Make Up Session...

This is an update for our first make up session for the year...

Following attendance we practiced the Dhyaana Shloka - Om Sahanavavatu (pg 9) and the daily prayers (Karaagre Vasate, Vakratunda, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Bramhaarpanam, Shubham Karoti, Kara Charana - pages 14-17 of the My Prayer Book) as well as the Guru Sthothram (pg 85-86), the bhajans Rama Naama Thaarakam (pg 211), Atma Nivasi Ram  (pg 209-210) and  Radhe Radhe (pg-169).

In Ramayana, we read about how Sugreeva offered his army to search for Sita. Groups were made under the leadership of the bravest vanaras and they set forth in four different directions. Since Jatayu and the vanaras had seen Ravana taking Sita towards the south, and Hanuman was a part of the group going south, Rama gave Hanuman his ring to help Sita understand that Hanuman was Rama's messenger. After taking blessing from Rama, the group set forward.

The vanaras that had gone east, west and north returned empty handed in a month's time. So, everyone was holding high hopes on the last group led by Jaambavaan, Nila, Hanuman and Angada.

In course of their search, they reach the beautiful and magical cave of Hema, Indra's friend, where they are led in the right direction towards a sea shore by the tapasvini Swayamprabha. On this shore they meet Sampaati, Jatayu's older brother, who with his powerful eyesight tells the vanaras that he can see Sita captive in Ravana's Lanka, but to reach her, the ocean must be crossed. After helping the vanaras in this manner, the old vulture's wings and strength, destroyed by the sun during a race with Jatayu in their youth, are restored as per a boon.

After debating and testing each others' strength, it is decided that Hanuman would cross the ocean and locate Sita while the others would wait on the sea shore. Hanuman grows himself to the size of a huge mountain and takes off. After facing several obstacles such as the raksasi Surasa as well as the offered hospitality of the Mainaka mountain, Hanuman finally reaches Lanka and sees it in all its beauty, glory and splendor. After searching high and low, he sees Sita in Asokavana where Ravana demands she marry him or he will eat her up. But Sita only refuses and begs him to release her, saying she will save Ravana from Rama's wrath if he spares her now. But Ravana gives her a month's time to change her mind and returns to his palace, while the remaining rakshasis trouble and torture Sita for a while. When Hanuman finally sees Sita alone, he shrinks himself to the size of a tiny monkey, climbs on a tree right above her and starts singing songs in praise of Rama. This astonishes Sita who proceeds to ask who he is. When Hanuman mentions that he is Rama's messenger, she gets suspicious that it is Ravana trying to trick her. Then Hanuman shows her Rama's ring and this convinces Sita that he is indeed a friend. He assures her that Rama will be back soon and save her from there. Before he leaves, Sita gives him the only piece of jewellery that is left with her, to assure Rama that she is safe and is waiting for him.

For their activity, the kids were asked to draw their version of Lanka as well as Hanuman crossing the ocean. They also wrote their own name in Sanskrit and Rama 5 times.

Next, we practiced the Chinmaya Mission Pledge.

We revised the first verse of the fourteenth chapter of the Bhagvad Gita and learnt the second verse. We ended the class with the concluding prayers Om Poornamadah (pg-20) and Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha (pg-19).

See you at the next class. Please be on time and bring your folders.

Of Daylight Saving And Such

This is a combined blog update for the two previous balavihar sessions.

The classes ran through the usual gamut of attendance followed by the Dhyaana Shloka - Om Sahanavavatu (pg 9) and the daily prayers (Karaagre Vasate, Vakratunda, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Bramhaarpanam, Shubham Karoti, Kara Charana - pages 14-17 of the My Prayer Book) as well as the Guru Sthothram (pg 85-86).

We practiced the bhajans Rama Naama Thaarakam (pg 211), Atma Nivasi Ram  (pg 209-210) and  Radhe Radhe (pg-169). Once again a reminder that the bhajans and shlokas will be better memorized with regular practice.

The 9th March class was the day of day light saving. So we had a lazy bunch in class! Everyone was in a lethargic mood and wanted to do more of the story time than anything else, and so I gave in! The next class, I had a bunch of hyper kids! So, I guess the sessions evened out :)

In Ramayana, we traced the footsteps of Rama and Lakshmana to the banks of the river Pampa where they met Shabari, who was holding on to life for a glimpse of Lord Rama. She had such devotion towards him that she collected the ber fruit to offer him, but bit and tasted each fruit before offering it, to ensure that he got only the sweetest and the best of fruits. This upset Lakshmana, but Rama only saw her good intentions and explained to Lakshmana that so great was her love for him that she wanted only the best for him.

