Nov 8th class.
Hari Om Parents,
Activities this week included Bhagwatam story, chanting and lesson from 24 gurus book.
Bal Vihar class proceeded in the following order.
1)We started with opening prayers-Om Sahana Vahvatu prayer.
2) Started the 4th chapter of the book Krishna, Krishna.
Pragnesh narrated the story about king Parikshiit continuing to read Bhagwatam to liberate himself by following it's principles.
As Vasudeva walked towards the prison door, the locks fell off, and Vasudeva walked out. Without looking at the guards who were fast asleep, he walked away, uttering the name of the Lord, "Govinda, Govinda, Govinda…"
It was the dead of night. The streets of Mathura were deserted. Not even a dog barked. Vasudeva walked unmindful of the rain. He was not even aware that a seven-headed serpent had opened its hoods over the basket like an umbrella, shielding the child from the rain.
Vasudeva headed straight to the river front. Yamuna was swelling with water. No one would dare cross the river which was rising by the minute. Saying, "Govinda, Govinda…" Vasudeva stepped into the river.
As soon as he took a step forward, the river parted, making a path for Vasudeva to cross over. Vasudeva walked, closely followed by the seven-headed serpent with its hoods spread over the basket.
As soon as Vasudeva reached the other bank of the river, he started walking towards Gokula. As he neared the house of his friend Nanda, who was the Village Chief, he found the doors open. He walked through the doors. At Nanda's house, his wife Yashoda had just given birth to a girl child, who was none other than Devi Yogamaya. Under the spell of Yogamaya, Yashoda was fast asleep. As Vasudeva lowered the basket, baby Yogamaya smiled at the child in the basket.
Vasudeva placed his son next to the sleeping Yashoda. He picked up the girl child and placed her in the basket. He placed the basket on his head and left.
He did not even glance at the house next door where Rohini, his first wife, was living with his seventh son. He began to walk towards the river with the seven-headed serpent following him, spreading its hoods over the child in the basket. As Vasudeva approached the Yamuna, the river parted again, making a path for him to cross over.
3) Verses from Damodara strotram were recited by children.
4) Pronunciation of verses from Bhagwat Gita were recited by them, guided by Swami Shantananadaji.
5) Roopaji then conducted an interactive activity with the kids based on 24 teachers books about one of the most important elements which Bhagwan provides to us and what can be learnt from that element. The element is "Space". Philosophical and spiritual meaning of space was explained. A story was told by her and Pragnesh about god being omnipresent and all pervading in space.
6) We concluded with Aarti and Chinmaya missions pledge.
Pranaam!
Roopa and Pragnesh.
