May 23, 2021 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari om parents,

      Hope all of you are doing well. Here is the summary of our class - 

1. We started our class with 3 OM's and the regular shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati & Our Guru.

2. We then chanted the Dhyaan shlok and turned it into a game of charades. It was lots of fun, kids acting out the quality of Hanumanji for their friends. 

3. We listened to the Hanuman Chalisa - https://youtu.be/jTNu-R9KA-4

4.Hanuman Chalisa - We continued further with meanings of Chaupai -

  *Sankat katai...  Hanumat Balbeera

All the difficulties and pains are removed, of those who invoke the all powerful Hanuman.When we pray to him, he inspires us to be brave as well and this gives strength to deal with our situation better. Have you heard the phrase, "Faith Moves Mountains!" Meaning, if we have faith in the Lord and ourselves, we can accomplish anything in the world.

  *Jai Jai... Ki nain

Victory to you, O Hanuman ji who has control over his senses. Bless us with your grace as your preceptor. Anyone who is in full control of one's senses and worships Hanuman ji with full devotion, will emerge victorious. 

5. Our special visitors (Bhaiyyas - Ashwin, Arjun & Niranjan), the JCHYK's joined us for the rest of the session. They organized a wonderful quiz for us, if kids want to practice here is the link - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i91qcHyEnKZNEip8tGFFUnLEdinLNsU0/view?usp=sharing

7. One of the Bhaiyyas told us the story how Hanumanji saved Lakshman by getting the Sanjeevani herb. Hanuman ji overcame so many obstacles to get the herb to revive Lakshman. 

8. Hanuman Movie - We could only watch for 10 min as we were out of time. here is the link -

https://youtu.be/7dbYyXom6DA

       Thank you to Ashwin, Arjun & Niranjan for coming to our class for a fun session. Next week we don't have a class. Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend! Take care!

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.

May 16, 2021 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari om parents,

      Hope all of you are doing well. Here is the summary of our class - 

1. We started our class with 3 OM's and the regular shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati & Our Guru.

2. We then chanted the Dhyaan shlok and turned it into a game of charades. It was lots of fun, kids acting out the quality of Hanumanji for their friends. 

3.Hanuman Chalisa - We continued further with meanings of Chaupai -

  *Aur Manorath...  phala pavai.

You bless everyone who seeks your grace & grant in large measure all that one wants and also grant one the full fruit of life. In this chaupai Tulasidas ji says that Hanumanji fulfills all of our desires, with His blessings all of our jobs will be accomplished.

*Charo jug... jagat ujiyara.

Your Glory spreads over the four Yugas and your Fame radiates all over the world. Shree Hanuman ji's glory is eternal. 

*Sadhu Sant ...Rama Dulare.

You are the protector of the righteous and destroyer of the wicked. You are very dear to Lord Rama. Hanuman ji is the protector of saints and sages, and destroyer of demons & beloved of Sri Rama.

*Ashta Siddhi... Janki mata.

Hanuman Ji went to Lanka to find Mother Sita & he gave her the news that Lord Rama was coming to rescue her, her joy knew no bounds. Mother Janki, the mother of the universe, showered her blessings on you & gave you the boon that you may grant 8 siddhis (the eightfold supernatural powers) and 9 wealths to anyone you like. However, the greatest wealth that  Hanumanji gives us is love for Lord Rama. Once we have that oh, we do not need any other wealth.

*Rama Rasayana.. ke dasa.

The elixir(quick magical cure) of devotion to Lord Rama is with you, who always stays at the feet of Lord Rama as his servant (with utmost humility).

*Tumhare bhjan .. dukha bisaravai.

Singing your praise makes Lord Rama bless and relieve one of all miseries of previous births. Lord Rama is happy when people praise Hanumanji. So, this is the best way to please Lord Rama. One who worships Hanumanji will have no sorrows. He will forget sorrows not only of this life but also of all past lives. Meaning, he will be happy forever.

*Anta kaal.. haribhakta kahai.

The end of one's life when someone goes to the Abode of Rama, such a person will live as a devotee of Hari (Shri Rama).

*Aur Devta... sukha karai.

Even though the devotee does not think of any other deity but Shri Hanuman, he will surely enjoy all happiness. Offering prayers to Hanuman ji relieves us of all pain and we become happy. What happens when we pray? We get rid of all of our bad thoughts and we become happy. 

4. Movie time - https://youtu.be/7dbYyXom6DA

Kids enjoyed the movie. We watched a part of it & plan to finish it in the remaining classes.😊

5. Ended our class with closing prayers. 

  See you all next week @9;15! Take care, everyone.

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.

May 2, 2021 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om Parents,

        Hope you & your families( in India) are all doing well. Here is the summary of the class -

1. We started with 3 OM's, Sahna Bhavtu followed by shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati & Our Guru.

2. We then chanted the Dhyaan shloka.

3. Hanuman Chalisa Chaupai -

   * Ram Duare Tum Rakhware....Binu Paisare.

You guard the door to Lord Rama's palace where none dare to enter or go out without your permission. Shri Hanuman is the ever-vigilant guard  at the door of Lord Rama. That does not mean that he will prevent us from entering. On the contrary, he pulls people towards the Lord. Shri Rama said, "By his devotion Hanuman inspires other people to love me and come towards me."

*Sab Sukh.. Kahu ko Darna.

All those who seek refuge in you enjoy every kind of happiness. Why should one be afraid of anything when you were there to protect? Any person can accomplish anything by chanting Shri Hanuman's name, it makes one brave, powerful and fearless. Surrender to Hanuman Ji and gain all his qualities and enjoy every kind of happiness. He will take us Lord Rama.

* Aapan Tej ...Te Kanpai.

You alone can control your own might and power, all 3 worlds tremble when your roar.His power and strength know no limits. Chanting the name of Hanuman Ji transfers the same power and courage to his devotees. 

*Bhoot Pishach... naam Sunavai.

