High Level Agenda:
· Opening Prayer
· Dashavatara Stotram
· Geeta Chanting and Attendance
· Recap and quiz from last class
· Topics for today:
- Gajendra Moksha
- Coloring activity with Gajendra Moksha
· Aarthi, Pledge and Closing prayers
Today's Class in detail
Prayers:
· We started by chanting OM three times, and our opening prayers
· Dashaavatara Stotram: we learnt verses on Narasimha avatara of Vishnu
· Geeta Chanting: Verses 55 & 56 from Chapter 2
· Refreshed on what we learnt on Prahlada story and 9 modes of devotion
Story time: -
Gajendra Moksha - Gajendra is a King of elephants, living in a beautiful forest on Mount Trikuta. One hot day, Gajendra and his family enter a lake to quench their thirst. Suddenly a powerful crocodile catches hold of Gajendra's foot. Despite trying very hard, Gajendra is unable to free himself from the crocodile nor is anyone able to help him. He struggles very hard for a long time and is exhausted and thinks he will die soon. That's when he turns his attention to the Lord Vishnu and prays earnestly. The Lord immediately mounts his Garuda and comes to the rescue of Gajendra. With his discus, he kills the crocodile and frees Gajendra from all his suffering. Gajendra offers the Lord a lotus and bows down to him with devotion.
The crocodile was actually a Gandharva in his previous life. He had tried to play tricks on Rishi Devala and hence was cursed to be born as a crocodile. Gajendra was King Indradyumna in his previous life and was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Due to a curse given by Sage Agastya, he was born as Gajendra.
We discussed how wrong actions bring bad results and right actions give good results, "As we sow, so shall we reap". We concluded the chapter by talking about the significance of Lotus. It is a perfect symbol of perfection and purity, just like our mind and heart should be. It is also the National flower of India.
We did a quiz on what we learnt today, and did a coloring activity on Gajendra Moksha! We listened to Swamiji's Geeta chanting and chanted with him. We did our aarti, pledge and closing prayers.
Request to Parents:
- Below is the link to Dashaavatara stotram until verse on Narasimha avatar (Page 94 in MyPrayers book) audio file – Help your child practice the link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xfCHENKsa66MYiKsLnMJMchFCrGWD5mu/view?usp=sharing
- Help your child complete the Gajendra moksha coloring activity
- Geeta Chanting links : @Parents, please help your child practice the following Geeta chanting verses and come to class next time
o Verse 55: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZLPKuERyzc&list=PLwv-WSJSokEORu2iEsVanXQhQHOoiiQIy&index=25
o Verse 56: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H35oxHSyZ3c&list=PLwv-WSJSokEORu2iEsVanXQhQHOoiiQIy&index=26
o Complete playlist of Link to all the verses is here
We look forward to seeing the kids in the next class.
With sincere and warm regards,
Vasudha and Aruna(Chinmaya Vrindavan Bala Vihar Grade 3 Teachers)