Hari OM Dear Families,
Here is this week's update.
Week 6:
8th 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 had two volunteers to lead the first 22 lines BalaKandam
We continued to learn Naama Ramayanam- finished up to 6 lines in Ayodhya Kandam.
Game We played a kahoot game based on the story we learned until now.
Ramayana:
Rama and Lakshmana performed simple rites at the banks of River Mandakini to honor Dasharatha's passing. Kausalya, walking along the river with Sumitra and Kaikeyi was heartbroken to see all this. Once they all met Rama, Bharata insisted that Rama take back the throne that was his birthright. Rama refused, saying it was his duty to carry out the promise made by Dasharatha. He consoled Bharata by saying that while Bharata ruled over Ayodhya and its people, Rama would protect the forest dwellers. No matter how much Vasishtha and other well-wishers counseled Rama to accept the kingdom, he was steadfast in Dharma, and refused. All the devas and the members of the retinue blessed Rama and praised his commitment to the Truth. Bharata, realizing that Rama was unswerving in his commitment to the exile, requested permission to stay with him, but Rama gently refused and reminded that Bharata had duties as a king and a son. Bharata, with a heavy heart, humbly requested that Rama bless the golden padukas that he had brought and proclaimed that the padukas would rule Ayodhya and he would be their representative. All praised Bharata for his devotion and commitment to Dharma. Bharata left Rama and went to Nandigrama on the outskirts of Ayodhya and lived the life of hermit, waiting for Rama's return from exile.
Rama felt that Chitrakuta carried many memories of Bharata's visit and wanted to change the place they spend the rest of their exile. On permission from the Rishis, he met with Sage Atri and Anasuya. Anasuya gifted Sita with lovely sandalpaste and kajal, which added great beauty to Sita. He also met Sage Sarabhanga, who ascended to heaven after meeting Rama and Sage Sutikshana, who advised him to go Dandakaranya to spend the rest of their exile. They spent ten years in Dandakaranya protecting the sages who lived there. Rama and Lakshmana killed a cursed being called Viradha who tried to take away Sita. The cursed Viradha got freed from his curse and regained life as a gandharva. They met Sage Agastya who blessed Rama and recommended Rama spend the rest of exile in Pancavati. Lakshmana constructed the ashram in Pancavati and they happily spent time there. One day, a demoness named Shurpanakha, who was Ravana's sister saw Rama and was enchanted by him! She walked up to him and demanded that he marry her. Rama playfully sent her to Lakshmana, saying he was the one who was "without a wife". Lakshmana sent her back to Rama saying that Shurpanakha could not be happy married to a "mere servant". Angered, Shurpanakha ran to attact Sita, as she was the reason Rama was not marrying her. Furious, Rama instructed Lakshmana to stop her and Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears. Blood flowing out of the wounds, Shurpanakha ran to Khara and Dhushana who were stationed with a large army of Rakshasas in Janasthana. Enraged, they came with an army of 14,000 rakshasas to fight Rama, who single handedly destroyed them. One of the witnesses to this awe inspiring act, a rakshasa named Akampana, ran to Ravana's court and narrated the whole story. Even with all the horrible details of the war and the threat of Rama's valor, Ravana's interest was piqued by Akampana's description of 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-
#leadership, #readyforforestlife, #sandalsworshipped, #paadukaatnandhigraamam, #bharathascommitment, #pureloveforbrother, #religiouslyruled, #byebyechitrakoota, #atrianusooya, #themakeupstuff, #hellosages, #sagesutikshnarecommendsdandaka, #herewegotodandakaaranyam, #decadeindandaka, #agastyarishi, #marchtowardspanchavati, #entersoorpanakha, #kharadooshanavadham, #rakshasaarmydestroyed, #akampanaescape, #ravanathinkingsitasbeauty, #scholarlyravana, #cutoffnose, #livelikeabrother, #strongrama, #greedy, #nonose, #sandalsareking, #badguycomesin, #ravanawantssita, #WANTED(SITA), #everyonelikessita, #demontogod, #slaughteredears, #makeup, #DuryodhanaVSRavana, #sitasitaiamyourfollowerravana, #14000dead, #earscutoff, #Ramapowerful, #Devoteetodemon, #savetherishis, #longwearingmakeup, #Ravanaenvy, #Goodtoevilturningpoint
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. We had three children present their cards today and it was wonderful to see their creativity and thoughtful presentation.
Characters are- Dasaratha, Viswamithra, Parasurama, Yagnapurusha, Kaikeyi, Mantara, Sumithra, Kausalya, Thataka, Bagiratha, Sumanthara, Trishanku, Vasishta, Janaka, Bharatha, Satrughna
Gita Chanting
We started to learn the fifth and sixth slokas from this year's topic- Chapter 2 Saankhya Yoga. We followed Swamiji's chanting video and we repeated it. We had volunteers leading and the rest following.
Our next class is on November 22nd. NO Balavihar on 11/15. Diwali/DeepavaLi festivities are around, and have a happy festive season.
Parents, please record the kids memorized video version of Gita chapter 2 (4 verses at a stretch) and send it to house email to gain points for our Bajrangi Bolt's house. Also if the child completes a minimum of 4 pages of likhita japa, please take pics and send as attachment/link. The email to be sent is cnjbalaviharhouses@gmail.com
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