Evil spirits and ghosts dare not come anywhere near him who chants  your name, Mahaveer.. Chanting Hanuman Ji's name will keep evil spirits away. Kids who fear ghosts and who get nightmares should chant the name of Hanuman ji and regularly recite the Chalisa.

*Nasai Rog.. Hanumat Beera.

 O Hanuman, all diseases are cured and all pains disappear when one chants your name constantly. Diseases we suffer are of two kinds diseases of the body( fever, flu, headaches) and diseases of the Mind (Anger, jealousy, pride).

*Sankat te .... Dhyan jo lavai.

Hanuman ji helps those who worship Him with sincerity and faith (i.e., in thought, action, speech and prayer) in overcoming difficulties. Meaning, all of our thoughts, words and actions should be worship of the Lord. Then, no action of ours will cause us any sorrow. 

*Sab Par ...Tum Saja.

Hanuman Ji  skillfully carried out all the missions of Lord Rama Think, Why did Lord Rama trust Hanumanji to carry out all his missions? Rama trusted Hanumanji because he was disciplined and lived by his vows.

4. Story time - Watch & Enjoy! https://youtu.be/jqfiwoWHMv4

5. Game time - Played a unjumble/ complte the chaupai game using breakout rooms. It was quite interactive and interesting.

6. More Game time - we read the ending part of the chaupai and kids had to come up with the entire chaupai. All the kids participated , tried saying verses which are difficult and amazed both of us!! Simply wonderful job by the kids, loved it.👏👏👏

7. Hanuman Vadati - Game with movement & twists.

8. Closed our class with ending prayers and pledge.

 See you all next Sunday & get ready to watch our show! Take care & Stay Safe! 

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.

 

Apr 18, 2021 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents, 

       Hope everyone is doing well. Here is a summary of our class - 

1. We started with 3 OM's and chanted the shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati and our Guru.

2. We then chanted the Dhyaan shlok 

3. We decided to chant the Chalisa a different way, we chanted a part of verse and kids completed the verse. It was awesome to see everyone participate and try their best. 👏👏 Great job by the kids.

4. We discussed about how Hanumanji crossed the ocean to find Devi Sita. How the bridge was built, which animals helped etc. It was an interesting discussion. Here is a story we wanted to share but ran out of time - https://youtu.be/jqfiwoWHMv4

4. Monthly program - We did a trial run of our program and it went well. Just a few reminders -

    * Please look directly at the camera while saying your part. We noticed kids looking sideways as they had their lines on a different device or paper. Sharing the script link here so they can open it up on their machine and look at the camera. Here is the link -https://docs.google.com/document/d/1shcjrC1TIyfC9JRskei8Bv2mWIYLAJGANouQeV4jp7A/edit?usp=sharing

     * As this is a pre recorded show, we would like to record a few times to make sure we get the best version. So it is a request that all kids be present for all the practices. We just have 2 weeks left. 

5. We then joined the assembly to watch the 9th grade show.Awesome job by 9th graders!

      Thank you parents for all your help. We will put on a good show together. See you all at 9:15am on Sunday!

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.

Apr 11, 2021 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents, 

       Hope everyone is doing well. Here is a summary of our class - 

1. We started with 3 OM's and chanted the shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati and our Guru.

2. We then chanted the Dhyaan shlok 

3. We recited the chalisa along with this video. Here is the link - 

https://youtu.be/jTNu-R9KA-4

4. Chaupai 18 - Juga sahastra....Janu.

          Hanuman ji leapt quite easily at the ☀️  who is thousands of miles away mistaking it to be a sweet fruit. When Hanuman ji was born, he saw the sun in the sky. Thinking of it to be a fruit, he flew towards it. Hanuman Ji was fearless, so he leapt over to eat the fruit in the sky! We need to learn to be fearless like Hanuman ji. 

5. Chaupai 19 - prabhu mudrika.. nahi.

      Holding the Lord's ring in your mouth, you crossed the ocean. Sri Tulsidas Ji says in this verse that there is no doubt that one can accomplish anything by chanting the Lord's name and acting with full faith and devotion. Such people are not afraid of anything in this world.

6. Monthly program - We did a practice run and the comments and observation have been shared on WhatsApp group. 

7. We ended our class with closing prayers. 

     Hope to see everyone at 9:15 am on Sunday 😊! 

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.

Mar 21, 2021 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents, 

          Hope you are doing well and enjoying the spring weather. Here is a summary of our class- 

1. We started our class with 3 OM's and sahna bhavtu, followed by Vakratunda Mahakaya, Saraswati Namastubhyam and Guru Bramha shlokas.

2. We chanted the Dhyaan shlok for the hero of our class Hanumanji. We did it like a game of tag - where one kid gets to ask one of his friends a question and if the friend answers it correctly he now gets to choose the next person to ask the question and so on. Lot of fun! 

3. Hanuman Chalisa - we chanted the entire chalisa with this wonderful video. Here is the link 

https://youtu.be/2BybOeHIDSM

4. Practicing the script - we rehearsed the script with kids and everyone did great! 👏🏻👏🏻

5. Monthly program - This was a short class as we had to go to assembly to watch 4th graders perform. It was a wonderful performance! 

          Our next class is in April! Please check WhatsApp messages for updates regarding rehearsals/ practice etc. Enjoy the spring break!! 

Regards, 

Chitra & Rupa

Mar 7, 2021 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents,

        Hope you all are doing well and enjoying the warm weather. It was so nice meeting you all on Sunday 🙏Here is the summary of our class- 

1. We started the class with 3 OM's and opening prayers. We then chanted shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati & our Guru.

2. Next we chanted Dhyaan shlok & revised the meanings of the qualities. 

3. We chanted Hanuman Chalisa in full with this rap style video. Here is the link - https://youtu.be/2BybOeHIDSM 

4. Meanings of chaupai - 

*laya sajeevan... ura laye.

You fetched Sanjeevani herb to revive Lakshmana who had fainted on the battlefield and Lord Rama happily embraced you.

* Raghupati...  bhai.

Lord Rama praised you very highly and said, " you are as dear to me as my brother Bharat."

