Hari Om!
Dear parents,
Hari Om ,
Below is a summary of the class (2/4/22) and the Spirit Day yesterday (2/11/22).
2/4/22 Class Update
We started the class with the opening prayers and likhita japa.
Shloka
Children volunteered, took turns and sang Ganesha Stavaha and Ganesh Panchaatnam.
Bhagavat Gita
As a review, four students chanted the shlokas 47-50. We have completed the allotted number of shlokas for Grade 5.
Please note that we are learning part two of the Gita Chapter 2 this year, from our Swamiji. For Grade 5 (Partha group) assigned verses are 39-63 (Pg 22, Bala Vihar Handbook) .
Your child must use this YouTube Gita Playlist to practice pronunciation of the Gita correctly.
The Gita Chanting Yagna CNJ Regionals is on April 2, 2022. Please encourage your kids to sign up and participate.
Mahabharata
We completed Sabhaparva and started Vanaparva, covering the episodes below .
Sabha Parva
1. The terrible oaths by the Pandavas
Draupati was kept as the wager and the Kauravas declared her as a slave and started insulting her with their words. She pleaded with everyone but everyone kept silent helplessly. The brothers of Yudhistira were outraged and wanted to crush Duryodana, Dusshasaana and Radheya but controlled themselves because of the word given by Yudhistira. They took terrible oaths: Bheema to kill Duryodana and Dussasana, Arjuna to kill RAdheya, Sahadeva to kill Sakuni and Nakula to kill Ulukaa, son of Shakuni. BHeema with all the rage told he would drink the blood from the heart of Dussasana. Flowers rained on the Pandavas from the heavens. Dhritarashtra suddenly realized what a grave injustice his son had committed towards the Pandavas and asked Draupati to ask for a boon. She wanted her husband to be freed from the bondage due to the game. Again he offered another boon with which she asked Arjuna, Bheema, Nakula and Sahadeva also to be released from the bondage. He did that and gave the Pandavas their wealth back.
2. The game played again
When Dritharashtra had somehow avoided the wrath of the Pandavas befalling his children, Shakuni and Duryodana could not bear the thought that their plan to defeat and destroy the Pandavas forever went futile. They made another plan and made the King invite them for another game of dice. If the Pandavas lost, they had to go on exile into the forest for 12 years and spend the 13th year in disguise. If they were to be recognized , the exile would extend to another 12 years. Yudhistira agreed as it was destined to happen and knew that they would lose.
3. The Banishment of the Pandavas
The Pandavas lost and they were banished to the forest. The public and all the good people were devastated by the injustice meted out to the Pandavas. The Pandavas left as quickly as they could and made several gestures that meant they would be back to destroy the Kauravas. Vidura explained the meaning to Dhritarashtra and told that his sons would be destroyed by the Pandavas. Dritarasahtra could not sleep in peace anymore but still did not want to listen to Vidura anad call the Pandavas back.
Vana Parva
4. Kamyaka Forest
Several Brahmins had also followed the Pandavas and stayed with them in the Kamyaka forest even after Yudhistira insisted them to go back. He was not sure if he could provide food for them. At Guru Daumya's suggestion, Yudhistira prayed to the Sun God and got vessel that could provide food as per Draupati's wish. Vidura also left the King for the forest, as he did not listen to advice of calling the Pandavas back.
5. The curse of Maitreya
When Vidura went to the forest, the Kauravasaa got worried if he was going to call them back to the country and were wondering why they should not go on a war with the Pandavas in the forest and kill them. Right then Vyaasa arrived and dared them to do any further cruelty and keep quiet. He also admonished that if Duryodana did not make peace with the Pandavas , they would soon be back after exile with the nurtured aner and the entire world would be destroyed. The great sage Maitreya also visited the court of Kurus and praised the power of the Pandavas and described how he had killed the Rakshasa, Kirmeera in the forest. He advised them to call the Pandavas back. Duryodaana ignored it and further insulted him by smiting on his thigh at which the sage cursed that Bheema would break his thigh and would kill Duryodana as per his oath. When Dritharashtra pleaded with the sage to take the curse back, he said that the only way the curse could be withdrawn would be if he made peace with the Pandavas.
Saints
In today's class we learned about Saint Narasimha Mehta
Narasimha Mehta - Born in 1414, Gujarat. He did not speak so parents thought he was a mute child. His grandmother brought him to a saint, who gave him herbs and the first words spoken by him were "Radhe Krishna". He got married at a very young age. He had a son and daughter. Was kind to all, saw Bhagwan in all. He showed the path of true devotion to people and died at the age of 67.
Stories of many miracles when Bhagwan came to the rescue of the saint:-
Once he left home, went to a forest, and abandoned Shiva temple he had a vision of Lord Krishna. When he had no money for his daughter's wedding, the Lord came in the form of Shyamaladasa from Dwaraka and gave him the money.
When the people complained to the king that he was mingling with all castes and was breaking social rules, they wanted him to leave the town. The king placed a garland on Lord Damodara in the temple. If the garland came to Narasimha Mehta's neck he would be allowed to stay in town. The temple doors were locked, Narasimha Mehta sang bhajans all night and in the morning the garland was around his neck. Mehta did not care whether others accepted his devotion or if they kept him in the town, he knew Bhagwan would be with him always.
His main message is "Love God- you will be fine, you will be helped, you will be saved"
The four important values followed and taught by this Saint Narasimha Mehta were
Speak ill of no one,
Help the needy,
Be straightforward,
Have no anger
Mahatma Gandhi's favourite Bhajan - Vaishnava Janato wsa written by Saint Narasimha Mehta, and describes the qualities of a "Vaishnavajana" which means a true devotee of the Lord! And it is believed that even having the darshan of such a person, your whole family for many generations will attain moksha." The children actively shared their idea of a vaishnava janato and what they follow or want to follow to become a 'vaishnava'.
Spirit Day on 2/11/22
In celebrating spirit day yesterday, the kids played an interesting deciphering game. They were provided with two different ciphers and had to decode sentences from a Saint Story. Grade 5 was one of the top two teams and they decoded ten sentences for the story of Saint Narasimha Mehta.
Hari Om,
Shanthi and Rashmi