Hari om Parents,
We had a busy and fun day today. We started the class with Om and opening prayer. The prayer is below for kids to practice. After attendance, we did a recap of Chapters 1 and 2. Kids were wonderful. They remembered Ayodhya, Dasaratha, his 3 wives and names of their children. Today, we went through Chapters 3 to 5:
Chapter 3- Princes grew up learning Vedas and started their training in warfare. Rama especially excelled in using the bow and arrow.
-Sage Visvamitra comes to Ayodhya to ask for help in fighting the raksasas that have been terrorizing his ashram. King Dasaratha tells the Sage that he will help him. But when the Sage asks Rama to come with him to fight Subahu and Marica, the king is frightened for Rama. He pleads with the Sage to take his army and he will come to fight.
-Sage Vasistha guides the king and tells him that Visvamitra will protect Rama, Rama will bring glory to Ayodhya, send Lakshmana with Rama and they will together fight these demons.
-King Dasaratha agrees and sends the brave Rama and Laksmana with Visvamitra.
Chapter 4- Sage Visvamitra, Rama and Lakshmana leave Ayodhya. They sleep in the forest. The Sage gives them mantras to protect them. They start their journey through the forest, stop at Kamasrama where Lord Shiva had performed great austerities. The next day, they crossed River Ganga, and come to Dandaka forest.
-Dandaka forest is dark, filled with snakes and wild animals. There they encounter Tataka.
-Tataka was once beautiful. Her son was Marica. One day, she angered Sage Agastya who in turn put a curse on her to lead the life of a demon.
-With Visvamitra's prompting, Rama ends up killing Tataka.
Chapter 5-
-Siddhasrama- Sage Visvamitra tells Rama and Laksmana about Siddhasrama, where Vamana was born for Aditi and Kasyapa. Mahabali was a very good king. He would grant anyone whatever they wished. He acquired a lot of power and the devas started to fear him. One day, Vamana (avatar of Vishnu) asks Mahabali for 3 paces of land. Mahabali looked at Vamana's small feet and laughed. Vamana grew to the size of Trivikrama. With one pace, he covered the earth, the second, the heavens. Mahabali became humbled and offered Vamana his own head for the third pace. His head was purified by the touch of the Lord's foot and became one of seven immortals of the world.
-The three reach the Sage's Ashram. Visvamitra starts his 6 day Yagna and asks Rama and Laksmana to keep watch. On the 6th day, the raksasas army cover the sky. They see Marica and Subahu. Rama lifts Marica with his bow and ends up tying up Marica with the bow-string and hurls Marica far into the sea. Subahu is killed.
-Visvamitra is able to complete his Yagna in peace. The next day, he tells Rama and Laksmana that he will take them to Mithila to attend a yagna by king Janaka. There is a beautiful bow that they must see. They continued their journey to Mithila.
Game- we played Teacher Says (like Simon says). We had the kids go to 4 corners, representing Ayodhya, Saryu River, Dandaka forest and Visvamitra's ashram. Kids were out if they acted on prompts without teacher says. 4 kids won.
Teaching point- the Gurus we have learned so far are Sage Visvamitra and Vasishta. King Dasaratha always has listened to his gurus just like how the children listened in the game.
Each child got a prize from last week's quiz game.
Bhajan- We went on to learn the third line of the Rama Bhajan. We will send the verses on WhatsApp.
At 2:15- all of the kids started the Gita Chanting by our Swamiji. Kids learned the first verse of Gita Chapter 4. They caught on very well.
Opening Prayer
Om saha navavatu
Saha nau bhunaktu
Saha viryam karavavahai
Tejasvinavadhitam-astu ma vidvisavahai
Om santih santih santih
Homework for kids: quiz them about what we learned, color lesson 4 and 5 in their coloring book.
Next Sunday Sept 31st, kids will be introduced to their house, Durga Daredevils.
With our Guru's Blessings,
Saratha and Kavita
Saratha and Kavita