* Sanakadik... ahisa. 

   Jama...     te.

   The great sages like Sanaka etc. & gods like Bramha & goddess Sarada as well as Yama( god of death), Kuber( god of wealth), the eight regents of directions, poets & scholars have not been able to praise you adequately. There is no limit to Hanuman Ji's glory. How did he gain his glories? Only through real hard work, can one glory. Practice makes a man perfect. Let's take the example of Beethoven. As usual, after a great concert, one of the fans and exclaimed, " oh,  if only God had given me such a gift of genius!" Beethoven replied, it is neither a genius, nor magic. All you must do is practice your piano eight hours a day for 40 years and you will be as good as I am. One must work for all their achievements.

5. Story time - man's greatness lies in his efforts.

            Four boys were playing in a field & from one of the corners of the field they heard a feeble voice coming from beneath the ground. "Dig and take me out; I will give you whatever you want."

           Digging the ground, the boys found a small right now. When they rubbed the lamp, it spoke. " I am Aladdin's magic lamp. I can give you whatever you ask for. Please ask."

             The first boy said, "I do not like doing my homework. Can you please do my homework daily?" The magic lamp replied, "yes of course, I will." The second boy asked, "how about giving me enough to eat so that I never have to work?" Again, the magic lamp replied,"yes of course. You should have enough Food to last your lifetime." And so the 3rd boy asked for something similar and the genie offered to do it. 

               The last boy, however, ask something very unusual. "O magic lamp, I request you to vanish before you give us anything. Our kind God has given us our eyes, ears, hands and legs. We should make full use of these gifts to make others and us happy. Man's greatness lies in his own efforts. Why should we be beggars before you and insult these gifts of God ?"

6. Geeta chanting - We reviewed verses from 1 - 15 of chapter 2. Here is the link - https://www.chinmayavrindavan.org/activities/geeta-chanting. If you go on this page there is a audio reference which you can use to learn pronunciations etc., also if you need lyrics there is an option. 

7. Game time - Quiz show on what we have learned on Hanuman Ji so far. Sharing the link so kids can play and learn in their own time 😊

https://wordwall.net/resource/12142389

    We once again thank you all for attending the Sunday meeting. There is a spreadsheet link on WhatsApp group for you to fill up regarding your child's participation. Please fill it up promptly so we can move forward from there. 

      See you all on Sunday at 9:15am😊!!

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.

Feb 28, 2021 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents, 

              Hope you all are doing well. Here is the summary of our class- 

1. We started the class with 3 OM's and opening prayers. We then chanted shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati & our Guru.

2. Next we chanted Dhyaan shlok & revised the meanings of the qualities. 

3. We chanted Hanuman Chalisa till chaupai 14. 

4. Game time - The Super Superman Jeopardy. That was a lot of fun. Here is the link if kids want to play in their free time 😊

https://jeopardylabs.com/play/hanuman-the-superman

Just copy the link, press start and play.

5. Story time - Everyone knows the story of how Hanuman Ji saved Lakshman's life by bringing the sanjeevani. In this story we see how he overcame the obstacles and got the herb. Here is the link- 

https://youtu.be/JgQpyYBjUNI

We could not complete the story as we had to go to the common assembly for the 5th grade performance. We will complete it in this coming week.

6. We said our closing prayers and joined the common assembly. Awesome performance by 5th graders!! 

     Just wanted to let you know that our grade 2 monthly performance is coming in May. We would like to meet the parents regarding the same. Check for messages in WhatsApp group. See you all on Sunday @9:15am. 

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa. 

Feb 21, 2021 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents, 

              Hope you all are doing well. Here is the summary of our class- 

1. We started the class with 3 OM's and opening prayers. We then chanted shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati & our Guru.

2. Next we chanted Dhyaan shlok.

3. We chanted the Chalisa till chaupai 10.

4. Hanuman Chalisa - Chaupai 8 ( Prabhu charitra.. Mann basiya). Hanuman ji takes great delight in listening to the glories of Lord Rama. Just as grandparents never get tired of listening to and talking about their grandchildren, Hanuman ji never gets tired of listening to the glories of Lord Rama.

5. Story time - Where's Rama? 

      In India, there are more temples of Hanuman ji than any other God. Where ever there is a temple of the Lord Rama, there is also one with an idol of Hanuman Ji. Hanuman ji's temple, however, we do not always find Lord Ram's idol. 

      Here is a beautiful story about Lord Hanuman's devotion for Lord Ram - 

https://youtu.be/Nko5cZO6o6A

       Another wonderful story about Lord Hanuman's devotion - 

https://youtu.be/e5qYl6yLO70

6. Spirit Day Activity - We played virtual scavenger hunt and it was awesome! Then we joined the main assembly for presentations & results.

    See you all on Sunday @9:15am! 

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.

Feb 7, 2021 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents,

          We hope that you all are happy and healthy. Here is a summary of our class-

1. We started with opening prayers - 3 OM's, sahana bhavtu, and shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati and our Guru.

2. We then chanted the Dhyaan shloka. Being on Super Bowl Sunday kids had their teams picked and they described a quality of Hanumanji the team must imbibe to win the game. It was amazing to see their creativity. 

3. We did a few chaupais from Chalisa -

* kanchan baran... kesa. 

           Someone who is really strong may look fierce, even though Hanuman Ji is a monkey and very strong he is noble, divine and humble. He attracts others with his radiant personality. Hanuman Ji is the most lovable character in Ramayana as he brings joy to everyone. What really makes us beautiful? For example - How can our ears be beautiful? Girls wear earrings to make it look pretty but it's ability to listen to beautiful things. Similarly our mind is beautiful if we think good thoughts. When we think good thoughts, we perform good deeds.

* Haath bajra... Saaje.

      You have the thunderbolt in one hand and a flag in another, and the sacred thread adores you shoulders. We do not see Hanuman Ji with a thunderbolt and a flag but we always see him with a Gada/mace. It is said that his mace is a strong as the vajra. He carries a flag of lord Rama in his hand. The vajra represents strength while the flag represents success and fame.

