Apr 18, 2021 - Shishu Vihar (Sunday AM)

Hari Om Parents,

Below is a recap of what we did during Sunday's class.

 

We began another delightful Sunday morning of Shishu Vihar, with our cute kids' faces popping up on our screens. Once we had most of our friends join our session, we began our class with 3 OMs.

Shlokas:

     1. "Om Saha Navavatu" (page 8 in My Prayers book)

     2. "Vakrathunda Mahakaya" (page 27 in My Prayers book)

  3. "Saraswathi Namasthubhyam" (page 12 in My Prayers book)

  4. "Karagre Vasate" (page 11 in My Prayers book)

5. "Samudhra Vasane" (page 11 in My Prayers book)

6. "Shubam Karoti" (page 12 in My Prayers book)

7. "Krishnayan Vasudevaya" (page 105 in My Prayers book)

8. "Karacharana Krtam" (page 12 in My Prayers book)

9. "Sri Rama Rama Ramethi" (page 129 in My Prayers book) - new

     

Activities:

1. Please have the kids make it a habit to chant the above shlokas every morning, after their bath/shower. This will help them learn, memorize as well as develop a lifelong habit of morning prayer and daily prayer.

2. We rolled right in to some Yoga stretches. We began with the Tree pose with some swaying, then went into a Tiger pose and had everyone roar like a Tiger or a Lion (we had to prompt them to be louder!). Then we sat on the floor and turned into little butterflies, fluttering in the breeze. We then went into the Flower Pose. We added the snake pose by popular demand! The kids are becoming experts!

3. Bhajan time - we introduced the class to a new Lord Rama bhajan

   Khate bhi Ram Kaho

   Pite bhi Ram Kaho

   Ram Ram Ram, bolo 

   Raam Ram Ram, Raam Ram Ram,

   RAM RAM RAM

   
   

   Padhate bhi Ram Kaho

   Likhte bhi Ram Kaho

   Ram Ram Ram, bolo 

   Raam Ram Ram, Raam Ram Ram,

   RAM RAM RAM

   
   

    Uthate   bhi Ram Kaho

   Bethte bhi Ram Kaho

   Ram Ram Ram, bolo 

   Raam Ram Ram, Raam Ram Ram,

   RAM RAM RAM

   
   

   Hasate bhi Ram Kaho

   Rote bhi Ram Kaho

   Ram Ram Ram, bolo 

   Raam Ram Ram, Raam Ram Ram,

   RAM RAM RAM

4. We had a brief discussion of what recordings are needed so we can begin to put together our year end show. The format, details and the requirements have been posted on our WhatsApp group. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or need any clarifications. We NEED participation from ALL of our Shishu kids. Please spend some time with them and send in all recordings by the first week of May. Ty

5. Story Time.

6. Craft Time, the list of items required for our craft projects are sent prior to class. After the story, the kids are usually asked if they can guess what we are going to make. It is quite impressive when they figure it out! Today's craft items didn't really have a hint, as it was just our general supply list. But, when the story was linked-in and stress was given to a certain shiny, glittery, prancing animal, the kids figured it out :)!! The shapes for the head and body was shown on the screen. Then four rectangles for the legs were cut out. Then the kids used their creativity to decorate and make their golden deer their own special creation. The story and craft, inspired Mila and her big sister to create a forest scene with Sita and golden deer:) Thank you parents and grand parents for helping our little ones with their projects.
   
   

7. We had to cut our class short today as the 9th graders had their performance. We joined the main group after the craft to watch their skits. The skits had good content and nice takeaway messages. 

Story of Lord Rama Continues:

We began with a brief quiz like recap of last week's story. The kids were asked if they knew how many brothers Rama had, they responded - three, then they were asked how many sons king Dasharatha had, they responded - four, then the class was asked their names. It was so nice to see different kids able to answer all those questions and the quiz ended with the question of who were the twins, the kids had the correct answer for that as well! Super impressive:)

The Setting:

The class was introduced to the Dhandaka Forest. Then they were asked if they knew who a "Raksashi" was. They were a bit confused to begin with, then one said "Raksasha", then everyone made the connection, that it was just the gender difference:) We discussed the fact that Rama always fights for good. Even if somethings may look or sound scary, it was always for the greater good. We then went into a "cliff notes version" of the story:)

Vishwamitra's Yajna:

