It was wonderful to meet the kids again after a really looooooong break! Just think about it, our last class was the Republic Day celebrations on the 26th of January and then we met this weekend after those seemingly endless snow storms!
After the attendance, we did a quick revision of Dhyaana Shloka - Om Sahanavavatu (pg 9) followed by the daily prayers (Karaagre Vasate, Vakratunda, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Bramhaarpanam, Shubham Karoti, Kara Charana - pages 14-17 of the My Prayer Book).
We practiced the bhajans Rama Naama Thaarakam (pg 211) and Atma Nivasi Ram (pg 209-210). We started off with a new bhajan - Radhe Radhe (pg-169). We also completed the entire Gruru Sthothram (pg 85-86) - all 14 verses! Please revise it thoroughly, some of us our still struggling with the latter verses.
Amit shared that he had participated and won a prize in a Hindi Kavita recitation competition and the other kids joined in to congratulate him.
In Ramayana, we quickly went through the previously covered chapter of how Surpanakha approached Rama for marriage and ended up getting her ears and nose cut off by Lakshmana when she tried to attack Sita. Then we learnt about how she went and cried in front of her brothers Khara and Dushana, demanding revenge for her insult. But both brothers, along with their huge armies were killed in the battle with Rama and Lakshmana. Only the rakshasa Akampana escaped and went to the other brother Ravana, who was the most powerful among them. Surpanakha also went to him and provoked him to kill Rama and Lakshmana. Ravana became furious and commanded Maricha to go along with him for revenge. But Maricha had already witnessed first hand the bravery of Rama and Lakshmana when they defeated the rakshasa during their travel through the Dandaka forest with Valmiki. So, he advised Ravana to not be so rash and challenge such a powerful person. But Ravana was angry and adamant and ordered Maricha to take the form of a golden deer and gambol about in Chitrakoota in front of Sita. Maricha had no choice but to follow the orders of his king. When Sita saw the beautiful deer, she insisted on having it for a pet and asked Rama to get it for her. Despite Lakshmana's protests and suspicions, Rama told Lakshmana to take care of Sita and went to hunt the deer, which took him deeper and deeper into the forest. When he realized he couldn't catch up to it, he decided to hunt it down and carry its skin for Sita. When he shot the arrow, the deer morphed into the rakshasa Maricha, who called out loudly for help from Lakshmana and Sita and then died. Seeing this, Rama panicked and started rushing back to the hut to make sure Sita was fine. In the meantime, when Lakshmana and Sita heard the call for help, Sita ordered Lakshmana to go help his brother but Lakshmana felt it was a trap and refused to disobey his brother's orders of staying and taking care of Sita. She got upset and forced him to leave. So, Lakshmana drew the Lakshman Rekha and told Sita to stay within the draw line as it would protect her from harm. Anyone who tried to cross the line to reach her would be burnt. But if she came to the other side, there would be no one to protect her. As soon as Lakshmana left in search of his brother, Ravana came in the disguise of an old man seeking alms and tricked Sita into crossing the line.
Through the story so far, we discussed about how it is important to obey our elders as they know what is best for us even if things might not be to our liking at that time.
We practiced writing "Rama" as well as their own respective names in Sanskrit.
We ended the class with meditation followed by the concluding prayers Om Poornamadah (pg-20) and Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha (pg-19).
See you at the next class and please be sure to bring your folders. Stay warm...
After the attendance, we did a quick revision of Dhyaana Shloka - Om Sahanavavatu (pg 9) followed by the daily prayers (Karaagre Vasate, Vakratunda, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Bramhaarpanam, Shubham Karoti, Kara Charana - pages 14-17 of the My Prayer Book).
We practiced the bhajans Rama Naama Thaarakam (pg 211) and Atma Nivasi Ram (pg 209-210). We started off with a new bhajan - Radhe Radhe (pg-169). We also completed the entire Gruru Sthothram (pg 85-86) - all 14 verses! Please revise it thoroughly, some of us our still struggling with the latter verses.
Amit shared that he had participated and won a prize in a Hindi Kavita recitation competition and the other kids joined in to congratulate him.
In Ramayana, we quickly went through the previously covered chapter of how Surpanakha approached Rama for marriage and ended up getting her ears and nose cut off by Lakshmana when she tried to attack Sita. Then we learnt about how she went and cried in front of her brothers Khara and Dushana, demanding revenge for her insult. But both brothers, along with their huge armies were killed in the battle with Rama and Lakshmana. Only the rakshasa Akampana escaped and went to the other brother Ravana, who was the most powerful among them. Surpanakha also went to him and provoked him to kill Rama and Lakshmana. Ravana became furious and commanded Maricha to go along with him for revenge. But Maricha had already witnessed first hand the bravery of Rama and Lakshmana when they defeated the rakshasa during their travel through the Dandaka forest with Valmiki. So, he advised Ravana to not be so rash and challenge such a powerful person. But Ravana was angry and adamant and ordered Maricha to take the form of a golden deer and gambol about in Chitrakoota in front of Sita. Maricha had no choice but to follow the orders of his king. When Sita saw the beautiful deer, she insisted on having it for a pet and asked Rama to get it for her. Despite Lakshmana's protests and suspicions, Rama told Lakshmana to take care of Sita and went to hunt the deer, which took him deeper and deeper into the forest. When he realized he couldn't catch up to it, he decided to hunt it down and carry its skin for Sita. When he shot the arrow, the deer morphed into the rakshasa Maricha, who called out loudly for help from Lakshmana and Sita and then died. Seeing this, Rama panicked and started rushing back to the hut to make sure Sita was fine. In the meantime, when Lakshmana and Sita heard the call for help, Sita ordered Lakshmana to go help his brother but Lakshmana felt it was a trap and refused to disobey his brother's orders of staying and taking care of Sita. She got upset and forced him to leave. So, Lakshmana drew the Lakshman Rekha and told Sita to stay within the draw line as it would protect her from harm. Anyone who tried to cross the line to reach her would be burnt. But if she came to the other side, there would be no one to protect her. As soon as Lakshmana left in search of his brother, Ravana came in the disguise of an old man seeking alms and tricked Sita into crossing the line.
Through the story so far, we discussed about how it is important to obey our elders as they know what is best for us even if things might not be to our liking at that time.
We practiced writing "Rama" as well as their own respective names in Sanskrit.
We ended the class with meditation followed by the concluding prayers Om Poornamadah (pg-20) and Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha (pg-19).
See you at the next class and please be sure to bring your folders. Stay warm...