*Shankarsuvan... jag vandan.

     You are an incarnation of Lord Shiva and son of Kesari. Everyone in the world respects you because of your great valor. One may wonder as to how many people is he the son of ? Wind god, Lord Shiva and Kesari? Just like every child acquires qualities of his or her parents, Hanuman ji so got these great qualities from his fathers. Hanumanji had 3 fathers, he is recognized by the following names - Pavansuta ( son of wind god),  Kesari nandan ( son of Kesari) & Shankar suvan ( son of Lord Shiva). The special qualities which Hanumanji acquired from each of his parents are - 

* From Lord Shiva, Hanuman Ji learned devotion, compassion and austerity.

* From Wind God, Hanuman Ji Acquired strength and humidity, and learned to serve others invisibily.

* From Kesari, Hanumanji learned courage, valor and loyalty.

* From Anjana, he inherited beauty, purity, gentleness and love.

Think about the physical features, trait or quality you inherited from your parents.

4. Story time- Good Friends. 

           In the village there were two boys Ramu and Kanu.  Ramu was blind and Kanu was lame. They both were poor and the parents are working hard just to put food on the table. These boys want to go to school, but who would take them?

           One day, Ramu  had a brilliant idea. He told Kanu how both of them go to school and study. Ramu said, "I have strong legs, I can walk and carry you on my shoulder. You can show me the way."  Kanu said," And I can repeat the lessons loudly for you."

           They sought their parents consent and went to school. The teachers are very happy to see that eagerness to help each other. Yes, Ramu and Kanu are beautiful!

5. Game time - We played Kahoot with the kids. It was amazing! Will share the link on WhatsApp. 

6. Story time - Hanumanji's flight. Here is the link - https://youtu.be/Ooqws17FFeg

             Hanuman Ji's encounter with Surasa teaches us  that it is not always wise use of our might. We should persevere in the face all impediments & stay focused on our goals while doing everything in our power to reach it  just like Sri Hanuman!

7. Geeta chanting - We chanted verses 15 & 16 of Chapter 2.

8. We ended our class with closing prayers and pledge.

Have a wonderful long weekend! 

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.

Jan 31, 2021 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents, 

              Hope you all are doing well. Here is the summary of our class- 

1. We started the class with 3 OM's and opening prayers. We then chanted shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati & our Guru.

2. Next we chanted Dhyaan shlok & revised the meanings of the qualities.

3. Why is Hanumanji called Mahaveer or Mahabira? Bira means a hero, a man of courage, strength and valor. But, Hanumanji is called Mahabir, the greatest warrior. There are five different kinds of heroism mentioned in the Scriptures. They are: 

* Tyagavirah ~ A hero in annunciation and sacrifice

* Dayavirah  ~ A Hero in compassion

* Vidyavirah ~ A Hero in knowledge and learning

* Danavirah  ~ A Hero in charity

* Ranavirah  ~ A brave warrior in battlefield.

Hanuman Ji has all the five kinds of valor, hence he is called Mahabira. He used all the five in service of the Lord, hence he is called the super superman.

4. Story time - Indra's Vajra. 

     During a major of war, Indra could not defeat the Asuras who were causing great harm to the people. Indra approached Brahmaji, the creator of the world and asked for a weapon for which the Asuras would have no match. Bramha ji replied, "such a weapon can be made only from the backbone of a great sage named Dadhichi". Indra was perplexed. How could you get the bones of a living person? Indra was in a serious predicament. He reluctantly approached the rishi Dadhichi and told that he desperately needed his bones to make a weapon to destroy the Asuras. He was a great saint and out of compassion and welfare of the people, he readily agreed to sacrifice his body to make this powerful weapon, Vajra.

     Hanuman Ji is also called Bajrangi, which means he is as strong as Indra's Vajra or thunderbolt.

5. Brainstorming- Kumati or Sumati ? Kumati means wicked thoughts & Sumati means good thoughts. We played a game with kids asking is it Sumati or Kumati-

* you want to help your mom carry a grocery bag(Sumati)

* You have a test tomorrow but do you want to go out and play(Kumati)

6. Game time- Hanuman Vadati

7. Story time- An eye for an eye

     Once there was a man who, out of deep jealousy, was constantly plagued with negative thoughts of his neighbor. One day a genie 🧞‍♂️ appeared and said to him," I can give you whatever you want, but the only condition is that your neighbor will get twice as much." The man was very happy, but did not know what to request. Every good thing he asked for, his neighbor would get twice as much. Since he was jealous of his neighbor, he did not want anything good for him. After much thinking he said to the 🧞‍♂️, " take out one of my 👁 ". The neighbor became blind. This is Kumati. A jealous man is willing to harm himself so that he could hurt others.

8. Story time - The Greater Good

        Once there lived a rich man called Mr.D. He thought what can I do to please the lord? Hmm.. maybe I can light a pure ghee lamp in lord's temple everyday. So every evening at dusk, he lit a pure ghee lamp at the temple. 

        A poor man named Mr.K lived nearby. He thought the road to the village is dark and lonely. I will light an oil lamp 🪔 so that passerby's don't stumble and hurt themselves. So every evening he would light the 🪔. One night lord came in Mr.D's dream and said I love Mr.K's lamp more than yours. Stunned Mr.D said but lord I use pure ghee while he uses cheap oil to light the lamp. The lord then patiently said the material value of your lamp is of less importance. The temple is already well lit and does not need any more lamps. Mr.K's 🪔lights the path of so many travelers. Your actions should be such that they benefit the maximum number of people. Service of the world is the service of the lord. This is Sumati. Hanumanji always gives us good thoughts and eliminates evil thoughts. 

9. Activity- Spin the wheel

https://wordwall.net/resource/9267492

10. Geeta chanting- we chanted verses 13 & 14. Link will be posted in WhatsApp group.

11. Hanuman Chalisa chanting- A wonderful way to learn to chant with lyrics and upbeat music. Here is the link- 

https://youtu.be/jTNu-R9KA-4

12. Closing prayers and pledge.

     See you all on Sunday at 9:15am. 

