Hari om parents,
Hope everyone is doing well & enjoying the fall weatherl with their family & friends. Here is the summary from our class (10/24/23) -
We chanted 3 OM's and said our beginning prayers - Om sahna bhavtu then a shlok for Lord Ganesha (Vakratunda Mahakaya), Devi Saraswati (Saraswati Namastubhyam) and one for our Guru (Guru Bramha) respectively.
We revised what we had studied in our first class about avatars. We further emphasized on why does god have to take an avatar? We also learned about the 10 avatars (Dashavatar) & more we are going to study this year.
The Background story - Shaunak rishi lived with his disciples in Naimisharanya. Every morning they got up early to do yagna.
One morning as they were getting ready to do yagna, Sutaji, a learned rishi, visited them. All students and teachers paid their respects to the rishi & sat around him to learn.
Shaunak rishi said," Please teach us how a person can become good and happy forever." Sutaji replied," It is given in a poem written by Shri Ved Vyaasa. This poem is called Bhagavatam, has 18,000 verses. The poem describes stories of God and how and why HE descended on earth as avatars to help." Sutaji said we also need to learn how this poem was written. We learned that Ved Vyas ji had his ashram near river Saraswati.
4.Story time - Who is Narad ji?
Narada was a son of a servant lady who was working in an ashram. A group of saints came to the ashram. Narada was only five years old and was also helping his mother in serving the saints. The saints took a liking for the young boy, Narada. Everyday the saints were singing the glories of Narayana and Narada started enjoying singing the glories of Narayana.
One night, Narada's mother was bitten by a snake and she died, leaving Narada all alone. Narada left the ashram and he kept on walking till he saw a nice and quiet place where he sat for meditation. Bhagwan blessed him and said that he will be born as the son of Brahma ji , the creator of the world. Few years later he died, and was reborn as the son of Brahma ji. Devas gave him a gift of Vina. It is said that even today, taking his Vina, he moves around singing the glories of the lord.
How was Bhagvatam written?
Bhagvatam was composed by Shri Ved Vyaasa. Vyaas ji's ashram was on the banks of river Saraswati. One evening Vyaas ji sat by the river , very sad. It was very quiet until he heard the twanging of vina strings. It was sage Narada.Vyas ji got up to receive Narada and offered him a seat.Narada ji said, " Vyas ji, It appears you are not happy. Can I do something for you?". Vyaas ji replied, " Whatever you said about me is true.In spite of the possession of the knowledge i am not happy/satisfied.I have compiled the Vedas, Puranas, Mahabharata. But I still feel unrest within me. What more shall I write? Narada ji said , " You have described the dharma of a human being well; but you have not described the glories of Lord Krishna. Sing the glories of all different forms of lord and how he helped mankind. Teach people how to think right and sing glories of the lord; it will make you peaceful". Thus, Bhagvatam was composed.
Game time - A fun game for high energy class with all the words we learned in our class. PIcs attached to Whatsapp group.
Geeta chanting - We chanted the first 2 verses of Chapter 4 of Bhagwad Geeta. Link will be shared on the class Whatsapp group.
Closing prayers and aarti - We gathered in the temple hall for Aarti & pledge.
For easy communication we have set up Whatsapp group, here is the link -
https://chat.whatsapp.com/E2laESIszyQDFEIIT3oai3
See you all next Sunday! Take care.
Regards,
Chitra & Rupa.
