Hari OM Dear Families,
Here is this week's update.Week 11:
19th December 2021 / 9:15AM
Opening Prayers and Stotras:
Class began with opening prayers. 3 OM's and followed by Sahanavavathu,
Om shrI Ganeśaya Namaha, shrI Saraswatyai Namaha, shrI Sat Gurubhyo Namaha.
We continued to learn the Mahisasura mardini stotram, verse 10 and have completed the stotram as assigned for this year. We had two volunteer students to repeat and chant the verse.
India my sacred land: Two of the students gave a live presentation of dance mudras and a slokam. There was also a share screen of various dance forms as images. We have asked the children
to use the winter break to explore and do research on the various food grains, lentils, spices that are widely used in India. We hope, with your permission and guidance they can check out the pantries at home and explore the grocery store to learn more about the building blocks of Indian cuisine.
Mahabharata : Day 13 - The Trigarta kings challenge Arjuna and draw him away from the main battle. Dronacharya planned for the Chakravyuha or Padma vyuha. In Arjuna's absence, Abhimanyu was the only warrior on the Pandavas' side who knew how to penetrate the vyuha but he did not know how to exit the vyuha. Yudhishtra assures Abhimanyu that they would be right behind him and protect him once he breaks the chakra vyuha. Abhimanyu breaks the Kaurava formation and enters, but Jayadradha king of Sindu, Husband of Dushala the only Kaurava princess, armed with the boon from Lord Shiva that enabled him to hold off the entire Pandava army for a day, blocks the opening created by Abhimanyu and closes the chakra vyuha stopping the rest of the Pandava brothers from their entry into the vyuha. Abhimanyu, the young boy of just 17 years, faced the entire Kaurava army, as a single person. He faces mighty warriors like Drona, Krpa, Karna, Kritavarma, Duryodhana, Dussasana,Shakuni, Shalya and Aswathama among other kauravas. He kills Duryodhana's son, Lakshmana. Unable to beat him individually, the Kaurava leaders feel helpless. Shakuni comes up with the diabolical plan to join forces and attack Abhimanyu. Drona agrees and six warriors surround him and attack his weapons, his chariot and charioteer. This simultaneous, adharmic attack left Abhimanyu disarmed and with no chariot. With no weapon with him, he picks up a wheel and tries to defend and attack the opponents. Dussasana's son came at him with a mace and in the battle that ensued, Abhimanyu was overpowered and as he was trying to get up and defend himself, he was hit on the head with the mace. Thus ended the life of brave Abhimanyu who was equal in courage and skill to his father, Arjuna. The elated Kauravas danced around the brave warrior's body, inviting disgust from the sages and divine beings who were witnessing the battle. The battle for the day ended, with Drona still unable to capture Yudhishtra. Arjuna returns from defeating the Trigarta brothers. He notices the eerie silence in the Pandava camp and is worried about the safety of his brothers. He finds out about Dronacharya and the Padma Vyuha and how Abhimanyu is trapped by the Kauravas. Yudhishtira takes the blame with a heavy heart and tells Arjuna that Jayadrata is the one who stopped the Pandavas from entering the Padmavyuha. Arjuna vows to slay Jayadrata before the sunset on the following day, failing which, he vows to do Agni pravesam (self immolation). Krishna tells His charioteer Daaruka to keep His chariot ready as he was preparing to fight if Arjuna were to fail his oath.
On Day 14, Drona constructed three vyuhas- chakra, sakata and suchi to protect Jayadrata. With Arjuna off to kill Jayadrata, Satyaki and Satyajit protect Yudhishtra. Yudhishtra gets concerned for Arjuna's safety and sends Satyajit and Satyaki after him. In a one on one battle with Bhurisravas, Satyaki was about to be killed by Bhurisravas when Arjuna steps in and shoots and severs Bhurisravas' arm to save Saryaki. Arjuna defends his actions by saying it was his duty to protect Satyaki who is under his care. Disappointed at this breach of war rules by Arjuna, Bhurisravas gives up fighting and sits down in meditation. Satyaki, rushes towards Bhurisravas who is weaponless, and beheads him. He is looked down upon by all the warriors. Meanwhile, Bhima and Karna face each other one on one. First, Bhima wins, injuring karna severely. Duryodhana sends his brothers to help karna move away and fight with Bhima. Vikarna, Durjay, Durmukha and seven others fight with Bhima. Bhima kills all of them and Karna enters back with more fire and injures Bhima heavily, but he remembers the promise given to Kunti mata that he would not kill other brothers, but for Arjuna. Just then, Arjuna comes in and rescues Bhima. With sunset time imminent, Lord Krishna then takes the chariot in a flash towards Jayadrata. The Lord uses his Sudarshana chakra to eclipse the sun and create the effect of sunset. Jayadrata and the others relax and Jayadrata comes out of hiding to get a good look at the setting sun. Arjuna uses this opportunity to strike and behead Jayadrata and on Krishna's advice, the Sindhu king's head is carried far away, all the way to the meditating King Vridasatra's (Jayadrata's father)lap. The shocked older king stands up and the head rolls down in a split second and his head bursts into pieces. Vriddhakshatra had a boon which caused the head of a person who causes his son's head to roll (away from his body) to burst into pieces. As Krishna was aware of this, he counseled Arjuna wisely.
Gita Chanting:Today we learned, verses 56,57 and 58, Chapter 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H35oxHSyZ3c
Before dispersing to the 9th grade performances, we finished shanti manthra in our class.
Have a great Holiday season and Happy New year!.
Our next class is on January 9th 2022.
Please feel free to reach out in case you have any questions.
Hari OM
Abhirami Shrinivas and Vidhya Aiyer
Grade 6 Sunday AM