Hari OM Everyone,
We started the class practicing Bhagavad Geeta V5 with those students who joined earlier. Then when the class was assembled, we started with 3 OMs and Sahana Vavatu and Vakratunda Mahakaya followed by each one leading one of the Daily Prayers. We then recorded Tejas chanting Verse 5 and then practiced Verse 6 for a long time. We recorded Srinadh chanting Verse 6.
We then watched a short animated English video of the Prahlada story - this version had the Holika episode missing from the movie clips last week :-) We then talked briefly about the 9 modes of devotion that Prahlada talks about namely - Shravanam, Keertanam , Smaranam , Archanam, Padasevanam, Vandanam, Daasyam, Sakhyam and AtmaNivedanam.Shravanam is when we listen to stories of the Lord. Keertanam is when we sing about Him like the Bhajans we learn in class. Smaranam is remembering the Lord - that is why we have pictures of the Lord and the idols in the temple to remind us of Him. Archanam is when we chant the names of God and offer flowers - we reminded them of the Saraswati Puja we usually get all children to do in the Ashram. Padasevanam is serving the Lord - we talked about how if we can remember that God is in everyone and serve others it is also Padasevanam - we talked about how they can serve their elders at home too! Vandanam is bowing down to the Lord - like when we do Namaskaram in the temple. For Daasyam We talked about Hanuman ji and how he considered Sri Ramachandra ji as his master and served Him. Sakhyam is considering God as your friend - we talked about Arjuna and Krishna and Krishna and Sudama. Many children didn't know about the Sudama story - maybe we will tell them some other time.
For Sakhyam we then told them the story of the boy Gopal - he is the only son of a poor woman and his father is no more. His mother works very hard to make ends meet and when he is a bit older enrolls him in a school which is in a different village. Gopal is excited about school but comes home crying because the forest on the way is very scary. He requests his mom to drop him off and pick him up - but his mom can't do it and she feels upset. Then she prays to her favorite deity Krishna and has faith that He will help her - she tells Gopal that he has an older brother whose name is also Gopal and is a cowherd who lives in the forest and will help him. Gopal is very thrilled to hear that and goes to school eagerly the next day and calls out 'Gopal Bhaiya..Gopal Bhaiya' and sure enough Gopal Bhaiya comes - clad in a dhoti and carrying a flute and a peacock feather in his hair. They both play together for a long time and then he drops off the little boy in school. From then on Gopal becomes very cheerful and spends a lot of time with his brother. Soon it is the end of the year and all kids are getting presents for their teacher and Gopal asks his mom but his mom asks Gopal to ask his brother. His brother gives Gopal a small mud pot of yogurt and Gopal happily takes it to his teacher but all the other kids look down at his simple gift. But when they start eating, the teacher serves the yogurt and everyone loves it so much and wants more - to their amazement the teacher discovers that the small pot never becomes empty - they pour the yogurt into a much bigger vessel and the vessel becomes full but the pot also remains full! Everyone is astonished and the teacher asks Gopal where he got the magic pot - Gopal shares that his brother Gopal in the forest gave him the pot. Everyone goes to the edge of the forest and Gopal calls out to his Gopal Bhaiya but after a long time they can hear the sound of the flute but no one except Gopal can see Him because they don't have the faith yet.
We played a word search game for a few minutes before we had to leave to watch the Grade 9 monthly program at 8.20pm.
We don't have class for the next 2 weeks. We have the Story telling contest on January 16. Please ask them to prepare and participate. They can work on their Art projects as well during the break. If you can practice the Geeta verses we have learned so far and help them memorize that would be great.
Wishing you all Happy Holidays and we will see them back in the New Year!
Thanks & Regards
Jayashree & Suja
Jayashree & Suja
