Dear Parents,
This was a slightly shortened class with the fifth grade presenting their play on the lac palace episode from the Mahābhārata.
This week's schedule was as such.
Opening Prayers:
* Om Sahanā vavatu śloka
* Om Sree Ganeśaya Namaha, Sree Saraswatyai Namaha, Sree Sat Gurubhyo Namaha.
* Daily prayers (as given in the 'My Prayers' book)
Mahabharata: As we resume the Bheeshma Parvā, we now progress to the warfront.
The Beginning of the End: Having taken the blessings from the elders, and Arjuna's dilemma resolved by Krishna, the fight begins between the two armies. While the Pandava army was in the 'Vajra' formation, the Kauravas formed themselves in the 'Sarvatomukhi Dand' Vyuha. As arrows rained down on both sides, it was the Kaurava commander Bheeshma who ploughed his way through the Pandava army, mowing down all in his way. The first day was a terrible loss to the Pandavas, with a significant portion of their army gone and the deaths of Virāta's princes, Uttar Kumar and Swetha Kumar.
The Second Day: With the Pandava and Kaurava armies in Garuda and Krauncha formations respectively, fighting resumed. This time around the Pandavas had Arjuna, along with Dhrishtadhyumna, Bheema, Satyaki and others to help stave off Bheeshma's onslaught. And in the process managed to eliminate Sakradeva, Bhanuman, Ketuman, Satyadeva, Satya and the entire Kalinga army. It was a huge disappointment for the Kauravas, and Duryodhana felt his grandfather Bheeshma had not done justice despite having had many chances to kill the Pandavas. He accused him of bias and favoritism, to the point where Bheeshma even cursed his own birth as a Kshatriya.
Krishna's anger: The third day saw the Pandavas arranged in an Ardhachandra while the Kauravas used the Garuda formation. Ghatotkacha and Bheema wreaked havoc in the Kaurava army, Duryodhana fainted and in his anger called out Drona and Bheeshma for favoring their 'dear Pandavas' and not doing what they had been assigned. While Bheeshma took this to heart and charged towards the Pandavas, Arjuna also took Krishna's advice and stormed his chariot towards Bheeshma. The subsequent actions of Arjuna were not on par with Bheeshma's fury, which angered Krishna. Taking his divine form with the Sudarshana Chakra in hand, and forgetting his initial vow to 'not fight in the war', Krishna jumped off his seat and proceeded in anger towards Bheeshma. Arjuna, absolutely devastated to see the Lord taking action where he failed, jumped off the chariot and pled Krishna to return to the chariot. Arjuna did not wish to see Krishna break his oath or kill Bheeshma on his behalf. This event gave Arjuna the strength to keep his personal affections on hold while the war still raged. Day 3 saw more gore and blood, with no significant loss on the Pandavas' side, but a fairly large number lost from the Kauravas' army.
Bhagavad Gita: Chanted verses 23-25 with Swamiji.
Please have the children do their daily prayers regularly and also practice the ślokas and Gita chanting.
See you all on Friday March 5th, 2021.
Pranāms,
Viji Lakshmi and Nivedita
Friday Grade 6 sevikas
