Hari OM Dear Families,
Here is this week's update.Week 19:
13th March 2022 / 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 practiced Mahalakshmi Ashtakam all verses along with the phalasruthi.
We completed the assigned verses of Gita chapter 2 (for this year) . We had a quick practice before recording all the verses today in the class.
We discussed the choices of topics for our grade presentation on the mela day.
Mahabharata - As promised to Duryodhana, to avenge the actions of Bhima, Aswathama went on a mission to kill Pandavas. He observed owls attacking nests of the crows at night and decided to kill the Pandavas and their Allie's as they sleep. Kripacharya, and Kritavarma warn him of the indelible infamy of this action but Ashwathama would not be persuaded. They join him and wreck havoc in the Pandava camp. They killed Dristadyumna first and all 5 upa-pandavas, Shikhandi and all the Pandavas' remaining army including their children. Having completed this revenge, Ashwathama informs Duryodhana who dies satisfied.
When the Pandavas and Draupadi discover the devastating news in the morning, Yudhishtra is heartbroken, and Draupadi gets furious as all her innocent children are dead and wants revenge. She asks her husbands to attack Ashwaththaama.
Aswathama runs to Sage Vedavyasa and takes refuge after knowing the Pandavas are alive. He wants to fulfill the promise made to his dear friend Duryodhana that he would kill everyone from the pandava family and army. He picks a blade of grass, invokes the most powerful divine weapon and throws on the Pandavas to cause great destruction. Krishna asked Arjuna to counter the weapon and he readily prepared to neutralize it. Seeing this display of divine weaponry, all the sages cautioned against it as the power of divine weapons would be immeasurably harsh for the world. Arjuna was able to withdraw his weapon but Ashwathama could not. He directed it to the womb of Uthara (Abhimanyu's wife). Krishna immediately used his powers to protect the unborn child of Abhimanyu. That child would eventually be named Parikshit and continue the Pandava lineage. To punish Ashwathama for his horrendous deeds, Ashwathama is cursed to live forever in pain, relinquishing the gem on his forehead.
We concluded the class with closing prayers and the pledge.
Our next class is on March 27th 2022.
Please feel free to reach out in case you have any questions. Hari OM
Abhirami Shrinivas and Vidhya Aiyer
Grade 6 Sunday AM