Hari Om! Parents,
Week 5 Class
The children did this Likhita Japa 16 times at the beginning of class -'' Jai Durga/ Sri Mahalakshmiye Namaha/ Sri Saraswati Namaha ''.
Shlokas
Om chanting, Sahana vavatu, Vakratunda mahakaya, Saraswati namastubhyam, Guru Brahma, Sarva Mangala mangalye (ref. My Prayers book pg 39)
Next, we chanted Mahalakshmi Ashtakam verses 1-6 (ref. My Prayers book pg 40)
Mahabharata*
Virata Parva of the Mahabharata story is about the Pandavas in their 13th year incognito or "Ajnaatavasa". They must not be discovered by the Kauravas during this time.
Yudhistira disguised as Kanaka, Bhimasena as Vallala, Arjuna as Brihannala, Nakula as Damagranti and Sahadeva as Tantripala. They are all given jobs in king Virata's palace.
Draupadi joins the queen's chamber as Sairandri. The queen's brother, Keechaka, is the commander-in-chief of the army. He proposes to Sairandri, but she rejects him and he hits her in anger.
Sairandri does not get justice from the king and begs Bhimasena to avenge her humiliation. Bhimasena kills Keechaka and the news reaches the Kauravas.
Duryodhana plans to flush out the Pandavas from hiding and his army attacks the Virata kingdom from two sides. The king and four of the Pandavas battle the Kaurava army on one side.
Brihannala and prince Uttara Kumara battle the rest of the Kauravas on the other side. Brihannala single-handedly defeats the Kaurava army and they return victorious.
The incognito year ends and the Pandavas reveal themselves to king Virata. He pledges his support to them and the Pandavas start planning for the upcoming war. We paused the story here.
One-minute focus exercise - Children did Planks today, built their core strength and controlled their breathing
India, the Sacred Land
Topics: The Sacred Land - Mahatma Gandhi and India Independence Movement
His contribution towards India's freedom struggle against the tyranny of British rule. Ahimsa or non-violence was his message and was spread all around the world.
Several civil rights leaders followed his example in their own struggles. October 2nd was Gandhi Jayanti, and marked his 154th birth anniversary this year.
Activity: Spice Bingo game and we discussed the health benefits of each Indian spice.
Reflection: The class discussed this quote from Ayurveda, "When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, there is no need for medicine"
#TIL [Today I Learned] Aryabhatta - 'ganitha patha' on finding the circumference and the modern-day 'pi'
Geeta Chanting
We are going to learn Chapter 4 of the Bhagavad Gita from our Swamiji this year. Today the class learned to chant verses 2 and 3 (ref. BV Handbook pg 16)
Grade 6 led the Aarti and Pledge recitation in the Prayer Hall today, the children did an excellent job.
Wishing all Grade 6 families a blessed Navratri festival! Bala Vihar is on a break till Oct 29th.
- Rashmi Kuroodi and Sangeetha Srikanth
