DEC 6TH PM Bal Vihar class
Hari Om Parents,
Activities this week included Bhagwatam story, riddle, unscramble the words, 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) Continued the 5th 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.
People of Mathura braced up to face a new menace — a baby killer out on prowl looking for new born infants. The baby killer was Kamsa's agent out to kill the newly born baby who was going to be the destroyer of all evil.
Kamsa summoned Pootana, and asked her to leave for Gokula immediately. "A child was born in Nanda's household on the very day Yogamaya told me that my enemy is born elsewhere. I suspect this child to be the one she was speaking about," said Kamsa, "Use your charms, get that child on your lap and feed him your poison," ordered Kamsa.
Pootana had reached Gokula. She easily found her way to Chief Nanda's house where the celebration was still going on. Women were moving in and out of the house carrying sweets, girls were dancing and elders were busy offering worship. Many women were at the house to greet Yashoda. Pootana, clad in a silk sari, covered with ornaments and jasmine flowers hanging from plaited hair looked like one of them. She walked in and headed straight to the hall where ladies were admiring the newly born son of Nanda. Pootana patted the child lovingly and gathered him in her arms.
Pootana entered a room, put the child on her lap in order to feed it. The innocent child smiled at her as it trustingly reached her breast. Pootana had a twinge of guilt. "What am I doing?" she wondered, "Is this the life I want to live?" Overcome by guilt, even as she fed the little one the poisonous milk, Pootana desperately thought, "I'd rather die than live this kind of wretched life." Just then she noticed the little baby smiling at her and she was filled with the kind of peace she never knew before.
Yashoda went inside. The hall was deserted. The child and the woman were nowhere to be seen. Fearing the worst, Yashoda started searching for them in various rooms. Then she heard her little son making slurping noise. She rushed into the room and stood stunned.
Her son, Krishna, was safe and was smiling. Next to him was a woman lying on the floor in her demon form!
Yashoda ran and gathered her darling son in her arms. Other women came in and were frightened to see the demon lying dead. Meanwhile, Nanda who was approaching Gokula, heard the commotion and ran to his house. Yashoda ran to him with Krishna in her arms.
Nanda and other cowherds dragged the body of the dead demon out and performed funeral rites. Strangely, the air was filled with fragrance, which was hardly noticed by Nanda. He was lost in thought. "Is this calamity Vasudeva was hinting at?" Nanda wondered.
3) Roopaji 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 "firer. Philosophical and spiritual meaning of fire was explained. A story was told by her. The activity involved riddle about aspects of fire(Agni) and it's importance.
4) Roopaji then conducted unscramble the words activity with the children.
5) Verses from Damodara strotram were recited by children. CHILDREN WERE ASKED TO PRACTICE AND RECORD FIRST TEN VERSES. Parents, requesting you to conduct this activity with your children. Thanks!
6) Pronunciation of verses from Bhagwat Gita were recited by them, guided by Swami Shantananadaji.
7 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 "Water". Philosophical and spiritual meaning of water was explained. A story was told by her.
8) We concluded with Aarti and Chinmaya missions pledge.
Pranaam!
Roopa and Pragnesh.
