Hari Om!
Dear parents,
Below is a summary of the class (4/1/22) .
4/1/22 Class Update
We started the class with the opening prayers and likhita japa (Om Gam Ganapathaaye Namah).
ShlokaWe did a run through of the shlokas (Sahanavavatu, Ganesha Stavaha, Ganesh Pancharatnam, Gita shloka, poornamada) or our monthly program, children reciting as per their assignment. for the upcoming monthly program.
Bhagavat Gita
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.
Mahabharata
We started with Virata parva, covering the episodes below .
Virata Parva
1. Year 13 of exile
The Pandavas had to spend the thirteenth year of exile in disguise. If they were identified, they had to spend another thirteen years in exile. The Pandavas chose the Matsya Kingdom as their residence for that year. The King of Matsya , Virata was a matured and noble man and hence they had the confidence that they would have a comfortable and safe stay there.
2. The Move
Pandavas carefully placed their weapons in the dense sami tree, invoked the devas and entrusted the weapons in their guard until they returned. Yudhistira also prayed to them that they should not give it unless Arjuna or he came and asked for it. He did not want Bheema to take any action in haste or anger and hence put in that precautionary check. After that, they all travelled to the city of Virata.
3. The roles
Yudhishitirra decided to pose as Kanka, a renunciate and an advisor cum aide of Yudhisthira. Arjuna made use of Urvashi's curse and went in as a transgender teacher of music and dance, by the name Brihannala. Bheema was a wrestler, Valala, who managed the King's gymnasium and also cooked as a hobby. Nakula posed as Damagranthi and took care of the King's stable with his unique talent to control the horses. Sahadeva impressed the King saying that under his care, the cows would always be healthy and produce more milk, and thus also became in charge of the cattle. Draupati posed to be Sairandhri, the real Draupati's maid. She found a job as the Queen Sudhesna's maid for the next year during which her Gaandharva husbands were cursed to be away from her.
4. Life in Virata
Life in Virata was very happy for the Pandavas. The King treated them all very well. One day, a wrestler from another Kingdom visited and challenged if any wrestler from the Matsya KIngdom could defeat him. Bheema hesitated since he was worried his techniques could be identified. But when Yudhistira himself suggested that Valala had proved his skills in Yudhistira's Kingdom and could defeat the visitor, Bheema happily did so in no time, with ease and made the King even happier.
Saints
Today we had a Saint's Presentation by one of the students, Anaagha.
She presented the Life story of Shri Ramanujacharya with interesting illustrations from a book.
She also conducted a little fun Blooket game for the class with a Quiz based on her presentation. Very well done 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 it .
Information on the Monthly Program
Grade 5 monthly program is on May 6th. We are blessed that it coincides with the special Balavihar event for Guru paduka pooja. It would be an in-person session at the ashram that day and the children would get to perform on stage live.
Hari Om,
Shanthi and Rashmi