Hari OM
Prayer time:
We started the class by chanting OM 3 times followed by morning prayers- "Sahanaavathu" followed by Vakrathunda Mahakaya, Saraswathi Namsthubhyam, Guru Brahma and Buddhir balam.
Yoga Time:
We are getting good at stretching, breathing and balancing poses.
Bhagvatham Time:
During story time, we learnt about Nine modes of Devotion.
We revisited the story of prahlaada and discussed the Nine modes of Devotion.
1) shravaNam- Listening to the stories about the Lord.
2) kIrtanam – Singing the glories of the Lord
3) (vishNu) naama smaraNam –Remembering the Lord always
4) paadasevanam – Serving him
5) archanam- Worshipping him
6) vandanam – Bowing to the Lord
7) daasyam – Being a servant of the Lord.
8) sakhyam – Loving the Lord as a friend
9) aatmanivedanam – Never to complain and surrender to the Lord.
Please talk to your children about the 9 modes. Ask them how they would greet each other (vandanam); Offer flowers and fruits to the Lord (archanam); telling a story to their friend the Lord (sakhyam). Writing the Lord's name in the 'Likitha Japa Book' (naama smaranam)
Gajendra Moksham:
Today we heard the story of Gajendra, an elephant king who lived in a forest on Mount Trikuta. The place was very beautiful. One sunny day the elephant king along with his herds went to drink water from a nearby lake. As Gajendra was drinking, he felt his feet was attacked by a powerful crocodile and the crocodile was pulling his feet very hard. How much ever Gajendra tried freeing his leg he was being pulled again and again. Even the elephant herd also tried helping their king but failed. Then finally Gajendra felt tired and exhausted and felt that his last moments were coming near and turned his thoughts to the Lord and prayed to Him for help. Maha Vishnu heard the cries of the elephant and went there immediately to save him. Maha Vishnu with his chakra cut open the mouth of the crocodile and let free Gajendra's leg.
Tale: Who was the Crocodile?
The crocodile was a gandharva in his previous birth named, Hoohoo. One day when Rishi Devala was bathing in the river he played some tricks on the sage and the sage got angry and cursed him that he be crocodile in the next birth and that he'll be released from the curse by the touch of the Lord's Divine chakra, upon which he'll regain his gandarva-form.
Tale: Who was Gajendra?
In his previous birth, Gajendra was Indradyumna, a Paandya king. He was a great Vishnu devotee and once he took a vow of silence and went into deep meditation. One day sage Agastya visited his ashram and found that the king didn't get up to receive him and on seeing this he became angry and cursed him that he be an elephant in his next birth. But even though he was an elephant he retained to some extent his devotion from his previous birth. And because of his devotion he got moksha when he remembered the Lord at the time of trouble.
Shloka Time:
We learnt verse 9 of Guru Stotram. Please continue to practice at home.
Geetha Chanting vs 54-55
Please be sure to practice at home.
We concluded the class with the Pledge.
With Love,
Indira & Raji Aunty