Hari Om Parents,
We started the class with opening prayers, Sahana vavatu, Vakratunda Mahakaya, Saraswathi Namastubhyam and Gurur brahma.The kids started learning the Guru Stotram. We chanted and practised the first two verses in class today. We then played a little fun game of spinning the wheel, with small exercises like jumping jacks, hopping in place, writing "Om" with their eyes etc. The kids enthusiastically participated.
We did a brief recap of last week's class and then started today's lesson, which is about the background of Bhagavatam and the story of Sage Narada.
The lesson started with explaining the concept of Gurukulas, that existed hundreds of years ago, and how they were different from the modern schools. Today's story was about Saunaka rishi and his gurukula in the forest called Naimisharanya. Every morning the students and the sages performed Yagnas. One day as they were getting ready for the yagna, Sutaji, another great rishi, visited their ashram. After welcoming Sutaji and paying their respects, Sage Saunaka asks Sutaji a question, so his students can learn from him. He asks how a person can be good and happy forever. Sutaji replies that it is given in a poem written by Sri Veda Vyasa, called the Bhagavatam. It has 18,000 verses. Sutaji further explains how Veda Vyasji started writing Bhagavatam. Once as Veda Vyas ji was sitting quietly, immersed in thought, Sage Narada visited him. Seeing that Vyasji was sad, he offered to help. Vyasji tells him that despite having the knowledge and writing many books, he is not satisfied. Naradji tells him that singing the glories of the Lord is the only way to attain peace and happiness. Veda Vyasji then composed the Bhagavatam.
We also watched a short video depicting Naradaji's story. We saw how Sage Narada was devoted from a very young age and always chanted the name of Narayana. Initially the son of a servant lady, he was re-born as Lord Brahma's son. Devas gifted him a Vina, which he takes everywhere singing the glories of the Lord.
We asked the kids to devote a few pages in their notebooks to note down names of important places and people so they can remember them easily.
The kids enjoyed drawing a picture of Lord Ganesha. Since we had to move on to the next activity, we asked the kids to color the pictures after the class and ask their parents to post it to the whatsapp group for parents.
Next was the Gita chanting primer video teaching the right pronunciation of important words, that would help them in future classes when they will start chanting the actual shlokas.
Below is the link to the video. Please encourage your kids to practice this few times during the week as well.
We ended the class after watching the Arthi, singing along, doing the pledge and the closing prayers.
We look forward to seeing the kids next week.
Pranaam,
Vasudha&Neelima
