Here is this week's update.
"Om Saha Navavatu" (page 8 in My Prayers book)
Om shrI Ganeśaya Namaha, shrI Saraswatyai Namaha, shrI Sat Gurubhyo Namaha.
"Vakratunda Mahakaya" (page 27 in My Prayers book)
"Saraswati Namastubhyam" (page 12 in My Prayers book)
"Gurur Brahma" (page 60 in My Prayers book)
Aaranya Kaandam
Rama felt that Chitrakuta carried many memories of Bharata's visit and wanted to change the place they spent the rest of their exile. On permission from the Rishis, he met with Sage Atri and Anasuya. Anasuya gifted Sita with lovely sandal paste and kajal, which added great beauty to Sita. He also met Sage Sarabhanga, who ascended to heaven after meeting Rama and Sage Sutikshna, who advised him to go to Dandakaranya to spend the rest of their exile. They spent ten years in Dandakaranya protecting the sages who lived there. Rama and Lakshmana killed a cursed being called Viradha who tried to take away Sita. The cursed Viradha got freed from his curse and regained life as a gandharva. They met Sage Agastya who blessed Rama and recommended Rama spend the rest of exile in Panchavati. Lakshmana constructed the ashram in Panchavati and they happily spent time there. One day, a demoness named Surpanakha, who was Ravana's sister saw Rama and was enchanted by him! She walked up to him and demanded that he marry her. Rama playfully sent her to Lakshmana, saying he was the one who was "without a wife". Lakshmana sent her back to Rama saying that Shurpanakha could not be happily married to a "mere servant". Angered, Shurpanakha ran to attack Sita, as she was the reason Rama was not marrying her. Furious, Rama instructed Lakshmana to stop her and Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears. Blood flowing out of the wounds, Shurpanakha ran to Khara and Dhushana who were stationed with a large army of Rakshasas in Janasthana. Enraged, they came with an army of 14,000 rakshasas to fight Rama, who single handedly destroyed them. One of the witnesses to this awe inspiring act, a rakshasa named Akampana, ran to Ravana's court and narrated the whole story. Even with all the horrible details of the war and the threat of Rama's valor, Ravana's interest was piqued by Akampana's description of Sita.
Ravana meets up with Marica, who is still traumatized by memories of his first encounter with Rama at Vishwamitra's yagna. Marica advises him to leave Sita alone. Ravana returns back to his kingdom- but Shurpanakha who was determined to get revenge on Sita, wails before him how unfairly Lakshmana and Rama treated her as she tried to get Sita for Ravana. Now, hearing Shurpanakha's description of Sita, Ravana was very determined to capture Sita for himself. He went again to Marica and gave him an ultimatum- help in abducting Sita or be killed. Marica, knowing his end was near, decided to help Ravana. He took the form of a very attractive golden deer, and roamed around near the ashram where Rama, Sita and Lakshmana lived.
Today we celebrated Saraswathy pooja in our Bala vihar. We had a short class and had to assemble in the mantapa for the pooja. The students, getting instructions from the priest, performed the pooja with Sradhdha and Bhakti.
Class starts at 9:15am sharp with the opening prayers. We will not let children in when the prayer is going on. Please, kindly send them before 9:13/14 for a minute to settle down before the prayers.
Children should bring their own copy of "My prayers" book, Balavihar handbook,Notebook, pencils and erasers. Rajaji's Ramayana book is the reference textbook.
