Hari Om Parents
Typical balavihar class starts with Likitha Jaapa (silent writing of name of ishta devatha) followed by 3 time Om invocation, followed by Shanti mantra
Om Saha Nau-Avatu |
Saha Nau Bhunaktu |
Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai |
Tejasvi Nau-Adhiitam-Astu Maa Vidvissaavahai |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
ॐ सह नाववतु ।
सह नौ भुनक्तु ।
सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Daily prayers (Page 11 of My Prayers book).
After the daily prayers were completed. We practiced the 1-6 slokas of Ganesha Pancharatna (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 slokas along with them.
We played a game to focus the mind, concentrate the mind and direct their energies to one task. The lights were switched off and we started random numbers and kids were asked to what was the last number and we are glad that almost all kids were able to tell correctly.
After recapping las week's class, we quizzed kids on what they learnt till now and about the characters. We noticed that kids were not able to remember the names of characters in story of Mahabharata. We request parents to go over what happened in class help them to remember.
We continued on how king Shantanu was saddened with the departure of Ganga on objecting the drowning of their 8th child. Ganga takes this 8th child with her and tells King Shantanu that she would return the child back when it right time. King Shantanu feels very lonely and every day takes a stroll near river Ganges. One day he notices that there is young boy who is raining the arrows on the river Ganga. King Shantanu gets furious looking at this and goes in rage and shouts at the young boy and asks who he was, then the boy address to king and tells him that he is Ganga's son and his name is Devavratha. King Shantanu is over joyed looking at the young boy and then Ganga arrives and tells Shantanu that he can take Devavratha along with him and she has given him the best of training in war fare and also has provided all kinds of education which is required for him to help his father in ruling the kingdom. Ganga then takes leave of the King Shantanu and Devavratha. King Shantanu brings Devavratha to Hastinapur palace and crowns his as crown prince. All the people of the kingdom are delighted and happy to see their crown prince. All was going well when suddenly Devavratha notices that his father was going on strolls every evening but coming home dejected. This went on for few days and whenever Devavratha asked his father he never replied to his son the cause of his sadness.
One day Devavratha decides to follow his father and sees that his father was going to river banks and meeting a beautiful lady whose name was Matsyagandha or Matsyagandhi or Satyavathi.After his father left the place Devavratha went to this lady and asked her what was the reason. Then the lady who was fisherman's daughter said that to enquire with her father. Devavratha went to the fisherman and asked why his father was sad. Fisherman says that his father King Shantanu fell in love with his daughter and wishes to marry her but the Fisherman had a condition that he must make the children of his daughter as heir to the throne. But king Shantanu refused to this condition and hence fisherman said he could not agree for this alliance.
We had to stop here as it was time for our Bhagavad Gita chanting by Swami ji. We have learnt shlokas 2 and 3.
Until we meet next time (ie on Oct 27th). We are not having Balavihar due to Navaratri.
Happy Navarathi to one and all.
With Om and 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
