Hari Om Parents,
This week after chanting 3 Om's and daily prayers, we recapped what was discussed in the previous classes.
Story: When Rama, Lakshmana & Sita were leading a quiet & happy life in Chitrakuta, Bharatha came and asked Rama to come back and rule the kingdom. But Rama refused to go back to Ayodhya because he already gave his word to his father that he will stay 14 years in the forest. Bharatha then asks for Rama's sandals, takes them to Ayodhya and he agrees to run the kingdom for 14 years till Rama comes back. Then Rama felt that Chitrkuta is not the right place to stay because people from Ayodhya would be tempted to visit Rama often. So Rama, Sita & Lakshmana proceeded their journey towards deep into the Dandaka forest. On their way, they visited all the holy rishi ashrams in the Dandaka forest. The days passed into months, the months into years. They spent ten years this way, moving from ashram to ashram, destroying demons and bringing peace to the rishis. 10 years went by. Rama had a great desire to see sage Agasthya who has the greatest spiritual powers. We told why Agasthya was so powerful & the story of two demons, Vatapi & Illvala and how Agasthya used his plan to consume and digest Vatapi. Rama, Sita & Lakshmana arrive at Agasthya's ashram and take his blessings. He also advised Rama to stay and to spend the remaining time in a place called, Panchavati.
Rama, Sita & Lakshmana soon arrived at Pachavati. The seasons slowly rolled on. One day the lady demon, Surpanakha who was ugly & heavily built showed up suddenly. She instantly fell in love with Rama & asked him to marry. Rama said he already marry Sita & he encouraged her to ask Lakshmana. She then asked Lakshmana to marry her. He simply refused & he said the advantages of marrying Rama. So she tells Rama the same and she would eat Sita up. Rama signaled Lakshmana. In a split second, Lakshmana cut off Surpanakka's nose & ears with his sword. She screamed with a lot of pain and she ran away & disappeared in the Dandaka forest.
Surpanakha ran & reached her Rakshasa brothers Khara & Dusana with streams of blood gushing from her nose & ears. Khara immediately sent 14 of powerful demons to kill Rama, but Rama killed them in few minutes. Next, an Army of 14,000 was then assembled & led by Khara, Dushana & Trisira. Within just 3 hours Rama killed an entire army, Dushana & Trisira also. Rama used powerful Brahmastra to destroy Khara. Except for Akampana, all were killed.
Akampana rushes to Lanka to convey this terrible news to their leader Ravana. Ravana was so furious and he is going to take revenge on Rama. Akampana advised Ravana that he should plan carefully and kidnap Rama's wife and he also said, " If you do this, then Rama will be unable to bear separation from his wife and it is the only way to defeat Rama." Then Ravana approaches Marica and said how he is going to take revenge on Rama. Marica advised not to go and seek a battle with Rama. He is indeed God on earth. Leave him alone. Ravana accepts Maricha's advice and went back to Lanka.
Next day, Surpanakha arrives and gets upset that her brother has done nothing. She said it's a great insult done to your rakshasa. Sita is so beautiful and she is the perfect match for you. Kill these men and win for yourself the most beautiful wife in the world. Then Ravana promised Surpanakha that he will take revenge and he immediately went to Maricha's ashram and he ordered Marica to change his form into a Golden deer with silver spots. He also said ' You must go before Sita and she will definitely be attracted towards you, she will send Rama & Lakshmana to catch you and then I will carry her away. Rama will lose his strength and it will be an easy job to him." Maricha felt the end of the Rakshasa race. But he reluctantly accepts his king's order.
Activity: Kids did a coloring activity for the lesson -17. Please make sure that the kids bring coloring books.
Game: We chose 4 characters of our story and play the game "Zip Zap Zop" sitting in a circle.
Yours Sincerely,
Sailatha & Pranjali.