As Sage Vishwamitra was performing a sacrifice, he was tormented by Tataka and her sons. Visvamitra approached Dasaratha, the king of Ayodhya, and requested him to send his eldest son, Rama to protect his sacrifice. Though with reluctance, Dasaratha sent the 13- year old Rama and his younger brother Lakshmana with Visvamitra. A puppet of the trio walking in the Dhantaka forest was shown on the screen. As they were walking, Tataka (a raksashi who roamed the forest and was preventing the rishis from performing the yajna), the demoness attacked them, where Rama, aided by Lakshamana, slew her with his arrow. A puppet of this scene was shown on the screen. Vishvamitra along with Rama and Lakshmana, reached his ashram and began his sacrifice. On the sixth day, Maricha and his brother Subahu, appeared and tried to destroy the sacrificial fire. Rama fired his arrow and Maricha was thrown hundred leagues (yojanas) away and the sacrifice was completed successfully. A puppet of this scene was shown on the screen. 

The trio then walked on. Under the guidance of Visvamitra, Rama married Sita, the adopted daughter of Janaka and the princess of Mithila after lifting, stringing and breaking the special bow. A puppet of this scene was shown on the screen.

Maricha fight with Rama in the Dandaka forest:

Later, Dasaratha directed Rama for an exile in the Dhandaka forest for 14 years, at the behest of Rama's step mother Kaikeyi. Rama proceeded to forest. Lakshmana and Sita followed him. The trio travelled through the Dandaka forest to the banks of the river Godavari, where they built a hermitage at Panchavati. A puppet of the trio in bark garments was shown on the screen.

Surpanakha, the sister of Ravana, requested Rama to marry her. Rama refused and directed her to Lakshmana. Lakshmana joked at her. Surpanakha attacked Sita. Lakshmana cut out her ears and nose. A puppet of this scene was shown on the screen. Surpanakha reached Lanka and prompted Ravana (the ten headed rakshsa king - a puppet of ravana was shown on the screen) to steal Sita without telling the truth about what really happened. A puppet of this scene was shown on the screen. 

Ravana went to meet his uncle, Maricha. Maricha was living the life of a sage, hiding in a cave. A puppet of the duo meeting was shown on the screen. Maricha and Subahu were brothers, the sons of demoness Tataka. Maricha was Ravan's maternal uncle as Thataki was the mother of both Maricha and Kaikasi.

Maricha discouraged Ravan when asked for help. Maricha praised the great qualities of Rama and asked Ravana to not to get into a fight with Rama. Ravana not pleased with his uncle Maricha and wanted his plan to be executed. Ravana told him that he would kill Maricha if he could not execute his plan. Ravana wanted Maricha to be a golden deer with attractive spots on the body and to wander near the hermitage of Rama. This Deer should be unique and beautiful, so Sita would want it. Rama and Lakshman would go for the deer giving way for Ravana to kidnap Sita. Rama, aggrieved by Sita's separation, would be easily killed by Ravana. Maricha dissuaded Ravana. But Ravana kept reiterating his plan and finally Maricha agreed. 

Maricha's disguise as a Golden Deer 

Maricha and Ravana flew to Panchavati. Maricha assumed the form of a beautiful golden deer, which had silver spots. A puppet of the cutest golden deer was shown on the screen. We then discussed all the different animals in the forest. Kids took turns telling us the different animals. The golden deer appeared in the vicinity of Rama's ashram. Sita was collecting flowers. The golden deer lured Sita, who called Rama and Lakshmana to see it. Lakshmana sensed foul play and suggested that the deer was Maricha. Sita persuaded Rama to get her the deer. Sita said she wanted it as a pet and she wanted to take the deer back to Ayodhya with her. A puppet of this scene was shown on the screen.

Rama asked Lakshmana to take care of Sita and went after the deer. Maricha ran, followed by Rama. After a long chase, Rama shot him down. Maricha took his real form and cried out mimicking Rama's voice "Oh Sita! Oh Lakshmana!" Sita asked Lakshmana to go and search for Rama. Lakshmana insisted that no one could harm Rama. Worried Sita ordered Lakshmana to go. Lakshmana reluctantly left. Immediately, Ravana appeared as a mendicant. Sita stepped forward to give him alms. A puppet of this scene was shown on the screen. When Sita stepped out past the line that Lakshmana sternly told her not to cross, Ravana kidnapped her. A puppet of this scene was shown on the screen. We paused our story here.

We concluded class with Om Purnamadham and joined the main group for the 9th grade show.

Pranaam,

Keerthi and Pramila