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.