May 15, 2022 - Grade 4 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om Parents,
We began our class with 3 OMs and the following shlokas.
1. "Om Saha Navavatu" (page 8 in My Prayers book)
2."Vakrathunda Mahakaya" (page 27 in My Prayers book)
3. "Saraswathi Namasthubhyam" (page 12 in My Prayers book)
4. "Karagre Vasate" (page 11 in My Prayers book)
5. "Samudhra Vasane" (page 11 in My Prayers book)
6. "Shubam Karoti" (page 12 in My Prayers book)
7. "Gurur Brahma" (page 60 in My Prayers book)
8. "Brahmarpanam" (page 12 in My Prayers book)
9. "Krishnaya Vasudevaya" (page 105 in My Prayers book)
10. "Sri Rama Rama" (page 129 in My Prayers book)
11. "Budhir Balam" (page 152 in My Prayers book)
12. "Kara Charana" (page 12 in My Prayers book)


Today's lesson : My 24 teachers 

Riddle : I use my saliva to build my home anywhere.  

I use my home to catch my prey

Who am I ?

Our first teacher today was the Spider.

A spider makes the web with it's saliva, plays with it, lives in it  and then swallows it. Just like the spider makes the cobweb from itself, and swallows it back, the world comes out of God and goes back into God and again it comes out again. That is the fun of it……it never gets destroyed really..It only changes shapes and comes back!

Today's lesson : My 24 teachers 

We learnt about another teacher today. As usual, we started with a riddle. 

I am woolly in the beginning, sheltered and wrapped inside a cocoon, Only to come out in flying colors. 

Who am I ?

Most of the kids answered either caterpillar or butterfly. With a few more hints, they got the right answer. Its the Larva.

What does a Larva teach us ?

When one identifies oneself to something with love, hate or fear, one becomes that.
A larva stays in the cocoon for a long time thinking of a butterfly, so it becomes one later. If you think of God, you become God.

Once a caterpillar looks at another one hanging down, expresses its doubt...How can a fuzzy me, become a butterfly?

Then the hanging caterpillar replies - It is something you are born to be.

A  butterfly is beautiful, has colorful wings, drinks nectar from flowers, Goes from flower to flower, spreading their messages of love. Makes the whole world a more colorful  and beautiful place. You just have to believe that you can be one, and you will be one some day.

One kid asked a question that if we really want to become a unicorn, can we become one ? Kids do come up with interesting questions many times. 

One may not physically transform into what they want to be, but can surely imbibe those qualities, or personality traits. If one aspires to be like God, he / she cannot physically  become God, but can surely attain the Godly qualities of love and kindness. 

Similarly, if we have a goal to be great, and constantly keep thinking about it, we will surely work toward it and will achieve our goal and become what we want. Whether we want to be an astronaut or a doctor, or anything else if we put our heart to the goal and believe we can, we can surely achieve it.

There is a short story about a little girl in a small village, who believed that she could become Miss America someday. Although it seemed impossible at that time, she still believed she could. And after some years, she actually did win that crown.

We then watched a short video of the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

Today's Lesson: Krishna Story - End of Kamsa.

After a brief recap of last week's lesson, we proceeded to today's story- the end of Kamsa.

 Krishna and Balarama visited all places of interest in Mathura and finally arrived at the hall where the huge and heavy bow studded gems was being exhibited. People from all over came to gaze at it with awe. The bow was heavily guarded by fierce men. But before they realized what was going on, Krishna seized the bow and drew its string until it snapped into two pieces. A huge sound reverberated in the hall and shook the earth making everyone tremble from head to toe. The attendants of the bow finally came out and rushed towards Krishna and Balarama. Krishna and Balarama killed the guards and other soldiers that came after them. Kamsa heard all that was going on and was terrified. Then they easily and casually left that place to complete their sightseeing tour of Mathura.  By night fall they reached their camp on the city's outskirts.  Kamsa got nightmares all night and there were bad omens everywhere.

The next morning, was the day everyone was waiting for. The massive arena was decorated beautifully. The spectators started coming in from early morning.  The galleries and front rows were filled with VIPs, Kings, princes, ministers, businessmen and priests. The wrestlers like Chanura, Mustika, Kuta, Sala etc, were eagerly waiting for the wrestling matches to begin. Krishna and Balarama also come there, but they are stopped right at the entrance by the mighty elephant, Kuvalayapida. It was Kamsa's plan to trample them to death. Krishna and Balarama fight with the mad elephant and kill it. We watched a short animated video depicting this scene.

Krishna and Balarama then enter the arena. People gasped when they saw the mighty warrior like boys. The people were unable to look away. They started talking about the glories of Krishna and Balarama and word spread quickly that Krishna was the prophesized one. The wrestlers including Chanoora charge at the boys. Here we made a quick reference to the first shloka of Krishnashtakam. 

Vasudeva Sutam Devam 

Kamsa Chanoora Mardanam...

We reminded the kids that the chanoora in the shloka, is this wrestler that Krishna was fighting and soon was killed by him. 

We watched another video depicting the wrestling matches and how Krishna charges over Kamsa and finally kills him. It was a disgraceful end, but Kamsa was blessed in his last moments by the blissful vision of the Lord in all his splendor. Kamsa became one with the Lord. Because he did not stop thinking about Krishna even for a single moment. Even though he thought about the Lord with anger and hatred, his focus on the Lord was constant and single pointed.

Krishna and Balarama then rushed to the jail.They first released their grandfather, Ugrasena.They bowed to him and asked him permission to free their parents. Finally, Devaki and Vasudeva are united with their beloved sons.Everyone's hearts overflowed with joy. For that time, the many years of waiting, trauma and torture were forgotten. They hugged and kissed the boys again and again, and shed tears of joy. Krishna kept his promise to Trivakra and Akrura and visited their homes. Ugrasena was crowned the King of Mathura. Krishna called back the Yadavas and other people who fled Mathura because of the atrocities of Kamsa. Mathura's citizens now lived with peace and happiness.

It was now time to bid goodbye to Nanda and the Gopas who came from Vrindavan. Krishna and Balarama addressed Nanda respectfully and said, "Dear Father, you and Mother Yashoda shall always be our real parents, because it is you, who raised us. We request you to now return to Vrindavan and comfort our dear ones there"
Nanda and the gopas embraced them and returned to Vrindavan with heavy hearts.

We then learnt the Shloka 7 of Govinda damodara sthotram.

We concluded the class with Aarti and pledge.

We look forward to seeing everyone next Sunday.

Pranaam,

Neelima & Keerthi