Hari Om Parents!
The past Sunday (16th Oct) was our 4th class of Balavihar for 2022-2023!
Here is the summary of what we covered in class:
- We started the class with the Opening prayer. We chanted Om three times and then chanted "Sahana vavatu".
- Recapped why we say Sahana Vavatu, some kids explained why we say. Good to hear their understanding.
- Kids shared the coloring sheets from previous class homework.
- We sang the Bhajan that we learnt from previous class. "Atmarama Anandaramana" - My prayer book page 143. We repeated word by word to familiarize the bhajan.
- We did a yoga pose (Tree, Lion and snake, butterfly ).
- Then we started with Bala Ramayana story. Recapped last week story of Rama, Lakshmana and Viswamitra going through the forest and ashrams.
- Continued the story: as they walked through the forest they came to a place where River Sarayu and River Ganga meets which is a divine in nature to watch and pray. Then when they continued their journey Rama asked Viswamitra that the forest is so beautiful but I sense the fear why so? Viswamitra smiled and explained this is where Raksasi Tataka lives and she is so cruel to the nature and living beings around this area. So when you fight with her, make sure you kill her. "Do not think she is a woman and should not kill her". When it comes to protecting dharma all should be treated equally.
- Then Rama and Lakshmana said "oh is she that cruel." Viswamitra said let me tell the story of how she became Raksasi. Tataka was born to Sukeatu who did a penance to Lord Bhrama and blessed with the beautiful girl who has the power equivalent to 1000 elephants. When she became young Yaksha lady she married to Sunda and had a child named "Mareecha". One day Sunda saw sage Agastya in meditation and disturbed him. Rishi got angry and cursed him to die. When Tataka heard she and Mareecha came to fight with Rishi Agastya and disrespected the sage. Hence Agastya gave curse to Both to became Demons and deformed their face and body.
- That's how Tataka became a demon and destroying the surroundings. When Rama heard this he tightened his fist and that sound was echoed all over the forest which Tataka heard and said who can make that kind of sound and she walked towards Rama & Lakshmana. As she came close Rama used his bow and arrow to shoot her but did not kill immediately. When it was dawn Lakshmana said Rama kill her before it gets darker as demon get more power in night. Also Rama remembered about what Viswamitra said and said I am going to obey my guru and kill her. Finally he killed her with divine weapons shared by Viswamitra.
- Then we went outside for a short break to play a game version Simon says using character from today's story.
- Came inside and kids started coloring the lesson 4 & 5 as they did coloring, shared another story of how Rama fought with Mareecha and Subahu while protecting the Yanja by Viswamitra. Mareecha was thrown to sky and all way to ocean by Rama and Subahu was killed there itself.
- Will continue the discussion in the next class more on the story.
- Then we lined up to go Arati hall.
Pranams
Subha and Selvi
