Hari OM Parents
Hope you all had a good week. Here is a summary of what we covered in class today
While we were waiting for the other children to join, we tried to do a tree pose with our eyes closed.Our class time is 9:15 AM , please try to drop off kids by 9:15 so they can participate in the Yoga.
We started class with 3 OMs, Sahana Vavatu followed by Vakratunda, Saraswathi Namasthubyam and Guru Brahma.We asked the class today if they knew Karagre Vasathe Lakshmi. Immediately few children began reciting this shloka.We discussed how important it is to start day with the prayer, praying to Lakshmi, Vishnu, Saraswathi and seeing them right in our palm.
We moved on to sing Atma Rama and the children enjoyed singing this with the cymbals.We then chanted Akhanda Mandalakaram and had few who volunteered to chant with others repeat. Please encourage your children to chant them regularly.
We went straight to the story after this... continued with how Rama and Lakshmana went with Sage Viswamithra to protect the Yagna.They were at Siddhasrama where Lord Narayana performed tapas and was born as Vamana. King Mahabali was grandson of Bhakt Prahlad and he never refused anyone's request to him. He was very proud of this that he never turned away anyone's request. Lord Vishnu in order to teach him humility went in the form of Vamana. A short man with an umbrella in his hand if the children had seen Dashavatars. The short man Vamana went to the kingdom of Mahabali and asked him for 3 foot of land. King Mahabali thought after all its three paces, I can give him what he asked for. Suddenly Vamana (Lord Vishnu) took viswaroopam and grew tall that his first foot covered the entire earth. His second foot covered the entire sky and all of a sudden for the third step he had no space to cover. That's when King Mahabali realized who it was that it was none other than Lord Vishnu and he offered his head for Lord Vishnu(Vamana) to put his foot on. He was humbled by the Lord.
Now Rama and Lakshmana after reaching the ashrama, the rishis performing the Yagna welcome them and they prepared for the Yagna the next day. For 6 days the rishis performed the Yagna and till then Rama and Lakshmana were on vigil waiting to see any demons who were to destroy the Yagna. On the last day of the Yagna there were an army of rakshasas and rakshasis who surrounded the place and Rama and Lakshmana were busy defeating/killing them. Out of all the rakshasas, there were two who were very powerful, Mareecha and Subahu. Rama used Manavastra a special weapon to flung Mareecha as far far away like 500 miles into the ocean. Subahu was killed instantly with the Agneyastra. Thus the entire army of demons were destroyed. Sage viswamitra and other rishis completed the Yagna successfully.
After the story we played Four corners Game. Naming each corner with the characters they learned today.
We asked kids to use coloring book to color till chapters learnt so far.
We chanted Bhagavad Gita and then lined up to go to the prayer hall.
Please have them recite to you the story they learnt thus far.
See you all next class
Hari OM
Yamuna and Subha
