Hari Om! Parents,
Wishing all Balavihar Grade 1 families a very happy new year! Our class has returned from their winter break refreshed and had plenty of vacation stories to share.
After 'Sahanavavatu' and 'Srirama Rama Rameti' shloka, the class learnt "Karacharana kritam vak" shloka from the daily prayers( 6.1,pg 13, My Prayers Book). This prayer, chanted before going to bed, is a Kshama prarthana offered to Lord Shiva. We discussed that we commit several types of wrongs throughout the day. And the importance of asking forgiveness for mistakes we make from Bhagvan every night. Please encourage your child to make a habit of chanting the daily prayers regularly. They are all very close to memorising them all, and need little more practice.
Our Bala Ramayana story is in Aranya Kanda. After her ears and nose have been cut off by Lakshmana, the angry Soorpanaka runs to her brothers Khara and Dooshana. She blames Lord Rama and Lakshmana and asks her brothers to seek revenge for her wounds. After a fierce battle, Khara and Dooshana along with their army are killed by Lord Rama. Only one rakshasa, named Akampana, escapes to Lanka. We spoke about King Ravana and his palace fortress in Lanka. Akampana narrated all that happened to Ravana, who is furious. On the advice of Akampana, Ravana plots to seek revenge by carrying away Sita from Lord Rama. He asks the help of Mareecha, the shape shifting rakshasa. Reluctantly, Mareecha agrees to help Ravana. He transforms into a beautiful golden deer and approaches Panchavati.
We played a Boys vs Girls Bala Ramayana Characters Quiz and the boys won!! Ask your child to name characters from the story and describe them.
After storytime, the children colored lesson 17 and 18 in their coloring books. We sang the "Atma Rama" bhajan (pg 143, My Prayers book).
We have been revising one verse of Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, per class. We have also been learning new verses from our Swamiji in every class. Please use the following link to practice Gita Chanting at home: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVaQ1AsTFVEI9cHOqjnFcAsR9gi42Yu-6. Grade 1 is Arjuna Group, Chapter 18 required Verses are 41-56, for Geeta Chanting Yagna on March 30, 2019. Details at: chinmayavrindavan.org/geeta-chanting/
Jai Sri Ram!
- Rashmi and Uma