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.

Jan 24, 2020 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents,

           Here is a brief summary of our class- 

1. We started with 3 OM's and "sahna bhavtu" followed by shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati & our Guru. 

2. We chanted the Dhyaan shlok and went over the meanings. 

3. Hanuman Chalisa- We chanted the Hanuman Chalisa halfway through. It was good to see kids starting to chant.

4. Story time- A curse or a boon.

     Once upon a time there was a beautiful Apsara called Pumjisthala who lived in heavens. She was very mischievous. Once she disturbed a sage in his meditation. The sage became angry and cursed her saying that she would be born as a female monkey in her next life. Pumjisthala was shocked. She cried and apologized profusely. The sage's heart melted. He said he could not undo the curse, but said that she would be free from the curse after giving birth to Lord Shiva.

       As the stage promised, Pumjisthala was reborn as Anjana and, together with her husband Kesari lived a life of chastity and purity. She performed austerities for many years and worshipped Lord Shiva. Pleased with her devotion, Lord Shiva granted her a boon which would free her from the curse.

         When Ravana's atrocities were increasing and he was playing havoc in the world, all the gods pray to lord Vishnu. The devas appealed to the Lord that the earth cannot take much more of this misery and requested the Lord to come and save everyone. Lord said, I will take birth as Rama, to free the earth from the evil grip of Ravana. Since Lord Vishnu himself was coming on the earth all the devas wanted to come and serve the Lord.

         Lord Shiva also wanted to serve Rama.He thought,  If he comes as a member of his family, Rama May hesitate to take services from Shiva. But if he comes in a lower form as a monkey there will be no such problem. Thinking thus, he placed his tejas, brilliance in Sri Hanuman to serve Lord Rama. Therefore, Sri Hanuman is also known as an incarnation of Lord Shiva. His father's name was Kesari, which means lion. Therefore Sri Hanuman is born of a lion like monkey who is fearless, brave and strong. Sri Hanuman purifies everybody that comes in contact with, like the wind God. Therefore, Hanumanji is ~

* Pavansutta  - son of Lord Pavana(wind)

* Anjaniputra. - son of Anjana

* Kesarinadana- son of Kesari

5. Game time- We played a unjumble game on Hanuman Chalisa. It was good to see kids actively participating. Here is the link if kids want to play: 

https://wordwall.net/resource/9854477

6. Game time- Hanuman Vadati with a twist. A game to get you up, stretching and moving and teaching you these movement related Sanskrit words.

7. Brainstorming: What are some qualities of a good messenger? A good messenger is one who promptly delivers the right message, to the right person, at the right time. One can be a messenger only if one has many good qualities and is trustworthy. Some of the qualities are-

* One must be capable of delivering the message to the right person

* One must be smart enough to recognize the right situation in which the message should be delivered

* One must be clever enough to understand, remember, and deliver the right message with brevity and clarity

* One must be able to deliver the message in time, cannot afford to be lazy.

      Whenever anyone asked Hanuman ji who he was, he would simply say, Rama door, which means messenger of Lord Rama. This is a true reflection of his humility and a great reflection of keeping lord Rama in his ❤️all the time.

8. Gita Chanting- we chanted verses 11&12. 

      

       After the class everyone joined the assembly to watch 7th graders performance. It was awesome! 

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa. 

Jan 10, 2021 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents,

       Hope you all had a wonderful start to the New Year. We had a wonderful class on Sunday  and here is the summary - 

1. We started with 3 OM's and "sahna bhavtu" followed by shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati & our Guru. 

2. We chanted the Dhyaan shlok.

3. Game time- Spin the wheel. The game was based on names and qualities of Hanuman ji we have learned so far. Lot of fun, kids can try it out on their own time😊 Here is the link 

https://wordwall.net/resource/9267492

4. Story time- How Hanuman ji got his name? Hanu means chin. Here is the story- 

             As a small baby, Hanuman ji saw the rising sun and mistook it to be a fruit. He flew up to the sun and swallowed it. The whole world became dark. Nobody could understand who this little child was who had swallowed the ☀️. 

             Lord Indra, king of Gods, came to free the ☀️. He struck Hanumanji with the thunderbolt on his chin. The thunderbolt is a powerful weapon that will instantly kill and even struck by it. However, being all powerful, Hanumanji did not die, but while releasing the ☀️, he fell on earth and became unconscious. When Wind god heard what had happened, he became very angry and stopped the flow of air. And there was chaos everywhere, everyone was choking without air. The gods started praying intensely to the wind God, begging him to accept their humblest apologies. The wind God would accept the apologies only on one condition. He told them, "you must all bless my son with all the powers and good qualities that you possess".  Thus, Hanuman Ji was blessed with all the might & strength. 

             Hanuman Ji is very strong but he uses his strength only to serve Lord and others, he does not misuse or abuse his strength.

5. Hanuman vadati- A fun game with lots of movement to check your alertness & attention to detail.

6. Brainstorming- How to serve like Pavankumar? 

              Hanuman Ji is also called, the son of Wind God. He has inherited the virtue of serving all invisibly from his father. He served Lord Rama to the fullest, invisibly. Meaning, he performs all his duties without any pride, arrogance, or ego. His only ambition is to serve the Lord continuously with humility and devotion. He strives to serve others, invisibility, expecting no praise or reward. 

               Some examples of how we can serve selflessly are- helping mom/dad around the house, cleaning your room, helping by putting things in right place etc.

7. Hanuman Chalisa chanting-  We chanted Chalisa halfway through and discussed in detail the meaning of the first 2 Doha's & the 2 chaupais. Here is the link of chalisa which shows the lyrics and meaning, hope you find it helpful- 

https://youtu.be/WjhHsKnMJOc

8. Geeta chanting- we chanted verses 9 & 10. 

9. Closing prayers- We ended the class with Om purnamdah.. and pledge. 

        Take care & see you all in the next class! 

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.

