Hari Om Parents
Namaste and greetings
We started our class with Likhita japa and our daily prayers (Page 11 of My Prayers book).
After the daily prayers were completed. We practiced the entire Ganesha Pancharatnam (Page 30 of My prayers book). Please help kids memorize the daily prayers and Ganesha Pancharatnam. There are a few kids who are new, request parents to engage them and learn/ practice the shlokas along with them.
We were meeting children after 2 weeks and we asked what they have done in the last two weeks and what festival was celebrated and how they celebrated. Being Navratri and Dussehra time, most of them told how they celebrated the festival.
Some went to garbha, some did Bathukamma, and some visited friends and family for Bommala Koluvu or Golu.
We recapped what we did in last class. We watched a small video of mahabharata starting from king Shantanu's meeting of Ganga until the episode of birth of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidhur.
We continued on how king Shantanu was saddened with the departure of Ganga.
Devratha promises Satyavathi's father that he would not claim for the throne and also he would not get married so that his children would not ever claim for the throne. He vows to Celibacy all through his life. Devavrta took such a vow that all the gods and goddess showered flowers on him and pronounced him as Bheesma. King Shantanu, looking at the sacrifice of his son, gave him a boon that he would grant him wish of Iccha Mrityu (he would die whenever he wanted to and nothing can kill him). After a few years, Shantanu and Satyavathi had two sons Chitrangada and Vichitraveerya. King Shantanu died after some years and Chitrangada and vichitravirya were growing up in custody and care of Bheeshma and Satyavathi. After some years, Chitrangada dies in a battle. Satyavathi was very upset about this. She requested Bheeshma to find a good bride for Vichitraveerya. Bheeshma found out that the king of kasha had 3 beautiful daughters (Amba/Ambika/Ambalika) and was hosting a swayamvaram. Bheeshma went to this swayamvaram and fought against all the kings and defeated everyone and won the three princesses and brought them for his brother Vichitraveerya. After coming to Hastinapura Princess Amba mentioned that she was in love with King Selva and she cannot marry Vichitraveerya. Bheeshma tells Amba to go to Selva. When Amba reaches the King of Selva, Selva rejects Amba and tells her that he cannot marry as he was defeated by Bheeshma and she should marry him. Amba goes back to Bheeshma and tells him to marry her but Bheeshma says that he has vowed to Celibacy. Amba gets very angry and dejected. She vows to kill Bheeshma and goes to seek help but all the princes and kings do not agree as no one can match Bheeshma. She goes to Sage Parasurama and he takes pity on Amba and agrees to fight Bheeshma. Bheeshma and Sage Parasurama fight for 23 days. But no one could be defeated as they were equals. So Parasurama leaves and asks Amba to forgive him. Amba does severe penance to lord shiva and requests her to be granted a boon to kill Bheeshma or be the reason to kill him and Lord Shiva grants her boon and it would be fulfilled in next life. As she was eager to take vengeance she commits suicide and dies to be reborn again. Vichitraverya marries Ambika and Ambalika. After a few years vichitravirya dies without an heir. Worried Satyavathi asks Bheeshma to marry the princess and bear an heir to the throne of hastinapura. Bheeshma refuses this request as he is bound to vow celibacy. Satyavathi then tells Bheeshma that now is the time to tell and reveal her past. She tells Bheeshma that Sage Parashara one day met satyavathi and falls in love with her. Due to this attraction a son was born to them and as soon as he was born he grew up into a fully grown adult and was named Vyasa. Since satyavathi was still a young lady and not married she had to leave Vyasa and Vyasa promises satyavathi that he will come to her whenever she thinks of him. And Satyavathi says that now is the time for her older son Vyasa to come to her rescue. As soon as she thinks of him Vyasa appears before Satyavathi and asks her to order him. Satyavathi requests him to bear the heir to the widows of Vichitraveerya. Vyasa tells Satyavathi to send them. Satyavathi orders Ambika to visit Vyasa. Ambika as soon as she sees Vyasa fears his personality and closes her eyes as he embraces her. As he had long matted hair and had come out of penance just then. Vyasa told Satyavathi that Ambika will have a blind child as she closed her eyes in fear. Satyavathi tells what the use of a blind king is even if he is strong and powerful. Satyavathi requests vyasa again and tells him that she would send Ambalika. Satyavathi warns Ambalika not to close her eyes. When Ambalika sees Vyasa she in fear becomes pale but does not close her eyes. Vyasa tells that Ambalika will have a son who will be pale and will be lean and not a very healthy child. Satyavathi requests once again vyasa to bless Amba. Amba and Ambalika both are scared to visit Vyasa again and send their maid. The wise maid is very calm and sane. She does not fear vyasa. Vyasa blesses her and says that she would have a wise and intelligent son. Amba delivered Dhritarstra who was blind. Ambika delivered Pandu and their maid Vidhur . We had to stop here as it was time for our Bhagavad Gita chanting by Swami Ji. We have learnt shlokas 4 and 5.
Until we meet next time (i.e. on Nov 3rd 2023). We will be having Sarsawathi puja in the prayer hall next Friday.
With Pranams
Shivram & Anuradha
Important Information:
Link to join whatsapp groupchat
https://chat.whatsapp.com/E0cfUe3NUDYCBwYVKD7tyg
List of things that we need the kids to bring to the class
1. An empty notebook to write likhita japa and notes
2. Two sharpened pencils
3. Daily Prayers book
1. Curriculum for 5th graders
1. Mahabharata By Raja Gopalachari
2. India the sacred land (handouts will be provided by teachers)
3. Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 4. Sholkas 1-28
4. Slokas
1. Ganesha Panchratnam
1. Link to rendition with lyrics in english https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4lZCKxeJFE or
2. Link: https://youtu.be/Oyo0FWP9fB8?si=ZaYVDepNkX0YWShI (play at lower speeds for kids to follow lyrics and hear clearly)
5. NirvanaShatakam:
https://youtu.be/rKx7K13OvQ4?si=lM6g_ZtX0kdF5Sfo - Uninterrupted Line Guided Chant - YouTube
