Hari OM All,
This week we started our class with prayers and Slokas. This was followed by Sri MahaLakshmi Ashtakam. We learnt to chant verse 3-4 and everyone in the class chanted all 4 verses together. Please ask your children to continue practicing this at home.
This was followed by a continuation of the recap of Mahabharata - we covered from Khandavaprastha to the end of Sabha Parva.
- With Krishna's blessings and Indra's planning, Khandavaprastha was transformed into a glorious and beautiful kingdom. It was renamed Indraprastha, as a tribute to Indra.
- The Pandavas, each had their own palace, with an agreement to share Draupadi for a year each, starting with Yudhisthira. There was also a clause that none of the other brothers should disturb the brother (in his own palace) while Draupadi resided with him. The glorious days of ruling a prosperous kingdom were aplenty; till the day when a Brahmin came running asking Arjuna to help trace his lost cows. Arjuna agreed to help, without realizing that the weapons room was in Yudhisthira's palace, where Draupadi still stayed. After much insistence from the Brahmin, Arjuna decided to violate the rule, went to Yudhisthira's palace and eventually decided to go on a year-long teerthayatra as punishment.
- On the teerthayatra, he fell in love with Ulupi and had a son Iravan, married King Chitrasena's daughter Chitrangadha and had a son Babruvahana. The last leg of his journey took him to Dwaraka, where his cousin and dearest friend Krishna resided. But the purpose of his visit was to marry Subhadra, Balarāma's sister. Although Balarāma wanted her to marry Duryodhana, she fell in love with Arjuna and eloped with him. Arjuna, Krishna and Balarāma brought Subhadra to Indraprastha for the wedding.
- Krishna wished to spend more time with his cousins and decided to stay on in Indraprastha. One day he asked Arjuna to join him on a walk towards the Khandava forest by the river Yamuna. While nearing the river, a Brahmin came running and requested to be fed. Arjuna agreed immediately, upon which the Brahmin revealed himself to be Agni, the fire god. He then asked Arjuna and Indra to help him burn down the Khandava forest, an act that was always thwarted by Indra for the sake of his friend Takshaka, a snake king. With weapons provided by the Devas, Arjuna and Krishna fought off Indra while Agni burned down the forest. ****End of Adi Parvā****
- Maya, an asura who managed to escape from the Khandava forest, and given a new lease in life was asked to make a unique hall in Indraprastha, one which was named Maya Sabha in his honor. It was at this time that Narada visited the Pāndavas and admired their beautiful palaces while also talking of his travels. He spoke of his time in Indraloka when King Harischandra sat with Indra on the throne . Wanting to know more about that, Yudhisthira asked how one was given such an honor. Narada responded that the Rajasuya yagna would ensure a good place for his ancestors, and his family. After killing their biggest obstacle, the evil Jarasandha, they managed to get support from all over, for the yagna.
- The yagna took place in a grand manner, and Krishna was chosen to be the honored guest. While Śiśupala was furious over that, he lost all the (promised) chances, leaving him decapitated by Krishna's Sudarshan chakra.
- After the yagna, while most kings left, the Kauravas stayed on. One day while walking in the Mayasabha, Duryodhana accidentally slipped on water, thinking it was glass. That provoked a huge laugh from Draupadi.
- Humiliated, Duryodhana stalked off, vowing revenge on the Pandavas and Draupadi. Śakuni, his uncle, came up with another plot to get the Pandavas out of the way. Inviting them over to Hastinapura to see a new sabha at Jayanta was a ploy to use Yudhisthira's weakness for gambling. In a game that was always meant to favor the Kauravas (because of Śakuni's dice made of his father's bones), the Pandavas lost their kingdom, riches, and ended up enslaving themselves and their wife. With much anger it was Draupadi who cursed a terrible end for those that insulted her, an innocent victim. Dhritarashtra, afraid for his sons, agreed to return it all to the Pandavas. But alas, a curse given cannot be undone.
- As the Pandavas left to return to their Kingdom, they were asked to come back for just one game - all or nothing. The result was as expected. And the wager required the Pandavas to forfeit everything and be exiled for 13 years, with the last year in incognito. With heavy hearts, and the angered citizens of Hastinapura following them, the Pandavas left Hastinapura dressed in simple robes with a determination to win it all back. ****End of Sabha Parva****
- Next week we will cover Vana Parvā and that will end the review of Mahabharata from last year.
This was followed by a presentation on the overview of Vedanta and how Bhagavad Gita helps us achieve the primary goal of attaining Moksha by following the techniques described by Sri Krishna (Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana/Raja Yoga and Bhakti Yoga). We also learned to chant the first 2 verses of Chapter 2 (Sankhya Yoga). We concluded the class with Pledge.
Pranaams!
Krishna and Nivedita
