Hari OM Dear Families,
Here is this week's update.
Week 4:
11th October 2020 / 9:15AM Opening Prayers
Class began with opening prayers -3 OMs and followed by SahanAvavatu. One of the students led the chanting of "Neelambuja shyamala komalaangam".
We continued to learn Naama Ramayanam- finished up to 22 lines completing BalaKaNdam (we had a volunteer to lead the first 15lines chanting)
We have volunteers to lead the slokam, bhajan and games each week. This participation among the students makes them learn more and work hard. As everyone gets their turn, they'll soon become good chanters.
Game
We played a kahoot game based on the story we learned until now.
We played a kahoot game based on the story we learned until now.
Ramayana:
Twelve years after the princes' marriage, Dasharatha felt that the time was right to coronate Rama as crown prince. He brought this up in court one day and all his courtiers heartily applauded the choice of Rama. With Vasishtha's approval, the very next day was fixed for the event. Rama was called into the court, informed of the happy news and was asked to observe austerities to prepare for the coronation. Kausalya joyously gave away clothes, jewels and food in charity. The whole town was in a celebratory mood except for Manthara, Kaikeyi's maid. When she came to know of the impending coronation, she immediately went and broke the news to Kaikeyi. Kaikeyi was thrilled as she was very fond of Rama and knew he would make a great king. However, Mantara argued with her that when Rama became King, Bharata would not be able to ever rule, as the kingship would pass from Rama to his elder son and not to Bharata. This spoilt Kaikeyi's goodwill towards Rama. Determined to make Bharata king, she took Mantara's counsel and decided to ask Dasharatha for the two boons he had conferred on her in gratitude for help in the war against SambharAsura. Dasharatha, unaware of the impending calamity to befall him, joyfully came to visit Kaikeyi and tell her the good news of the coronation. He found her on the floor, with jewels and flowers scattered around. Eager to get her back in a happy frame of mind, he swears on Rama and says that he would whatever she wishes. Kaikeyi then put forth her request to collect on her two boons - for Rama to go to the forest for 14 years and for Bharata to rule the kingdom. In that moment, the king's heart split into a thousand pieces. His love for Kaikeyi vanished and he saw her to be selfish and cruel. In spite of a thousand pleas, she did not budge. Even if Bharata were to be made king, she still wanted Rama to go to the forest as she wanted him to rule unopposed. As Dasharatha could not even bring himself to utter a word, she sent for Rama through Sumantra. Upon his arrival, Rama was stunned to see Dasharatha sad and unspeaking. Kaikeyi quickly put forth the king's promise and her two boons. Rama immediately agreed to carry out his father's promise, and left. Kausalya was heartbroken to hear this and wanted to leave with Rama; Lakshmana wanted to wage a war to regain the kingdom. Rama calmed them both down. Lakshmana then decided to leave with Rama, as did Sita.
They all went to get Dasharatha's blessings before leaving and he was in his court, with his wives and other important members of the court. Rama requested permission to leave and asks for the appropriate attire for the forest and Kaikeyi immediately obliged. Angered by her brutish behaviour, Dasharatha insisted that Sita should have her fine clothes and jewellery. Rama and Lakshmana's bows, pickaxes and baskets are placed in the chariot and they all leave. The people of Ayodhya followed the chariot. After the first night away from Ayodhya, Rama requested Sumantra to drive the chariot back and forth to make the people believe that he had gone back to Ayodhya and proceeded towards River Ganga. There, Guha, the tribal chief who commanded a fleet of boats welcomed them and helped them cross the Ganga.
Meanwhile at Ayodhya, seeing Sumantra return without Rama, Dasharatha realized his end was near. He remembered the curse from long ago, when as a young king, he inadvertently killed a blind couple's son. The sage cursed that he would die of putrashoka (sorrow at the parting/death of a child). Dasharatha passed away lamenting and repeatedly calling out the names of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita.
#Hashtag Ramayana
A fun game we continued this week, where kids are encouraged to come up with interesting #s associated with the story learned. Please watch out for the week's #lists.
A fun game we continued this week, where kids are encouraged to come up with interesting #s associated with the story learned. Please watch out for the week's #lists.
This week-
#Ramathebest, #sitasmarried, #ahalyasavedYES!, #ramaandsitswedded, #Vishwamithrawasawarrior?, #strungabow, #Vasishtaflashback, #ramabrokeshivasbow, #rama+sita, #shivasbowbroken, #parshuramabowsdown, #Mr.Yuvaraja, #coronationcalls, #whitehair, #crowndedprince, #sleepingongrassOMG!, #fasting, #comeandgetit, #whysosadamantalady, #kaykeyibrainwashedbymantra, #conspiracytheory, #ramabulliedbymantra, #ramramramramramramramramramramramramram, #badkaikeyi, #evilmantra, #evilmantrabrainwashedgoodkaikeyintobadkaikeyi, #angrybirds, #drama, #dramaqueen, #ramaisfamous, #emoforthecrown, #useofaboon, #misusingboons, #ragequeen, #angryqueen, #goaway, #Dasharathasdilemma, #confusedking, #Whysodramaticlittlekaikeyilady, #sadking, #dasharathadepressed, #king=speechless, #howtobreakbadnews.#rekted, #dharmaofason, #respectfulRaama, #ramacool, #byebyeprincelylife, #dramadramadrama, #everyoneiscrying, #14yearsbegin, #lakshmanasrage, #sageclothing, #tookittothenextlevel, #kaikeyi'sMistake, #barkclothes, #Ramasleaving, #byebyerama, #happytriointosimplelife, #intothewoods, #outofayodhya, #gagaganga, #olaguha, #rowrowrowyourboat, #acrosstheganga, #lakshmanandram, #determinedlakshmana, #dreambecomereal, #storytime, #dasharathaflashback, #oldcurse, #cursed
We worked on the Likhita Japa as a class group activity for 5 minutes.
Introduced Character Cards activity. Students are encouraged to work on digital cards picking a minimum of 3 characters (completed their main tasks (or dead) until the story is learned so far) from the list given. This is to prompt discussion on how they apply or derive values relating to each character from the Ramayanam.
Characters are- Dasaratha, Viswamithra, parasurama, Yagnapurusha, Kaikeyi, Mantara, Sumithra, kausalya, Thataka, Bagiratha, Sumanthara, Trishanku, Vasishta, Janaka
Gita Chanting
We started to learn the third and fourth slokams from this year's topic- Chapter 2 Saankhya Yoga. We followed our Swamiji's chanting video and we repeated it. We had volunteers leading and the rest following.
Our next class is on November 1st. NO Balavihar on 10/18 and 10/25. Navarathri festivities are around, have a happy navarathri!
Please feel free to reach out in case you have any questions.
Hari OM
Abhirami Shrinivas and Vidhya Aiyer
Grade7 Sunday AM
Abhirami Shrinivas and Vidhya Aiyer
Grade7 Sunday AM
