Hari OM,
This week we started our class with prayers followed by Sri Maha Lakshmi Ashtakam. This was a practice session for the entire class - we plan to record the class chanting of Sri MahaLakshmi Ashtakam in the next class and submit it for House Points.
This was followed by the continuation of Mahabharata - Virata Parva:
- The Pandavas' exile is coming to a close as they spend their final days incognito in Virata's kingdom. During this time, Bhima killed Keechaka, commander of the Matsya Army, as retribution for his harassment of Draupadi. However, in doing so, Bhima has also risked the Pandavas' identities being revealed.
- Back in Hastinapura, Duryodhana hears this news and immediately realizes the implications. In vain, Drona and Bhisma try to convince Duryodhana to not go after the Pandavas but instead allow the completion of their agreed-upon exile. However, Duryodhana is adamant about exposing the Pandavas and sending them back for another 12 years of exile. Karna sides with Duryodhana and they plan two assaults on Virata's kingdom.
- The first assault is on the cattle and cowherds. Susarma easily defeats and captures Virata, but the Pandavas come to Virata's rescue. Yudhistra has to make sure that Bhima fights without revealing their identity, but ultimately the Pandavas are victorious. Virata is grateful to Yudhistra for their service, but Yudhistra says that he was merely repaying the kindness that Virata has shown them by allowing them to stay in his kingdom for so many months.
- Uttara Kumara, son of Virata, must stop the second assault of the Kauravas. However, before doing so he needs a charioteer worthy of the task. Sairandhri (Draupadi), is able to convince Uttara Kumara to ask Brihannala (Arjuna), saying that Brihannala was previously the charioteer of Arjuna.
This was followed by a discussion of our Project #1 on Temples. Instructions were reviewed with the students in class and a pdf file of instructions was shared with the class. This is a 2-week project where students will do research on the Char Dham Temples (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath). The class has been divided into 4 teams and each team will research one of the Char Dham Temple. Each team will be presenting their slides on Dec 20. In our next class (Dec 13), we will dive a little deeper into this research activity in the Zoom breakout rooms.
This was followed by chanting verses 9-10 from Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 2. We will send the video of this to the Parents via WhatsApp. We concluded the class with Shanti Mantras and Pledge.
Pranaams!
Krishna and Vijay
