Hari Om!
Dear parents,
Below is a summary of the class (3/4/22) .
3/4/22 Class Update
We started the class with the opening prayers and likhita japa (Om Gam Ganapathaaye Namah).
ShlokaChildren volunteered, took turns and sang Ganesha Stavaha and Ganesh Pancharatnam.
Bhagavat Gita
As a review, four students chanted the shlokas 51-54. We also recorded the same , chanted by four of the children for house points.
Please note that we have completed learning the allotted number of slokas for this year from part two of the Gita Chapter 2 this, 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 continued with Vanaparva, covering the episodes below .
Vana Parva
1. The other astras from the Devas to Arjuna
After Arjuna met with Lord Shaankara and had got the Pashupataastra, all the Devas also showered their blessings and gave more astras and riches. Varuna Deva gave him vaarunaastraa, Kubera told him that Arjuna would win all the wealth. Indra also blessed him and sent his chariot with the charioteer Matali to bring Arjuna to visit Amaravati.
2. Urvashi's wrath
In Amaravati, the father and son spent a very happy time. Arjuna watched the dance and music by the Apsaras. Urvashi is smitten by love for Arjuna and asked him to be with her. But Atjuna denied him because he saw her as his own mother, Kunti or Sachi. Urvashi was angered by this and cursed that Arjuna would lose his manliness and become a eunuch. Arjuna was devastated but Indra consoled him and got the curse reduced to one year. Further told him that the curse would be useful during the thirteenth year of their exile when they had to spend in disguise. Arjuna was relieved. Indra kept Arjuna for some more time in Amaravati to defeat Nivaatikavachas and asked Sage Lomas to convey the same to the Pandavas in Kamyaka forest.
3. Yudhishtirra's Teertha yathra
Meanwhile in Kamyaka, Sage Brihadaswa visited the Pandavas, related the story of Nala, the King of Nishada. He motivated Yudhistira and taught him the 'Akshaya Hridaya' the skill that enabled Yudhishtira to win any dice game.
As per the advice of Narada, sage Lomas and sage Bridaswa, Yudhistira went on a theerthayatra with his brothers and Draupati. Lomaas guided them through the journey and narrated the stories and importance of each spot as they viisited.
4. Pandavas journey up the mountains
Finally, when the Pandavas ascended up the Mandara mountain, there was a heavy storm, trees fell and even the most powerful Bheema could not withstand it anymore. Once the storm calmed, Bheema's son Ghatotkacha was sought and he came in no time with his helpers. He carried Draupati up the mountain.
5. Bheema met Hanuman
Finally, they reached and stayed at the ashram of Badari and spent some peaceful days there. One day a beautiful, extremely fragrant flower was blown over to Draupati and she requested Bheema to bring more of those flowers. Bheema immediately set out in search and haad travelled quite a long distance. On the way he saw a huge monkey blocking his way. The monkey told it was too old to move and he could leap over the monkey if he wanted. Bheema told him he could do that like how the Great Hanuman did to cross Lanka and so much reverence that the monkey who was actually Hanuman wanted to hear more from him. But Bheema told he could do that but he did not want to since it was disrespectful. Then, the monkey suggested Bheema could just move the tail and go. Bheema tried anad it was impossible and then he realized the greatness of the monkey, and asked who he actually was. He was excited and extremely emotional to know that it was Hanuman himself. As a token of love and a memento for the wonderful meeting , Hanuman promised that he would be in the Flag of Arjuna's Chariot and keep encouraging them during the war while intimating the Kauravas with his sounds.
Bheema left with his heart touched and found the Saugandhika flowers in the garden of Kubera and plucked them after defeating the guards. Once Kubera knew, he warmly welcomed Bheema and also the other Pandavas and Draupati who had come searching for him. They stayed there for some time and wanted to go up North and meet Arjuna. But they heard a voice from the sky to return back to Badarai. They listened and waited eagerly and impatiently for Arjuna.
Saints
Today we had a Saint's Presentation by one of the students, Krishna.
He presented the Life story of Saint Tulasidas with an interesting and attractive slides presentation.
He also conducted a little fun game for the class with a Quiz based on his presentation. Very well donee are eager to watch the presentations by all the kids. If you have not signed up your children, please do. We encourage all the kids to do .
Hari Om,
Shanthi and Rashmi