Hari Om Parents !
We started the class by chanting three Om's , Sahana Vavathu, followed by Vakrathunda Mahakaya shloka . Next , we chanted daily prayers Karaagre vasate, Samudra Vasane devi , Gangecha Yamune chaiyva , SriRama Raamethi , " Kara Charana Krutam va " . All the kids practiced all shlokas for Shlokathon very well.
Story time :
As Hanuman searched through palaces, he saw many beautiful ladies dressed in fine clothes and jewelry. He even entered Ravana's grand bedchamber and saw many queens there. However, he knew that none of them could be Sita. Next he came to a beautiful garden with flower, fruit and ashoka trees. He saw a number of rakshasis guarding a lovely lady sitting under one of the trees. She wore simple clothes, was weeping and repeating the name "Rama". He had no difficulty in guessing that it was Sita. Just then, King Ravana approached Sita. He offered all the wealth and pleasures of the world to make her his queen. Sita put on a bold face and refused Ravana's offer. She then gives Ravana some advice. She tells him that it is still not too late to mend his ways and return her to Lord Rama. She also tells Ravana that if he repents for his mistake and apologizes,the benevolent Lord Rama will forgive Ravana. Furious Ravana gives her a warning that at the end of two months he would kill her if she did not change her mind .
All this time, Hanuman was hiding on the tree above and decides he must deliver Lord Rama's message to Sita. So as to not frighten Sita, he begins narrating the story of Lord Rama in a sweet voice. The delighted Sita looks up to see a little monkey in the tree and asks who he was. As soon as Hanuman introduced himself, Sita is filled with doubt that it could be Ravana in disguise. Hanuman quickly presents her with Lord Rama's signet ring and shows her his true form. He asks her to sit on his shoulder, so he could take her immediately back to Lord Rama. Sita says that since it is the question of her honour, Lord Rama must vanquish Ravana and rescue Sita. She then gives Hanuman her wedding jewel as a token to Lord Rama and blesses him. Hanuman promises to bring back Lord Rama and Lakshmana soon and Sita is filled with renewed hope.
Hanuman after meeting Sita, is determined to strike terror into Ravana's heart. He became a fierce looking vaanara and roared to the heavens. He began eating fruits from the garden and destroying Ashoka Vatika. The frightened rakshasis reported to Ravana, who sent his guards to capture the mischievous monkey. Hanuman saw the approaching rakshasas and increasing his size, plucked trees. Flinging the trees like weapons he reduced the rakshasa army to dust. Next the powerful rakshasa, Jambumali, was sent to kill the vaanara. Hanuman roared "Long live Rama!" and seizing a pillar from a temple smashed the rakshasa. Next Ravana sent one of his sons, Aksha, who met the same fate. Enraged with sorrow, Ravana looked to his favorite son, Indrajit. Having defeated Indra himself, Indrajit had also performed severe tapas and won the Brahmastra. Hanuman faced Indrajit and after a fierce battle was struck by the Brahmastra. Bound and helpless, Hanuman was dragged to Ravana's court. The rakshasas insulted Hanuman and jeered at him. Hanuman did not break his bonds, but welcomed the opportunity to speak to Ravana and deliver Lord Rama's message. At the court, Ravana sat on his splendid throne with his eyes blazing with anger. He roared at the mere vaanara who had killed so many brave warriors. He demanded to know who Hanuman was and what was his purpose in Lanka. Hanuman stood tall and defiant, and introduced himself with dignity as Lord Rama's messenger. He told Ravana it was not too late to return Sita and ask Lord Rama's forgiveness. He reminded Ravana that once Lord Rama advances with his army, all of Lanka would be doomed. Hanuman asked Ravana to choose peace instead of war. This enraged Ravana, who ordered the vaanara to be killed. Vibheeshana, the wise younger brother of Ravana, immediately pointed out that it was a against the law to kill a peaceful messenger. Ravana decided to punish Hanuman by setting his tail on fire. The rakshasas began wrapping the tail with rags, but it began to grow. When it had grown to a considerable size, they dipped it in oil and set the tail on fire. Hanuman was paraded around the streets of Lanka and insulted by the rakshasas. The news reached Sita in Ashoka Vatika, who prayed to the Fire God, Agni, not to burn Hanuman. With Sita's chaste prayer along with the boon of being deathless and protected from all elements, Hanuman did not feel the heat. He felt it was time to teach the rakshasas another lesson. Shrinking in size, he got out of the bonds and escaped. Taking on his mighty form, Hanuman jumped from building to building, setting them on fire. With yells of Jai Shri Ram, Hanuman set Lanka ablaze and filled everyone's heart with terror. Soon he went to the seashore and put out the fire in his tail. Returning to Ashoka Vatika to make sure Sita was safe, Hanuman took her blessings and left Lanka to report to Lord Rama.
Regards ,
Jayashree & Uma