Hari Om,
We started our class with Likitha Japa. We plan on doing this while waiting for all to come into the class and get settled in. Likitha Japa books will be provided. For the time being, we are handing out papers for them to do the Likita Japa. Please make sure they have pen/pencil to write with
We then did our 3 Om chants followed by our regular set of Bhajans.
Mahabharata continues- The Pandavas continue living in the Brahmin's house. One day, a traveler comes with the news of Draupadi's swayamvara. She is the daughter of Drupada, the king of Panchala. Drupada, to take revenge on Drona, conducts a yajna. Out of the fire comes out Dhristadyumna, who is destined to kill Drona. A young woman of priceless beauty also comes out. She is named Draupadi. Drupad yearns for a girl so that she can marry Arjuna, as Drupad is in awe of his skills in archery. Dhristadyumna learns archery from Drona, who teaches him very well knowing that Dhristadyumna has been born to kill him. On hearing about the swayamvara, Kunti suggests they leave Ekachakra and proceed to Kampilya, the capital city of Panchala. The swayamvara is to be a test in archery and Arjuna decides to participate in it.
The Pandavas, along with their mother, proceed to Kampilya. On the way, they meet a gandharva named Angaaravarna, who suggests they get a kulaguru and he recommends Dhaumya. They reach out to Dhaumya, who is also very pleased with their humility and behavior and readily agrees to be their guru.
In Kampilya, the Pandavas stay in a potter's house. They hear the news from their daily wanderings that their king is certain that Arjuna is alive and will participate in Draupadi's swayamvar. This first entails stringing the divine bow Kindhura shooting the eye of a rotating mechanical fish - five arrows can be used, but the shooter looks at the reflection of the fish in a pond, rather than at the fish itself.
Kings from all over arrive to participate in the swayamvar. The Pandavas are there disguised as Brahmins, along with the Kauravas, Duryodhana, Radheya, all the Yadavas, including Krishna and Balarama, and others, like the Bhojas, Vrishnis, and Andhakas. Dhristadyumna leads the beautiful Draupadi to the center and proclaims the challenge and that the winner will win the hand of Draupadi. He also shows her the kings who are present for the swayamvar. Krishna spots the Pandavas in the crowd and is excited to see them. The yadavas do not participate as they are sure Arjuna was alive and will wield the bow. King after King fail to even string the bow and those who manage to do it miss the mark. Duryodhana, Jaradandha, Sisupala, Salya are some of those who fail. Even Radheya who strings the bow missses the eye . No one dares to try after this failure. Arjuna stands up and offers to give a try. Krishna recognizes him.
Dhristadyumna gives a go ahead, and Arjuna successfully completes the feat. Flowers rain on Arjuna from the sky, and Draupadi walks up to Arjuna and garlands him. They make a beautiful pair. The kings are upset with the outcome and challenge Arjuna. The rest of the Pandavas jump to his rescue, and big fight starts. Radheya takes on Arjuna. Radheya admits defeat in the competition and enquires who he is. Finally, Krishna intervenes and claims it is not right to fight as the Brahmin has won fair and square. All kings take the advice. The Pandavas leave along with Draupadi and reach the potter's house. They announce their coming with the words:"Mother , we have brought a bhiksha". Kunti does not look up but says all of you share the biksha. Kunti repents her words but after the words are spoken, Arjuna feels Yudhishthira should marry Draupadi as he is the oldest, while Yudhishthira feels it is their duty to obey their mother and suggests all of them marrying Draupadi.
Krishna and Balarama come to meet the Pandavas and Kunti. This is the first time the cousins are meeting each other. They embrace each other and Krishna warns them against revealing their true identity for the moment. He suggests to let the world know who they are when it is safer. Meanwhile, Drupada is upset that a Brahmin married Draupadi and not Arjuna as he envisioned. He sends Dhristadyumna to find out more about the Brahmins. Dhristadyumna hides himself snd watches the Pandavas, Kunti and Draupadi. He finds his sister very happy but he is very surprised to hear the 5 Brahmins talking about arms, weapons, astras etc. They seemed to be at home in these matters. He is convinced that these are the Pandavas and he gladly informs his father. Drupada is happy and sends purohits and costly dresses and gifts to his son in law. He decides to set a date for the wedding and welcomes the brothers along with their mother to the palace.
The Pandavas and their mother arrive at the palace. They are warmly welcomed. Drupad asks them to introduce themselves. Yudhishthira decided to reveal their identity and introduces himself and his brothers. Drupad is extremely happy with this turn of events. He tells the Pandavas not be wary of the Kauravas and decides to get Arjuna married off quickly to Draupadi. Yudhishthira corrects him saying that he being the eldest should marry first. Drupad agrees to him marrying Draupadi instead of Arjun as well. Yudhishthira then says that all 5 of them will marry her, but Drupad is shocked and does not think it is Dharma for a lady to have 5 husbands. At that opportune moment, Vyaasa arrives . He informs them that Draupadi in her previous birth was blessed by Lord Shiva to have 5 husbands. He gives them his word and asks Drupad to marry off his daughter to the 5 Pandavas.
News spreads like wild fire: the Pandavas are alive as well as their marriage. The Kauravas are in deep shock as all their plans have failed. Sakuni suggests to challenge the Pandavas in a fight. They march to Kampilya but they are routed by the Pandavas. Dejected, they come back to Hastinapur. Dhirtarashtra is also very upset, and Radheya again talks of winning over them in the battlefield. The elders, like Bheeshma, Drona, etc, think that the best way of gaining back their reputation is to call the Pandavas back to Hastinapur and give them half the kingdom for them to rule. Dhirtarashtra has no reason to disagree. Vidura is sent as an envoy to bring back the Pandavas, Kunti and Draupadi. The Pandavas return to Hastinapur accompanied by Krishna.
We commenced with our learning of Saints of India with a presentation on Swami Tapovan Maharaj by a student.. He was born in Paalghaat district in Kerala in 1889. His birth name was Chippu Kutty and his guru was Hrdayaananda. He chose to remain in a humble, mud plastered one room kutiya with a small veranda in Uttar Kashi. The Swami used a kamandalu, an asana of deer skin, a mat, a pair of spectacles, a thin mattress, a blanket, and an old and battered trunk. It was under the strict teacher in Swami Tapovan Maharaj, that our Pujya Gurudev was trained. Swami Tapovan Maharaj authored a few books like Sri Saumya Kasisa Stotram, Wanderings in the Himalayas, Isvara Darsana, and Kailasa Yatra. The key messages of Swami Tapovan Maharaja are to be humble, be simple, be truthful, and keep vows.
We continued with our learning of Bhagvad Gita Chapter 4, shlokas 4 and 5. We will forward the video in our Whatsapp group. Please encourage your children to memorize them.
We do not have class next week as we will be celebrating Diwali. Happy Diwali and a Prosperous New Year to all!! Please do join us at the Ashram on Sunday as we will be having our Annakut celebrations. Hope to see you all !!
Regards,
Indira and Raji