The moral we learnt hear was that God accepts whatever we offer him with the best of intentions. This led to a general discussion of how God does not expect money, sacrifices or any grand gestures and will accept anything that we are able to offer with a true heart. This led to an interesting discussion of the various forms we think of God when we pray. Vivaan mentioned that he thinks of his mother when he prays, Saanvi thinks of her parents, Sanjana thinks of Lord Krishna, Athreya imagines God is black with traces of other colors while Vedant feels the sun represents God as it gives light and energy.

Then we read about how Rama & Lakshmana met Hanuman, the minister of Sugreeva, the Vanara king in exile. We read the story of Bali and Sugreeva and the misunderstanding that crept between the brothers leading to Bali ousting Sugreeva from the kingdom of Kishkinda, sending Sugreeva into hiding. He took refuge in the mountains as Bali was cursed by a saint and hence could not enter the mountains. Rama promised to help Sugreeva get back his kingdom and in return, Sugreeva assured that he would extend help in their search for Sita, whom the Vanaras had seen being kidnapped by Ravana, and had found a pile of jewellery that she threw to leave a trail.

When Sugreeva went to challenge Bali, Rama hid behind a tree and waited to attack Bali, but the brothers looked so similar that he got confused! So Rama asked Sugreeva to wear a flower garland so as to distinguish him from Bali. Then Rama shot an arrow at Bali. Before dying, Bali expressed his disappointment saying he had no personal issues with Rama, so he should not have shot him, but Rama explained that his actions towards his brother were wrong and so it was his responsibility to ensure that the right thing was done. This made Bali realize his mistake and he apologized to Sugreeva and gave him back his kingdom and then died. Then Sugreeva once again became the king of Kishkinda and led a life of celebrations and enjoyment while Rama and Lakshmana waited in the mountains for the help they were promised. When Hanuman, the minister, reminded Sugreeva of his promise to Rama, Sugreeva immediately apologized to Rama for the delay and offered the services of his Vanara sena towards the search of Sita.

Here, we contrasted the way the two sets of brothers - Rama & Bharata on the one hand and Bali and Sugreeva on the other - reacted to certain situations, one of trust and love and the other of mistrust and misunderstandings.


For the activity, we traced footprints of Rama and Lakshmana to the banks of the river Pampa and Kishkinda.  The kids were given a sheet for writing the next level of Sanskrit alphabets as well as a coloring sheet from the Ramayana. Those who have not completed these in class, please complete then as a part of homework.

Next, I became the student and the kids proceeded to teach me the Chinmaya Mission Pledge as a way to help them memorize the same. I am proud to say that these kids are all set to lead the pledge whenever they are asked to.

We revised the first verse of the fourteenth chapter of the Bhagvad Gita and learnt the second verse.
We ended the class with 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.

A Day of Shlokas & Bhajans

 This week we had a semblance of routine set in, what with the irregular classes and breaks thanks to mother nature!

We started the class as usual with attendance followed by a quick revision of the Dhyaana Shloka - Om Sahanavavatu (pg 9) and 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 also completed the new bhajan - Radhe Radhe (pg-169). I am sure with another day of practice, the kids will be comfortable singing it at the morning assembly - they love singing and are very quick at learning bhajans! We also recited the Gruru Sthothram (pg 85-86). Some kids still need practice with their shlokas, please help them recite at home.
In Ramayana, after a short review of last weeks chapters, we learnt about how Ravana tricked Sita into crossing the Lakshman Rekha and dragged her off in his chariot. Her shouts for help drew the attention of Jatayu who came to her defense, but after struggling valiantly, his wings were cut off by Ravana who proceeded to carry Sita away to Lanka. All along the way Sita drops her flower garlands and jewellery, in the hope that the trail will lead Rama to her. In Lanka, Ravana tries his best to convince Sita to marry him and entices her with all his wealth, but when she scorns him, he locks her up in Ashokavana with ghastly rakshasis as guards and gives her a year's time to agree to his wishes or suffer the consequences. When Rama and Lakshmana returned to the ashrama and realized that Sita was missing, they got worried and upset and started looking for her. We learn of how Rama is initially angry with Lakshmana for not listening to him and also so upset that he decides to destroy the earth as he feels life without Sita is not worth living. Lakshmana manages to calm Rama down and make him see reason, that innocents should not have to suffer for the evils done by rakshasas, but instead they should look for Sita and punish the evil doer. As they start their search, they find the fallen flowers from Sita's garland and reach Jatayu, who is just holding on to his last breath to convey the message to Rama that Sita has been abducted by Ravana and taken to Lanka. After conveying the message, Jatayu passes away.   
We practiced writing the first line of Sanskrit consonants. Those who were unable to complete, please do so at home.

We also started with the first verse of the fourteenth chapter of the Bhagvad Gita.
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...