           

Dec 20, 2020 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents,

        Happy holidays & Happy New Year to all of you! Here is the summary of our class- 

1. We chanted the 3 OM's and sahna bhavtu followed by shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati & our Guru. 

2. Next we chanted the Dhyaan shlok and revised the meanings.

3. Ramayana storyline- we reviewed the entire story of Ramayana from the birth of Lord Ram till the time he gets Sita back after defeating Ravana. This was a very interactive process. Asking kids to fill in the blanks or narrate a important story to fill the gaps as we went along. 

4. Game time- Hanuman vadati is always fun & energizing.

5. Hanuman Chalisa- Good to see kids starting to chant Chalisa and eager to learn it. We discussed few new words. Kids will gradually be offered turns to chant as we go further in the year.

6. Geeta chanting- We chanted verses 1-10 of chapter 2. Kids were excited to share what they had learned in chanting class. Vedika, Parvani & Tejas chanted the verses and I believe encouraged their friends to learn & chant along. 

7. Pop quiz - This was an impromptu quiz game and I was very happy to see them participate enthusiastically. There will be more quizzes coming up soon. 

      Please check the WhatsApp messages for any updates or activities. Have a wonderful winter break and our next class is in January. Happy New Year! Stay safe & healthy.

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.

Dec.13, 2020 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents, 

              Hope you all are doing well. Here is the summary of our class- 

1. We started the class with 3 OM's and opening prayers. We then chanted shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati & our Guru.

2. Next we chanted Dhyaan shlok & revised the qualities we have covered so far.

3. Brainstorming- What is Vakpatutvam/ Eloquence? Eloquence is the power of speech. To be able to effectively communicate we must first think then speak. To bean effective speaker, one must know: 

* when to speak

* what to speak

* how to speak 

* how much to speak 

4. Activity : To teach them the art of speaking eloquently we put 2 kids on the spot and gave them a scenario. For example if your friend's handwriting is bad, how do you tell them eloquently? So we can say that hey you have some wonderful & creative ideas but if you don't present them neatly how can we read & enjoy them. Kids realized that we need to think a little before we say. That was an amazing game, thank you Rupa aunty.

5. Story time : Yes, the fees are doubled. 

    Socrates was a Greek philosopher and a teacher who's teaching based on discipline and vigorous, thoughtful dialogue. He never used unnecessary words in his speech and kept his conversations to a minimum. He was a very effective communicator. Once, a young man came to him to learn the art of speaking. The young man was very talkative and introduced himself using many words. Socrates told the young man,He never used unnecessary words in his speech and kept his conversations to a minimum. He was a very effective communicator. Once, a young man came to him to learn the art of speaking. The young man was very talkative and introduced himself using many words. Socrates told the young man, " I will take double the money from you.". The young man was taking aback. Socrates explained I have to teach you 2 things. First, how to be quiet and then how to talk effectively with minimum words. Thus, an effective speaker is the one who can deliver the message with maximum impact using minimum words.

6. Game time: Hanuman Vadati. This game always energizes the class.😊.

7. Story time : The ox who won the bet. 

    Long ago, a man owned a very strong box. The owner was so proud of her socks that he posted to everyone about the oxygen superior strength. One day, the owner went to Village, and said to the man of the village village, Long ago, a man owned a very strong box. The owner was so proud of his socks that he posted to everyone about the ox's superior strength. One day, the owner went to a village, and said to the man of the village" I will wager a thousand  pieces of silver that my strong ox can pull a line of 100 wagons."

    Next day the man brought his ox to the village and crowd gathered to see the site. The ox was tied to the first wagon. The owner then whipped his ox and said get up and get along you fool but the ox had never been talked to in such a manner. Hence, he refused to move. Neither the blows nor the harsh names could make him move. Finally the poor man was forced to forfeit the thousand pieces of silver and walked home dejected. The man was sad and he cried. When he went to feed the ox that night, the ox turned to him and said why did you hurt me today? You have never fit me before. Why did you call me a fool? You have never called me such names before. The man immediately apologized and said I am sorry please forgive me. I will never treat you badly again. Very well said the ox. Tomorrow I will go to the village and pull up the hundred wagons for you. You have been a kind master until today. Tomorrow you shall gain what you lost. So this time when the ox is tied to the first wagon the owner said, " Good ox, show how strong you are, you fine fine creature" and patted the ox. At once the ox pulled with all his strength . The crowd cheered & praised the ox. The ox and the man went home, beaming. 

8 Hanuman Chalisa - we chanted the chalisa all the way and it was amazing!! 

9. Geeta chanting- we chanted verses 7 & 8. The link to this will be shared on WhatsApp group for kids to practice throughout the week.

10. Ramayana storyline- we started with the review of Ramayana storyline. 

11. Closing prayers to end our class.

   See you all on Sunday at 9:15am.

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.

Dec 6, 2020 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents,

         Hope you are doing well. We had a wonderful session this Sunday morning. Here is a brief summary- 

1. We chanted 3 OM's and said our beginning prayers - Om sahna bhavtu then a shlok for Lord Ganesha ( Vakratunda Mahakaya), Devi Saraswati ( Saraswati Namastubhyam) and one for our Guru( Guru Bramha) respectively. The kids know the shlokas by heart. 👍

2. We then chanted the Dhyaan shlok and revised the meanings of the qualities we have learned so far.

3.  Brainstorming : Ajadyam or Alertness. 

4. Story time : Lazy Misty.

    Misty was very lazy. She liked to wear nice things, but she would throw her clothes on the floor leave her books, shoes and toys everywhere. Her mom would get very upset with Misty's lazy habits. 

    Her mother pray to the Lord, "Dear God, let Misty realize how bad it is to be lazy!" Misty heard and laughed. " Mom, how silly you are! How nice it would be if none of us ever had to work! You don't even know what to pray for. Let me pray!" Bhagwan did not like this wicked  prayer. To teach Misty a lesson, he appeared in her dream and said, " May all your work be done automatically." Misty was overwhelmed with joy.

