Hari Om! Parents
Happy Navaratri
We started class with the beginning prayers followed by the Shri Rama dhyana shloka, Shri Rama Rama Rameti Rame Raame manorame…
We then went on to our lesson, the story of Lord Rama and his exploits.
Discussed 2 authors of the Ramayana,
1. Sage Valmiki- Before he became a saint he was a robber named Ratnakara. After his encounter with Sage Narada and according to a divine plan he became known as the Adi Kavi- the first person to compose poetic verses on the Ramayana.
2. Saint Tulsidas- wrote the devotional text Shri Ram Charit Manas. Talked about his life story and his writing of Ram Charit Manas in Avadhi, a dialect spoken in eastern India.
Both these versions of the Ramayana are eminent among devotional scriptures.
Our plan is to inculcate Bhakti for Lord Rama this year.
We then discussed the story of King Dasaratha and his 3 wives,
Birth of Lord Rama and his 3 brothers.
Their early lives and their associations with Sage Vasishtha and Sage Vishwamitra.
Discussed the story of sage Vishwamitra and his eagerness to possess the divine cow, Nandini from Sage Vasishtha.
Discussed the story of Trishanku which showed the compassionate nature of the Sage Vishwamitra.
Told the stories of the Sage Vishwamitra, creating a kingdom for Trishanku in the heavens and his visit to king Dasharatha to ask for Lord Rama and Lakshmana's help to destroy the demons in the forest.
Also told the story of Sage Vishwamitra where he transformed to Brahma Rishi.
His early life where he exhibits anger, jealousy and then his transformation to a life of compassion and penance by sheer perseverance.
The children talked about how they can also adapt these values and change their lives.
Watched the primer video for learning chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita.
Our next class is on October 7th.
Pranama
Nirmala and Mythili
