Hari Om Parents !!!

Dec 18th Class 2016

Beginning Prayer

We started off the class with Om chanting three times, followed by Om Sahanavavathu

Guru Stotram:

Kids have learned first 8 slokas of Guru Stotram.

We have provided the hard copy of the Guru Stotram to the kids. Please have the kids practice this at home. We will continue learning Guru Stotram one new sloka at a time.

Story :

We reviewed the story from last week and continued on.

We continued the story from Surpanakha getting her ears and nose cut off by Lakshmana. She ran to Janasthana, where her brothers Khara and Dooshana lived. With blood gushing out from cut nose and ears, she screamed to her brothers ‘How can you both sit so calmly ? Do something about it’. Khara and Dooshana asked her to stay calm, and explain what had happened. Surpanaka explained everything except her desire to marry Rama. The brothers sent 14 of their best generals to kill Rama and Lakshmana, but they were easily destroyed by Rama. Khara, and Dooshana then realized how strong Rama was, and decided to fight Rama themselves. They, along with Trisaras, the three headed Rakshasaa, led an army of 14,000 soldiers. Rama reduced all this army to a lifeless heap of flesh in no time. Akampana, who was the only Rakshasa that escaped, went to Ravana, and asked for his protection. After listening to the story, Ravana decided that he had to take down Rama cleverly. He went to seek Mareecha’s help in this regard. Mareecha, having escaped Rama’s arrow earlier, advised Ravana against any move to fight Rama. Heeding to this advice, Ravana went back to his palace. But the next morning, Surpanakha convinced Ravana otherwise, tempting him with descriptions of Sita’s beauty. Ravana visited Mareecha again, and asked him to use his magical powers, and convert himself to a beautiful golden deer to attract Sita. Mareecha, after trying his best to advise Ravana, gave up at last, and did what he was asked to do. Sita fell in love with the deer, and wanted to have it as her pet. But the deer ran into the forest and Sita could not keep up. She asked Rama and Lakshmana to get it for her. Lakshmana suspected that this could be a Rakshasaa trying to take revenge on them, while Sita was convincing to get the deer. Rama thought that if this was indeed a Rakshasa, he could easily kill him, just like how he killed all the Rakshasas. He asked Lakshmana to guard Sita, and went in search of the deer. The deer plays hide and seek with Rama and after chasing it for some time Ram decides to kill the deer and take the skin to Sita.  He aims an arrow at the deer and to his wonder sees it take the shape of Marica and call out to Lakshmana and Sita in Rama's voice. Rama is suddenly panic stricken but relaxes when he realizes that Lakshmana is there to protect Sita and would not leave her.  He starts walking towards the Parnasala when he sees Lakshmana coming towards him.  Meanwhile at the ashrama  Sita persuades and threatens Lakshmana to go to Rama's help. Lakshmana does so reluctantly.  He draws a line and tells Sita not to cross it.  Sita sits quietly crying   and when she opens her eyes sees a Sadhu in front of her.  It is Ravana in disguise.  Ravana tricks Sita and grabs her and carries her away in his chariot.  Sita screams for help and begs Ravana to let her go.

Activities:

Yoga

Coloring

Hangman

Four corners

Conclusion:

We concluded the day with ‘Om Poornamadah’ Shanti Prayer.

Reminders:

Please send along the following items in your child’s bag:

· Class text books

· Crayons / pencils / notebook

· A nut free snack / Drink to have during the break time

Next class is on Jan 8^th  

We are looking forward to a fun filled class

 

Hari Om Parents !!!

A very warm welcome to the Sathyam Class of Balavihar 2016-17

Learning Goals:

Bala Ramayana: Goal for children is to easily learn Ramayana. Bala Ramayana tells us about the Lord of the Kosala Country, Sri Rama. This epic is divided into seven Kandas – Bala, Ayodhya, Aranya, Kiskinda, Sundara, Yudha and Uttara. Learn thru’ stories, crafts, shlokas and games.

Beginning Prayer

We started off the class with Om chanting three times, followed by Om Sahanavavathu

Guru Stotram:

Kids have learned first 7 slokas of Guru Stotram.

We have provided the hard copy of the Guru Stotram to the kids. Please have the kids practice this at home. We will continue learning Guru Stotram one new sloka at a time.

Story :

We are at the part where Rama, Lakshmana and Sita spend about 10 years in the forest peacefully roaming between different ashrams and protecting them from the rakshasas.  Finally as they near the end of their exile, Sri Rama wants to meet the great Sage Agasthya.  Rama tells Lakshmana and Sita about the greatness of Sage Agasthya where he makes the mighty VIndhya mountain bend forever and how he kills the two Rakshasas Vatapi and Ilvala.

  When they meet the sage, he suggests they settle down at Panchavati and they do.  Surpanakha (Ravana's sister) comes by and wants to marry Rama.  In the end when she tries to hurt Sita, Lakshmana cuts her nose and ears and she goes running to her brothers Khara and Dusana who rule over that part of the forest.  

Activities:

Yoga

Coloring

Hangman

Four corners

Conclusion:

We concluded the day with ‘Om Poornamadah’ Shanti Prayer.

Reminders:

Please send along the following items in your child’s bag:

• Class text books
• Crayons / pencils / notebook
• A nut free snack / Drink to have during the break time

Next class is on Dec 18^th  

We are looking forward to a fun filled class with your child!

Feb 28th class –

Hari Om Parents ! 

Beginning Prayers

Om Saha Navavathu

 

GuruStotram – completed the Grurstotram 

 

9. Na Guror-adhikam tattvam na Guror-adhikam tapah. 
Tattva-gyanat-param nasti tasmai Shri Gurave Namah. 
  
There is no higher truth than the Guru, no higher penance than (service to) the Guru, and there is nothing higher than Realisation of the Knowledge of the truth imparted by the Guru. My salutations to such a Gurudev, who is himself that very timeless truth (and who has taken up a form to bless his disciples like us with real knowledge). 

12. Man-naathah Shri Jagan-nathah Mat-guru-shri jagad-guruhu. 
Mad-atma sarva-bhutatma tasmai Shri Gurave Namah. 
 
My Lord is the Lord of Universe; My teacher is the teacher of the entire universe; and my Self is the Self of all. My salutations at the lotus-feet of such a Guru, who has revealed such knowledge to me.

13. Gurur-adir-anadish-cha Guruh-param-daivatam. 
Guroh-parataram nasti tasmai Shri Gurave Namah. 

The Guru is the beginning of the Universe, yet he himself is without a beginning, the Guru is the highest deity, and there is none higher than the Guru. My reverential salutations at the lotus-feet of such a Gurudev.  
  
14. Tvameva mata cha pita tvameva  tvameva bandhushcha sakha tvameva. 
Tvameva vidya dravinam tvameva  tvameva sarvam mama-dev-deva. 

You are everything for me; mamadev-deva – O My ultimate God  
O God! You alone are my mother, my father, my brother, and my friend. You alone are the knowledge, my real wealth. You are everything for me. You are verily my God alone.

 

Story:

·             Completed the Ramayana

·             Completed the Guru Stotram

·             We will be starting Lingashtakam next week and start the practice for Samskrithi too.
 

Conclusion:

We ended the class with Shanthi Mantra.

Reminders:

We have finalized the skit for Samskrithi and in the process of assigning the roles. Please make sure kids attend coming classes without failure. It will help us pick the kids for appropriate roles as well as to start the practice.