    She got up. Her bed was automatically made. She went to the sink. Her teeth were already clean. Misty was thrilled. She went to take a bath but immediately scalding  hot water started falling on her. The water was too hot, but she could do nothing about it. Misty ran out of the bathroom and went to her closet to pick a nice dress for school, instead, and ugly dress came out and put it self on Misty. She shouted, "No, no, I want the other dress!" She tried to remove the ugly dress, but it wouldn't come off. Misty gave up and then went for breakfast. She wanted to eat Fruit Loops cereal, but only dry bran cereal appeared in her bowl. She could do nothing about it. Misty was helpless. She went to the sink, the water splashed all over her. Next, she tried to brush through her hair, but the brush refused to cooperate, instead, the brush comb to head into a tight ponytail, making her look terrible.

    Misty did not want to go to school like this. She then realized why her mother said that laziness was bad. If she did not work on her own, she could never enjoy life, she could not eat, play or dress as she wanted. She prayed to God let me be as before. I will not be lazy anymore. God withdrew the boon and Misty learned her lesson.

5. Game time: Hanuman Vadati with an added twist. We introduced posture and smile check . When the teacher says with the right hand raised,"P and S check " (posture and smile check), all the children should keep their back straight and have a smile on their face. The goal of the this twist is to check if the kids are alert as they play the game. Let us learn to be alert. Because in life only when we notice, we can act, only when we act rightly, we get the benefit. Lazy people cannot be alert.

6. Story time: How Leo learned to be the King. Even if you are blessed with a crown like Leo, you may have to give it up, if you are lazy. Let us learn from Leo.  Help all and be the king of everyone's heart. Here is the link - 

https://youtu.be/qvF_fnUYlZo

7. Geeta chanting - We chanted verses 5 & 6. 

8. Hanuman Chalisa -  We chanted till 8 th chaupai.

9. Word search : Happy word searching!!

Things that make me strong

Things that make me weak

10. Closing prayers. 

     It was an amazing fun packed class. See you all this Sunday @9:15.

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa. 

Nov 22, 2020 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents, 

          Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!! How are all of you doing? Here is a summary of our last class- 

1. We chanted 3 OM's and said our beginning prayers - Om sahna bhavtu then a shlok for Lord Ganesha ( Vakratunda Mahakaya), Devi Saraswati ( Saraswati Namastubhyam) and one for our Guru( Guru Bramha) respectively. The kids know the shlokas by heart. 👍

2. We then chanted the Dhyaan shlok and revised the meanings of the qualities we have learned so far.

3. Brainstorming- what is Arogata? Arogata is good health. Good physical health means a body that is free of all diseases. Headache, tooth ache, fever are some examples of the diseases of body. Health is wealth. We should be in good physical health to enjoy life. 

           Just as there are diseases of body, there are also diseases of mind. Pride, arrogance, anger, ego are just some examples. Diseases of the body make us physically weak, and diseases of the mind make us mentally weak.

4. Brainstorming- What is Ajadyam? It means to be alert and watchful. Ajadyam & Arogata are the two qualities of lord Hanuman that are so closely connected to each other. A simple example that comes to mind in the present situation is to stay healthy or disease-free we have to be alert. Like wearing a mask in public, not going in crowded places, washing hands after coming from outside & before eating meals. These two qualities complement each other.

5. Game time- We played Hanuman Vadati with the twist. It energizes everyone and is so much fun. 

6. Story - Health is wealth. Here is the link 

https://youtu.be/q7wVGI_LPBY

7. Word search- Things that make us weak. Please check the attachment for multiple activities. Kids loved doing it in class. 

8. Chanted Hanuman Chalisa and explained a few words from the chaupais.

9. Practiced Geeta chanting. 

10. A wonderful story of how Hanuman meets Ram for the first time. Here is the link- https://youtu.be/Ia83wT0TbOg

11. Closing prayers to end the class.

See you all this Sunday at 9:15am. 

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa

   

Things that make me strong

Things that make me weak

Nov 8, 2020 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents,

      How are all of you doing? Busy getting ready for Diwali festivities with family and friends. Here is the summary of our last class - 

1. We started a class with opening prayers by chanting 3 OM's and then sahna bhavtu. Next we chanted shloka for Lord Ganesha( Vakratunda Mahakaya..), Devi Saraswati( Saraswati Namastubhyam .. ) and then for our Guru( Guru Bramha..).

2. We chanted the Dhyaan shlok. Good to see kids have memorized this shlok.👏🏻👏🏻

3. We revised the qualities of Lord Hanuman ji we have covered so far along with their meanings.

4. Brainstorming - Nirbhayatvam/ Fearlessness. We discussed what is Fear? Most of the time we are afraid of the unknown; we imagine and we project. When we live honestly, keeping Hanumanji in our hearts we become fearless.

5. Story time - The Foolish, Timid Rabbit. 

A rabbit was asleep under a palm tree. Suddenly, he woke up and thought, "what in the world should break up!! What then would become of me?" At that moment, some monkeys drop the coconut. It fell down on the ground, Very close to the rabbit. Hearing the noise, the rabbit said to himself, "the earth is breaking up!" and he jumped up and ran as fast as he could, without even looking back to see what made the noise. Another rabbit saw him running and called after him, "why are you running so fast ?" "don't ask me!" he cried but the other rabbit ran after him, begging to know what was the matter. First rabbit shouted, "don't you know? the earth is all breaking up.!" And on he ran, and the second rabbit ran with him. Sunday was joined by other  🐇 🐇, 🦌  , 🦊 &  🐘. On and on they ran. I've lost the lions suck saw the animals running and heard her cry but the earth was all breaking up. He start them all and asked, "why are you running so fast?" Oh King, they answered" the 🌍 is all breaking up!!". Who saw it breaking up asked the 🦁. The 🐇 said I did. 🦁 said you & I will go back to the place where the earth began to break up, and see what is the matter. When they reached the spot, the rabbit pointed to the police were sleeping. The lions are the coconut that had fallen to the ground nearby and understood everything. The lion said," you foolish rabbit, it must have been the sound of coconuts falling to the ground that you heard." And so they came back and told the animals what had happened. If it had not been for the vice encourages king, all animals might still be running.

