Dear Parents,
Hari Om! Here is the update from Last week's Class :
Week 6: Nov 6th 2020
We had another exciting session continuing our Ramayana story
We started our class with Likhita Japa and opening prayers. We chanted Dhyana shlokas first - Couple of kids led the session on this . We then continued 'Nama Ramayana' chanting and completed the Bala Khanda portion. Kids repeated after us.
Ramayana Story: We did a quick recap of last class and continued with the story this week.
Sri Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana prepare for their journey to the forest. They give away all their belongings - Jewels, Ornaments, Silk costumes, Cows and others - to the rishis and the brahmanas and seek their blessings . They then proceed to his father's (King Dasharata ) Chamber to take leave of him.
By that evening Rama, Sita and Lakshmana left Ayodhya on a chariot driven by Sumatra. They were dressed like mendicants (Rishis). The people of Ayodhya ran behind the chariot crying loudly for Rama. By nightfall they all reached the bank of the river, Tamasa. Early the next morning Rama awoke and told Sumantra, "The people of Ayodhya love us very much but we have to be on our own. We must lead the life of a hermit, as I promised. Let us continue our journey before they wake up."
So, Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, driven by Sumantra, continued their journey alone. After travelling the entire day they reached the bank of the Ganges and decided to spend the night under a tree near a village of hunters. The chieftain, Guha, came and offered them all the comforts of his house. But Rama replied, "Thank you Guha, I appreciate your offer as a good friend but by accepting your hospitality I will break my promise. Please allow us to sleep here as the hermits do."
Next morning the three, Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, said goodbye to Sumantra and Guha and got into a boat to cross the river, Ganges. Rama addressed Sumantra, "Return to Ayodhya and console my father."
Set out on his journey for the Daṇḍaka forest with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa, Śrī Rāma reaches at dusk the hermitage of Sage Bharadvāja, in the vicinity of the confluence of the holy rivers of Gaṅgā and Yamunā. Paying due honors to Śrī Rāma and his party, the sage recommends Chitrakūṭa as the fittest place for him to sojourn in. Spending the night on discourses on various topics with him, the Sage grants him leave early next morning to depart for Chitrakūṭa.
Moving further the next morning and rejoicing on the way to see the loveliness of the forest, the party reaches Citrakūṭa and enters the hermitage of Vālmīki. Making up his mind to sojourn there with the permission of the Sage, Śrī Rāma gets Lakṣmaṇa to erect a hut of leaves for themselves and worshipping the deities presiding over the structure, they solemnly enter their abode at a propitious hour.
A Mother's Grief: Having been told of Śrī Rāma's departure to Chitrakūṭa by the spies of Guha and taking leave of the latter, Sumantra drives back to Ayodhyā. Entering the royal Chamber, he submits to the emperor what he reported earlier to the citizens who followed his chariot. Daśaratha and Kausalyā fall into a swoon on hearing about Śrī Rāma's depature for Citrakūṭa, and all the inmates of the Chamber burst into a wail in agony.
Last Moments: Daśaratha falls recalls his past sin in the form of killing a hermit boy, which was responsible for his present misfortune.
We will continue with rest of Ayodhya Khanda next week.
We then concluded the class with Bhagavad Gita chanting and closing prayers.
Bhagavad Gita : Chapter 2 verses 5-6: This week kids followed and repeated after Swamiji's chanting of verses 5-6. Please ask your kids to practice at home.
Here is the youtube link to follow: https://youtu.be/JhFJXjzJcMg
Aarthi, Closing Prayers and Pledge :
We wrapped our class with Aarthi, Closing Prayers and Pledge
Next Class : Nov 20th
Take a moment to discuss the significance of Diwali and how it is celebrated etc. This would be a topic of discussion as we begin the next class.
This you tube may be helpful resource for this and youths may be happy to see this.
Thanks, and Hari Om
Purnima and Shankar
