Dear Parents,
Hari Om! Here is this week's update :
Week 3 : Oct 2nd 2020
Likitha Japa and Opening Prayers :
We started our class with Likitha Japa followed by our opening prayers starting with 3 OMs, Sahana vavatu, Vakratunda Mahkaya, Saraswathi Namasthubyam and Guru Brahma.
We chanted Rama Dhayana Slokas - Sri Rama Rama Rameti and Neelamabhuja Shyamala Komalaangam.
This week we taught them 4 lines from 'Nama Ramayana'. Kids repeated after us. We will send the tune that we are following through WhatsApp. Playing that at home/car ride will help them memorize the lines in no time.
Quotes : "Humility is a strange thing. The minute you think you have it, you have lost it" ---Swami Chinmayananda
Last class we assigned one of Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda's quote to a student, asked them to explore the meaning and discuss it in this class.
It was a good interactive discussion. Kids expressed their viewpoints on this quote.
Ramayana :
We played a quick game of quiz to recap last class and proceeded with the rest of BalaKhanda.
We talked about King Janaka, a brave king who was also well versed in Shastras, found Sita as a baby while ploughing the land one day. He brought her up as his own daughter. King Janaka decided that a perfect match for Sita should tie the string in Rudra bow, which was given to him by Varuna Bhagavan.
On their way to Mithila, Sage Vishwamitra narrated a few stories to Rama and Lakshmana. One such story described how Ganga was brought down to Earth to wash away the ashes of King Bhageeratha's ancestors.
Next day, they came across a deserted ashram and Vishwamitra narrated the story of Ahalya. Ahalya was Sage Gautama's wife, who was cursed by him to live like a rock and that she would be redeemed of her sins only when Rama visited. Rama blessed Ahalya and she returned to Sage Gautama.
When they reached Mithila, they were welcomed by King Janaka. Rama took the blessings of the sage and lifted the bow without any effort and tried to tie the string. But the bow snapped and broke into two. King Janaka was very happy and sent word to Ayodhya to welcome King Dasaratha and his family for the wedding. After King Dasaratha reached Mithila, the rest of three princes' marriages were also fixed. Rama married Sita, Lakshmana married Urmila, Bharata married Mandavi and Shatrughna married Srutkeerthi.
We will continue with rest of BalaKhanda and move onto Ayodhya Khanda next week.
Bhagavad Gita : Chapter 2 verses 1-2
This week kids followed and repeated after Swamiji's chanting of verses 1-2. Please ask your kids to practice at home.
Here is the youtube link to follow : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d4EIe2V-Vc&feature=youtu.be
Aarthi, Closing Prayers and Pledge :
We wrapped our class with Aarthi, Closing Prayers and Pledge
Suggestions :
Please note that the following books/links should be kept handy.
- My Prayers (Green) book. Some kids expressed that they did not have the book. We will send a copy of those pages in WhatsApp. Please take a printout and give it to your kids.
- Chinmaya Balavihar Handbook : Please ask kids to download this pdf and keep it handy. It will help them follow Bhagavad Gita, Aarthi, Closing Prayers and Pledge http://chinmayavrindavan.org/announcement_files/CNJBVHandbook.pdf
- For independent reading, Ramayana in pdf format : http://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/Ramayana.pdf
- Please make sure that the Audio/Video of your kids' device is configured properly in Zoom.
Next Class : Oct 9th
Please do not hesitate to reach us with any questions that you may have
Thanks and Hari Om
Purnima and Shankar