     So are we going to be like the timid rabbit? No, we must be like the 🦁. Before we say," I am scared," determine whether the fears are real. When we pray to lord Hanuman, we become  strong and fearless like him. 

6. Story time- Presence of mind. A beautiful story which illustrates the qualities of Hanumanji mentioned in Dhyaan shlok. Here is the link - https://youtu.be/J2nMBahEaSs

7. Game time - Played Hanuman Vadati with Sanskrit words. We also played unscramble with different names of Hanuman ji and qualities from Dhyaan shlok. Ya  It was a lot of fun. 

8. Hanuman Chalisa - We chanted the first 2 Doha's and explained their meanings.

9. Geeta chanting - we recited Shlokas 1,2,3 &4 . Good to see kids trying to recite & follow Swamiji on the video. 👍

10. Closing prayers 

    It was a very interactive and fun class. Looking forward to seeing all of you on Sunday at 9:15 am. Happy Diwali everyone!! May this festival of light bring joy, peace & prosperity!! 🙏

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.

Nov 1, 2020 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents,

      Hope you all are doing well & enjoying the wonderful fall weather. It was great seeing kids after our 2 week break, wearing different shades of yellow to show the team spirit. Here is a brief summary - 

1. We chanted 3 OM's and said our beginning prayers - Om sahna bhavtu then a shlok for Lord Ganesha ( Vakratunda Mahakaya), Devi Saraswati ( Saraswati Namastubhyam) and one for our Guru( Guru Bramha) respectively.

2. We then chanted the Dhyaan shlok. 

3. Reviewed the concepts from our previous classes. We reviewed each word of Dhyaan shlok with meaning and the story we discussed to explain the concept. 

4. Also reviewed different names of Hanuman and meanings like Pawanputra, Anjaneya, Mahabeer etc.

5. House Inaugral Activities - We started with a flag activity and then went on crossword puzzle. Lot of fun and exciting questions about Hanuman and Ramayana. Thanks to Indira aunty who came to our class to host these activities.

6. Next we went to the zoom session where high schoolers presented on their chosen topics. This was all scored.  Also, registrations for shlokathon, likhit japa etc will open up soon. Please look out for emails regarding the same. 

    Looking forward to seeing you all this Sunday @9:15am. Go Bajrangi Bolts!!!

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.

     

Oct 11, 2020 - Grade 2 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om parents, 

         Hope you are doing well and staying healthy. We had a great class today. Here is a brief summary of our class - 

1. We started our class with 3 OM's and Sahna bhavtu. Then we chanted the shlokas for Ganesha (Vakratunda Mahakaya), Devi Saraswati (Saraswati Namastubhyam) & one for Guru ( Guru Bramha). Absolutely ❤️how kids chant it. 

2. We chanted the Dhyaan shlok. 

3. Reviewed the concepts learned in previous classes - visible and invisible backbone, buddhi, balam & yashas.

4. Brainstorming - What is Dhairyam? Dhairyam is courage. Is courage jumping from the second floor of the building or jumping into a lake, even when you cannot swim? No, this is not courage. This is foolishness! Courage means facing challenges patiently, and with poise. For example, I do not like to go to the dentist, but I gather the courage and go. As a result i benefit. In any situation, when I lose my courage, I do not succeed.

5. Story time - The transformation of Ratnakar. 

          Valmikiji, the great saint, wrote the Ramayana. Before he done to God, he was a professional robber named Ratnakar. He had no education and no talent. To support his family and children, he would rob anyone who would pass through forest. 

         Once, Narada was passing through the forest. Ratnakar stopped him and said, " Hand over all that you possess or else..." Narada smiled and said, "my dear man all I have is my Vina. You can have it. But, do you know that you're committing sins when you harass and rob people?" Ratnakar replied, " but how else will I feed my family? I have no other skill." Naradji responded, " i know you're doing it for your wife and kids, but have you ever ask them if they are going to share in your sins? If not, you will have to go through the punishment all by yourself. Go home and ask them.I should wait for you here." Ratnakar went home and asked each one of them and they all refused to partake in his sins. He realized what a fool he was!

            Without his family's support, how would you wash away all sins? Hurriedly, he returned and pleaded to Naradji to give him a solution to his problem. Naradji told him, "sit here and say, Ram, Ram, Ram .. " until I return. Years passed. When Naradji finally returned, he found that a giant ant hill had formed around Ratnakar. Ratnakar had never left the spot and never stopped chanting the name of Ram! Naradji woke Ratnakar from his trance and renamed him Valmiki, which means an ant hill. Through prayer,  Valmikihad the courage to give up his sinful way of life. He washed away his sins and became a saint. The moral of the story is we should have the courage to change.

6. Story time - Rosa Park's courage. 

          Rosa Parks was a courageous African-American woman. Her story begins in 1955 when she was sitting in the front section of a bus. She was asked to move out of her seat solely because of the color of her skin. At that time, African-Americans were forced to sit in the back of the bus. She knew that she was no different from anyone else, regardless of skin color, so she refused to budge and courageously resisted. She was soon arrested and thrown into jail for her refusal to comply with the unjust law. When she got out of jail, she started a boycott against the bus company. So other African-Americans joined her in the boycott and refused to ride the bus. Faced with the prospect of bankruptcy, the bus companies were forced to allow African American passengers to sit anywhere in the bus. Rosa's courageous act was the catalyst that started the Civil Rights movement in the United States. To this day, Rosa Parks is remembered for her tremendous act of bravery.

7. Game time - Hanuman Vadati with a twist.😊

8. Hanuman Chalisa time - This week we just introduced the chalisa to kids via video. Next class onwards we will start chanting. Here is the link - https://youtu.be/jTNu-R9KA-4

9. Gita chanting time - We revised verses 1&2. Here is the link - https://youtu.be/-d4Ele2V-Vc

10. Closing prayers and pledge.

        Have a wonderful week everyone! Hope to see the kids in next class. Take care.

Regards,

Chitra & Rupa.