. He introduced himself & the trio felt an instant bond! Hanuman & Lakshmana exchanged their uncomfortable circumstances & Hauman changed into his original form, lifted the brothers onto his shoulders & carried them towards Sugriva.
When they finally met Sugriva, he related his unfortunate situation with his brother Bali. Bali was a strong, brave & powerful warrior. Everyone feared him. An awful rakshasa named Dundubhi wanted to duel someone so he challenged the sea-god, he denied & referred him to the Himalayas. The Himalayas didn't want to either & suggested Bali as a good competitor. So he went to Kishkindha to challenge Bali. Bali was ready for a duel, he fought, he won & during his victory lap, he tossed the rakshasa miles away & when doing so, drops of blood fell on Sage Mathanga's ashrama. Tha angered sage cursed Bali that he would meet his death if he stepped foot on that mountain ever again.
After a while another demon, Mayavi - Dundubhi's younger brother came along to try to avenge his brother's death. In the middle of the night, he came to Kishkindha & started to create havoc. Both Bali & Sugriva were ready for battle...but Bali told his brother to stay back & protect his kingdom. But Sugriva followed his brother to witness the duel. Mayavi headed towards a cave & Bali followed in heated pursuit. After a while he heard a loud cry & the saw blood flowing out of the cave. He called out for his brother Bali...when he heard no response from him, he assumed the worst! Sugriva decided to take a huge boulder & block the cave entrance incase Mayavi decided to come out & harm the rest of the vanaras. Sugriva had to go back to Kishkindha & tell his people the sad news. The people demanded Sugriva become king & he accepted. Several days passed & suddenly, Bali came back to his kingdom. He was enraged at what his brother had done! He banished him along with a few of his faithful followers, took back his throne & took Sugriva's wife too! As Rishymuka mountain was the only place his brother feared, they took asylum there.
We then discussed how 2 sets of brothers Rama & Bharatha and Sugriva & Bali were in similar situations,but behaved very differently. The kids were able to draw the similarities & difference. Please do take some time & ask them what they thought. We paused our journey here.
Please go to the below link to check out the pictures from this week's class
Regards,
Keerthi Kobla & Rukmini Sriram
