Hari OM
Prayer time:
We started our class with our opening prayers "Sahanaavathu" followed by Vakrathunda Mahakaya, Saraswathi Namsthubhyam, Guru Brahma, and Buddhir balam.
Activity time:
God/Goddess Bingo
Bhagvatham Time:
Quick recap-
King Pruthu and The teachings of Sanath Kumaras
Story Time:
Puranjana
Praachinbarhi was the great-grandson of King Prithu. He was a very good king but he was very fond of performing yagnas and sacrifices. Sage Narada liked Praachinbarhi but felt sorry as he was wasting his time and energy only in the performance of rituals. He advised him that the ritualistic path won't help him gain anything but only will help in adding to his karmas. The ritualistic path will not bring him closer to self-realization, which is the ultimate goal of life. Praachinbarhi felt confused and asked Narada to teach him the way to reach the Ultimate. To make him understand Narada told him a story...
Once upon a time there lived a king, named Puranjana. He had a very close friend named, Avijnaata. But no one knew where He lived and what He did. Puranjana roamed all over to find a city where he could live where all his desires will get fulfilled. And finally, he came across a beautiful city with wonderful palaces, gardens, lakes, etc., The city had 9 beautiful gates too. He at once fell in love with the city and decided he was going to stay there. And as he was enjoying the beautiful city he saw a beautiful girl who was the princess of the city. He married her and became the king. He loved and became too attached to his wife. He lost his independence and almost lived like a slave of his wife. He had all the pleasures of life but still, he always felt he lacked something. Then one fine day, the city was attacked by the neighboring king and destroyed the whole city. He lost his kingdom and walked around like a madman looking for his beautiful wife. He could not stop thinking about her. He could not live without her and died with her thought.
Puranjana was born again as a girl who got married who loved her husband very much. One fine morning she found her husband dead. She could not bear the separation and thought of ending her life by jumping into the funeral pyre. At that moment, an old man walked up to her and asked if she remembered him and told her that he was always with her and added that she was caught in the web of Maya and she failed to understand that she was neither the man who blindly loved his wife and lost his independence nor was the girl who loved her husband very much.
Narada explained this story to Pracinabarhi, how Puranjana represented the soul, and how Avijnaata was the Lord. The soul will always be looking for a body to fulfill its material desires, but eventually, it needs the Lord to set it free permanently.
Praachinbarhi was sincere. He learned what he was taught and practiced it and attained moksha.
Brainstorming: The Nine-Gated City
King Puranjana represents us. Our body represents the nine-gated city. We are the king, the ruler of the nine gated city.
The Nine gates represents: our two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, mouth, excretory and genital organs.
***NO Class on 2/14/21***
With Love,
Indira & Rupali Aunty
