Hari OM Parents
Hope this finds you all well. Before the class started we did some jumping jacks for warm up. After some warm up exercises, we started class with 3 OMs, Sahana Vavatu.
The children took turns to recite the Vakratunda, Saraswathi namasthubyam and Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu shlokas. We chanted the Guru Stotram going all the way till Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu
We continued to sing Atma Rama and then we learned a new Bhajan today - Manasa Bhajare Guru Charanam(page 73).
We also learnt colors in Sanskrit.
Pink - Patalaha
Blue - Neelaha
Black - Krishnaha
Red - Rakthaha
Yellow - Pithaha
Orange - Naaringaha
White -Svethaha
Grey - Dhoomraha
Purple - Dhoomlaha
Green - Harithaha
After which we did attendance. Since there was a cricket match going on between India and Australia, the admin came over and said they had it projected finals game in the prayer hall. We wanted to cover the story prior to watching the match.
We straight went into the Ramayana story. We did a quick recap of the royal wedding with Rama getting married to Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrguna married as well. The wedding was celebrated with pomp and splendor.All the Gurus were present, King Dasharatha was ecstatic with all his sons getting married on the same day. They all returned back to Ayodhya. King Dasharatha ruled Ayodhya for twelve more years.
One day King Dasharatha thought to himself, I am getting old and I should arrange for a Yuvaraj to take over Kingdom of Ayodhya. He arranged for a quick meeting with all his ministers. They all thought Rama would be a good fit for the Prince, as he was calm, composed and always righteous. The people of Ayodhya loved him. With this King Dasharatha consulted his Guru Vashishta and they arranged for the coronation the next day. Bharata and Shatrughna were away at Kaikeya. King Dasharatha summoned to have grand preparations done for the ceremony. Queen Kaikeya was in her room when her maid Mantara came to her and told her about King Dasaratha;'s decision to crown Rama as the Yuvaraj of Ayodhya. Queen Kaikeyi first jumped in joy as she considered Rama as her oldest son. Mantara, the old hunch-back maid was a poison seed. She was conniving, she put this poison thought in Kaikei mind that Bharata is her son and he should be made as Yuvaraja. She reminded about the two boons that King Dasharatha had given long time back when she saved his life. Mantara reminded Kaikeyi about it .
Kaikeyi first hesitated then decided to ask the two boons to King Dasaratha as man Bharata as the Yuvaraja and to send Rama away to the forest for 14 years. With this in mind Kaikeyi was determined to ask the king. King Dasaratha when he came to visit Kaikeiyi in her room saw that room was a mess, Kaikeyi was rolling on the floor and crying. He asked her what the reason was and she reminded him of the two boons he had given her. King Dasratha almost fainted when Kaikeyi asked him the two boons to crown Bharata and send Rama away. Rama was summoned and informed of the decision, and Rama calmly accepted to go to the forest. Lakshmana and Sita were also going to go with them. The whole town of Ayodhya was in tears when they heard the news that Rama will not be crowned the next morning. Rama, Lakshmana and Sita all adorned orange clothes like sanyasi and prepared to leave Ayodhya.
After the story time, We lined up to go to the prayer hall. As always we pick a line leader, a door holder and caboose when we leave the classroom. Each week different child is picked for these responsibilities and they take pride in doing this for the class.
Please ensure they do the coloring book pages that has the hunch-back Mantara talking to Kaikeyi.
See you all soon
Hari OM
Yamuna and Subha
