Visit regularly for the latest updates each week.

Children are not vessels to be filled but lamps to be lit.
- Swami Chinmayananda
_________________________________________________

Please select your child's session and grade
from the list on the right side for the latest updates




Jan 10, 2021 - Grade 7 (Sunday AM)

Hari OM Dear Families,

Here is this week's update.


Week 11:
10th January 2021 / 9:15AM
Class began with opening prayers -3 OMs and followed by SahanAvavatu.

One of the students led the chanting  of "Neelambuja shyamala komalaangam".
We continued to learn Naama Ramayanam- finished Sundara kandam.

Ramayana:
Rama, Lakshmana and the vanara army with Sugriva, Hanuman, Angada and legions of great warriors prepare to attack Lanka. Rama decides to ask Varuna, Lord of the Ocean permission to cross over. Rama fasted for three days and prayed to Varuna, but was not immediately blessed by Varuna's presence. Furious, he picked up his bow to threaten to dry up the ocean and presently Varuna came and promised to hold up the rocks and trees that would go into making the bridge.  Meanwhile in Lanka,  Ravana called a council to decide on the next course of action. Other than Vibhishana and Kumbhakarna, everyone supported waging a war with Rama. Vibhishana visited Ravana at his palace and reiterated that returning Sita was the best course of action for the welfare of the entire rakshasa clan, but Ravana did not listen. Vibhishana then left Lanka and surrendered at the feet of Rama. In spite of Sugriva and Angada's misgivings, Rama immediately accepted Vibhishana into his camp and crowned him king of Lanka.  The invading army was in awe of the beauty of the outskirts of Lanka. Ravana tried to send a messenger to separate Sugriva from Rama, but that messenger was duly put in his place. He also sent spies  to Rama's camp - they were easily discovered, and Rama generously let them take a good look around the camp! Rama sent Angada as the final messenger before war began. But Ravana did not listen to Angada's advice. As war began, Ravan created with his magic, a decapitated head of Rama, seeing which Sita was heartbroken. But Sarama, a rakshasi she had befriended there, pointed out that it was an illusion and pacified her.
War began in earnest and the two armies clashed. There was fierce combat, with great warriors from both camps engaging in the war. Indrajit bound Rama and Lakshmana with nagastra and they both fell to the ground unable to move. Seeing their plight, the vanara army was distraught. Ravana even got Sita in the pushpaka vimana to show her Rama and Lakshmana had died - but she was again pacified by Sarama, who pointed out that whatever was ailing Rama and Lakshmana would be temporary. As Sugriva was planning to save Rama and Lakshmana by sending them to Kishkindha and others were trying to send Hanuman to get herbs, Garuda flew in and released Rama and Lakshmana from the poison of the astra. Jubilant, the army fought with renewed vigor. Seeing his cherished warriors die and Rama and Lakshmana fight again, Ravana was filled with memories of his boon from Brahma, and curses from women he had insulted before. Deciding to take drastic action, he asked that Kumbhakarna be woken up.

#Hashtag Ramayana 
#ramasrage, #readytodrytheocean, #varunahelping, #seabridge, #vibheesanasaysnofight, #vibheesanainramascamp, #monkeysconfused, #crowningthetitleruler, #kumbakarnasaysgivesitabacktorama,
#sukhathemessengerfromrakshascamp, #sugreevakickshimout, #wartostart, #sugreevabruised, #angadhathemessenger, #spyingfromravanatoramascamp, #monkeysfighttheirownway, #randomweapons, #funwithwar, #nagasthratiesramalakshmana, #indrajithseemswinner, #thegiantgaruda, #lakshmanastillunconscious, #ramaoneononewithravana, #gobackcutomorrow,
#vedavathipunjithasthalascurseonravana, #thesleeperfor6months, #kumbakarnaintothewar #petrificustotalusrama, #ramastillalive, #herecomeskumbakarna, #monkey's army, #kumbakarnaawakens, #ramasaved, #sadsita, #building the bridge, #armyofmonkeys, #ramasoldcompanion, #kumbakarnathestrong, #lakshamanaIamreallysorryaboutthispetrificustotalus, #buildbridge, #sitathesurivorofhunger, #beutifulmemoryofgeneration,
#deadlymomentsofravana, #cruelindhrajit

Gita Chanting
We started to learn the fifteenth and sixteenth 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.
We concluded with Arathi, Santhi mantras and pledge.
Our next class is  on January 24th. Happy Sankranti and Pongal festivities.
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. Art works for art contests- you may submit now until May.. Parents are welcome to participate as well.
And, also.., if the child completes a minimum of 10 pages of likhita japa, please take pics and send it as an 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