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)
We then introduced Shloka 8 of Govinda damodara sthotram. Please have the kids practice the Krishna Ashtakam and 8 shlokas of the Govinda Damodara sthotram.
Krishna Everywhere (The last lesson of the year) :
After a brief quiz-like recap of our story so far, we jumped into our Krishna story. With Kamsa gone and Vasudeva, Devaki and Ugrasena freed from the deepest darkest dungeon, Vasudeva decided that it was time for Krishna and Balarama to have their Upanayanam. They received their sacred thread, making them eligible to enroll in a Gurukula to learn the scriptures from a Guru. After the Upanayanam, the boys were sent to Rishi Sandipani to live with and learn from their Guru under strict discipline and service. The brothers were diligent and quick to learn. They mastered the Vedas and the Vedangas, phonetics, grammar, astronomy, logic, philosophy and economic sciences, ALL in 64 days!
The boys approached Guru Sandipani to ask him what they could offer as Guru-dakshina. The rishi knew of their divine nature and did not want anything. When they insisted, the Guru consulted with his wife and they requested that they bring back their son who drowned in the sea. Balarama and Krishna went to the seashore. The sea brought tons of precious gifts to welcome the duo. The sea denied swallowing the rishi's son. Then the brothers went to Yama and demanded a restoration of their Guru's son. Their Guru and Guru-ma were overjoyed! Everyone bade them farewell after receiving the most precious Gurudakshina. The brothers were blessed, and were told that their glory would shine wherever they went. They were sent off to purify the whole world. Krishna and Balarama went back to their parents in Mathura. He remembered the fun He had in Vrindavana and knew that His avatara was to restore Dharma and He had a ton of work to do! Krishna appointed Uddhava to carry His message of love to Vrindavana. His visit is one of the most beautiful, mystical, and memorable episodes in Srimad Bhagavatam.
SudhamaLord Krishna and Sudama were childhood friends. While Krishna thrived and prospered, Sudama didn't. He led the life of a poor Brahmin man, living in a small hut with his wife and kids. Most days, the kids wouldn't even get enough to eat from what Sudama got as alms. One day, his wife suggested that he go and ask his friend Krishna for help.
Sudama was reluctant to seek favors, but he also didn't want his kids to suffer. So his wife borrowed some rice from the neighbors to make some rice snacks that Krishna liked, and gave it to Sudama to take it to his friend. Sudama took it and set out to Dwaraka. He was amazed at the gold that was used to build the city. He reached the palace gates and was obstructed by the guards, who judged him by his torn dhoti and poor appearance.
Sudama requested the guards to at least inform Krishna that his friend Sudama has come to meet him. The guard, although reluctant, goes and informs the lord. On hearing that Sudama was here, Krishna stops doing whatever he was doing and runs barefoot to meet his childhood friend.
Krishna hugs Sudama, welcomes him to his abode and treats him with utmost love and respect. Sudama, ashamed of the poor man's rice snacks he got for Krishna, tries to hide it. But the all-knowing Krishna asks Sudama for his gift and eats his favorite rice snacks that his friend brought for him.
Krishna and his friend spend time laughing and talking about their childhood but Sudama, overwhelmed by the kindness and compassion shown by his friend, is unable to ask for help. When he returns home, Sudama finds that his hut has been replaced by a huge mansion and his wife and kids are dressed in fine clothes.
Sudama realized how lucky he was to have a true friend like Krishna. He didn't even ask, but Krishna knew what Sudama wanted and gave it to him.
Moral
True friends do not distinguish between rich and poor. They are always there for you when you need them.
The End - Krishna LilaEnd of Jarasandha
Jarasandha was the king of Magadha, whose two daughters were married to Kamsa. When Kamsa was killed, Jarasandha wanted to take revenge.
Lord Krishna says, "The reason for My birth is only to lighten the burden of earth by killing asuras and protecting good people." "From time to time, for the protection of Dharma and for stopping the rise in adharma, I take birth in different bodies." Bhagavan knew that if Jarasandha stays alive, he will collect more and more auras and will come back again to defeat Him. Lord allowed Jarasandha to return many times so He can fulfill His mission of ridding earth of asuras.Rukmini Haranam
The king of Vidarbha had five sons and one daughter named Rukmini. Her marriage was fixed with Sishubala by her brother Rukmin. But, Rukmini had her heart set on Krishna. She sent a letter of request to Sri Krishna to come and take her away and make her His wife. As per instructions, Krishna came and before she could be married to Sishubala, took her away to Dwaraka and married her.
Narakasura Slain
Mother Earth was still in distress as Narakasura was harassing people. Mura, the architect of his capital, placed rings of fire, wind, and water all around the city with many traps and self-shooting weapons. Krishna with His discus, destroyed all the three rings of fire, wind, water, and with His swords, slashed all the traps. Then He blew His conch Pancajanya. The sound of the conch woke up Mura who had five mouths. Lord's discus killed all the five heads of the monster. One by one Krishna also killed other demons including Narakasura.
Kishna Leaves For The Supreme Abode
After finishing the job of ridding the earth of asuras, Lord retired to the forest where a hunter named Jara took the Lord's feet as a deer's mouth and shot an arrow at it. Jara was full of sorrow when he realized what he had done. He fell at Krishna's feet and begged Him, His pardon. Krishna told Jara not to be afraid, and that he just carried out His own will and would go to heaven with His blessings.
And Lord returned to His Supreme Abode.
Parikshith Moksha
Remember, how we started Bhagavatam in grade 3? King Parikshith was cursed that he will die in seven days! He left the kingdom and met Sukadevaji on the banks of Ganges. He asked a few questions, one of them was what should a person do who is facing imminent death. Guru Sukadevaji said, "Listen to the stories of Hari and think about them; chant the Lord's name," and he narrated the whole story of Bhagavatam. With folded hands Parikshith said : "Great has been my fortune in listening to the wonderful stories of the Lord. The time for my end has now come. My mind is free from the fear of death. Permit me now to fix my mind on the divine glory of the Lord, and thus give up this body in contemplation of Him." Serpent Taksaka came and bit the king and reduced the king's body to ashes, he had already given up his body and became one with the Lord.
"He who perceives Me everywhere and beholds everything in Me, never loses sight of Me, nor do I ever lose sight of him."
Om Namo Narayanaya Nama:
Pranaam,
Neelima & Keerthi