Hari Om Parents,

Below is the summary of the activities of today's session, with active participation from the entire class.

Request you kindly review the reminders section below for the new announcements related to the Storytelling & Art competitions, in addition to the Shlokathon.

Weekly Update

Feb 3rd 2019 / 9 AM

Today's Activities

Guru Stotram
Practiced Geeta Chanting Chapter 18, Verses 1 - 60.
We revised the end of Sabha Parva:

Dhritarashtra returns everything to the Pandavas, that was won by the Kauravas in the dice game after hearing Bheema's oath, Draupadi's pleas & advice from the court elders
Dhritarashtra is forced to invite them to a game of dice again due to pressure from Duryodhana
This time Pandavas lose everything and are exiled to 12 years in the forest, following which they have to spend 13th year in hiding without being discovered by the Kauravas. If they are discovered in the 13th year, they have to again live is exile for another 12 years

We covered the initial phase of the Vana Parva

Some of priests, including Sage Dhaumya convince Yudhishtir to stay along with them in during their exile.
On suggestion by Sage Dhaumya, Yudhishtir does tough penance for Lord Surya and attains a boon in the form of the Akshaya Patra for providing him, his family & the anyone else he wishes to feed, with the condition that once Draupadi eats in the end, then the food will be over for that day
At the same time, in Hastinapur, after the warning from Sage Narada on the definite destruction of the Kauravas if they don't bring back the Pandavas, Duryodhana reaches out to Drona and request his protection. Drona agrees to be on their side, but alerts Duryodhana that Drishtadyumna is specifically born to slay him in war.
Sage Maitreya also visits Kauravas to call of peace, but is insulted by Duryodhana. He then curses the Kauravas will be destroyed with Bheema breaking Duryodhana's thighs. But on pleading from Dhirtirashtra, Sage Maitreya says, his curse can only be avoided by making peace with Pandavas. If they go to war, what he says will come true.
Duryodhana still constantly being worried of the Pandavas, Karna decided to ride into the forest, and fight the Pandavas to end the worries once and for all. But Vidura warns them of the real power of Pandavas, by sharing the story of oh Bheema single-handedly kill one of the powerful rakshasa Kimira
We also covered the side story of the how the Pandavas are tested by Sage Durvasa by request food after Draupadi has finished eating, with now way to feed any extra guest. And how Krishna comes to Draupadi's aid by eating a single morsel of food stuck to the plate and making everyone in the universe satiated, including sage Durvasa and his entourage

Learnt the next two verses 61-62 of chapter 18, signing along with our Pujya Swami Shantanandiji
Short Meditation session
Conclusion prayer
Aarti & Pledge in the auditorium

Next Meeting Agenda

Continue the Mahabharata story, but we also plan to have a game during the next class
Continue the nest verses Geeta Chanting Chapter 18,
We also plan to have a Meditation game

Reminder & Activities for home

Kindly encourage children to practice meditation at home
Please continue to practice Chapter 18. Verses 41-60 at home. Here is are audio links to help. http://www.geetachanting.net/bvg18v41-50/ http://www.geetachanting.net/bvg18v51-60/
Please register your children for Shlokathon (includes all shlokas from single verse shlokas to Sahasranamas!)