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)
Sita was entranced by the beauty of the deer, and asked Rama to capture it for her- something she can take back to Ayodhya as a memento and a novelty. Though Rama and Lakshmana were not too sure that it was not a trick, Rama decided to pursue the deer. He tasked Laskhmana with guarding Sita. Rama pursued the deer far into the woods, and as he hit the deer with his arrow, Marica cried out in Rama's voice "Hey Lakshmana, hey Sita'', as if Rama was dying. Hearing this, Sita was distraught. She asked Lakshmana to rush to Rama's help. Lakshmana reassured her that Rama was not likely to be in trouble and this was certainly a trick by some malicious being. Indignant at this refusal, Sita chose to assault Lakshmana, saying he refused to go as he wanted Sita for himself. Thunderstruck at her baseless accusations, Lakshmana had no option but to leave her and go look for Rama. He prayed to the forest gods to take care of Sita and left. As he caught up with Rama, it became obvious to them that this was some ploy to harm Sita. Meanwhile, Ravana, in the guise of a sage, came to the ashram and Sita received him warmly. She was disconcerted that the Sage was describing her beauty, but she patiently served him. Ravana then revealed himself and grabbed her. Furious, she warned him that in capturing her, he was inviting his own death and destruction of all he holds dear. Undeterred, Ravana made his getaway with her. Jatayu, the king of vultures, tried to fight off Ravana and rescue Sita. After a bitter combat, Jatayu was severely injured and Ravana ascended to the skies and went on his way to Lanka. On the way, a tearful Sita dropped her jewelry, a piece of yellow clothing and this was picked by some monkeys on the ground.
Rama and Lakshmana arrived at the ashram, only to find it empty and see some signs of combat nearby. Rama, heartbroken, looked to Nature for giving him clues on Sita's whereabouts. It seemed as though all the trees and animals were pointing South. At once furious and sad, Rama decided to burn the world down for not revealing Sita to him instantly. Lakshmana calmed him down and as they walked around looking for Sita, they saw Jatayu, gasping for his last breath. He told Rama that Ravana had abducted Sita, and he tried valiantly but could not stop him. Rama tearfully thanked him and on his passing performed his last rites.
Wandering around looking for Sita, Rama and Lakshmana came across Kabandha- he was all torso and feet. He had long hands which he used to grab Rama and Lakshmana. They cut off his arms and escaped his grip.
(End of Aaranya kaandam)
Kishkindha Kaandam
Kabandha was grateful and told Rama that he was a gandharva who was cursed by Indra and now, being killed by Rama would release him from his curse. He also told Rama that he should go further south to Rishyamukha mountain, and meet Sugriva, who was hiding there out of fear of his brother, the mighty Vali. Sugriva would help him find Sita. A thankful Rama and Lakshmana cremated Kabandha and then went in search of Sugriva.
Key to Success
L4 -The Fact and Our Behaviour
Wherever our focus is, that is what we notice.
When the mind is quiet, when the mind and intellect are tuned, sharpened, there are no more agitations which keep us away from the Lord within. We feel bliss, happy.
When we grab more than what we can handle in the world, we may have to lose our life. Wrong habits, when we pursue and encourage, they become giant like the big fish and can cost our life!
When we become quiet, our subjective and objective minds become united and we spontaneously function as the instrument of the Lord, following his command. If we want to be happy we have no choice but to sharpen our instruments so that we can do the right actions and we gain the right results.
STORY TIME
Impact of desires
There was once a poor but happy barber who worked for the King of the Land. The king loved his pleasant and happy demeanor and enjoyed his company. One night as the barber was returning home passing through the forest, he heard a voice from a tree. It was a yaksha. It promised him that there were 12 pots of gold waiting for him at home as a reward for all his hard work as an honest man. The barber ran home. His wife was waiting excited to show him that indeed there were 12 pots filled with gold there. As he opened each one with joy, he noticed that the last one was not all the way full. He asked his wife to bring all her gold and put it in there but it remained only three quarters full. The barber was annoyed and a little upset. The next day, he sold a few things and tried again. The pot remained at the same level. Day after day, the barber tried to find ways to fill the last pot. Alas it never did get full. He lost his sleep over it, his health and his peace of mind. He even asked the king for money. One day when the barber thus lost in a bad mood was cutting the King's hair, the king looked at his sad face in the mirror and asked him, "By any chance are you trying to fill the 12th pot of the Yaksha?" The barber smiled and confessed that he was. The King's immediate advice was clear. 'Get rid of it," he said, "as soon as you can." That pot will never be full. The only thing that will happen is that you will lose your peace of mind. That night the barber stopped at the tree in the forest and asked the yaksha to take all the pots back. He went home feeling like a great burden had been lifted off his shoulders.
L5. Boomerang
The law is what goes around comes around. As you sow, so shall you reap is the "boomerang effect."
Life is a boomerang. What we do in life alone returns to us in form of results; our actions are the cause and the result of the actions performed is the effect. If we are kind, the world will be kind to us.
Lord Rama says, "If you want to succeed, follow values in life."
"Boomerang - if we dont change our behavior, like a boomerang, it will come back to us.
Eg. - 'What we sow is what we reap'; 'what goes around comes around'
Skit form of teaching- Children were chosen randomly (picking the names from the box of all of their names to enact radio play (looking and reading from the script but with expressions) This activity makes them understand the proceeding of the story and since they are involved in the part of storytelling, it is both exciting as well as a new learning platform)
Today's sequence- The golden deer, Ravana as a sage, Sita apaharan, Jatayu moksha and Kabandha curse release. The performers were Rama- Asish N, Sita -Raghav K, Lakshmana- Arush I, Ravana- Rishik P and Jatayu- Parth S. They all seemed professional level performers and did a great job with voice modulation and body language. It was a treat to watch them perform with ease.
Activity pics - https://photos.app.goo.gl/49PeTCXhcqM4u1Ta9
Shared album - Vidhya Aiyer - Google Photos
Geetha Time - Today we learned 4th and 5th verse from chapter 4
Verses 4 - 5 - Ch.4 BG - YouTube
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.
