Hari Om Dear Parents.
Update on Sunday Oct 16th Balavihar class
- We chanted 3 OMs followed by 4 opening Prayers:
- Sahanavavatu (to Pray to Lord to keep both Guru and Disciple on the path of study)
- Vakratunda mahaakaavya(for Lord Ganesha)
- Saraswathi namastubhyam (for Devi)
- Guru Brahma (for Guru)
There are few kids who haven't yet memorized these shlokas. Please listen to the recordings sent on WhatsApp group and help them practice.
- We chanted Dhyana Shloka of Sri Hanuman ji
- We discussed about Dhairyam
It was interesting to hear from kids about what they knew about courage and their personal experience about being courageous.
Courage is to do the right thing despite difficulties and obstacles.
Courage is facing challenges patiently.
Courage is necessary to shed even a small habit in our life.
We learned about the character named Ratnakara in the story, how he showed courage to transform himself. Ask your children if they remember the story and narrate it to you.
Story:
Ratnakara was a professional robber, who had a wife and children. To support his family, he would rob anyone who would pass through a forest, which was close by to his house. He had no other talent to earn money for living. Once, sage Narada ji was passing through that forest. Ratnakara stopped him and asked him to hand over all his possessions. All that the sage carried was his instrument Veena. Narada smiled and said, "you can have my veena, but do you know you are committing sins when you trouble people and rob them? I know you are doing all this for your wife and children, but do you think they will share all your sins? You can go home and ask them, I can stay here"
Ratnakara tied Narada ji to a tree and went home to check with his family. To his surprise, they all refused to partake in his sins. He realized what a fool he was! He returned to Narada ji and pleaded to give him a solution.
Narada ji asked him to sit and chant 'Rama'.
Ratnakara started chanting 'Rama, Rama, Rama, ……'
Days, Months, Years passed. When Naradaji finally returned, he found that a giant ant hill had formed around Ratnakara. Ratnakara had never left the spot and never stopped chanting the name of Rama. Narada ji woke Ratnakara from his deep meditation and renamed him Valmiki, since he came out of an ant hill which is called Valmika in sanskrit.
Through prayer, Ratnakara had the courage to wash away his sins and he became a saint.
- Kids received Yellow Work Book for this year. We did Likhita japa of 'Rama' in this book. Please remember to send it with the kids every class. Yellow is our house color. To read more about Balavihar Houses, check out this link and participate in the upcoming events. https://www.chinmayavrindavan.org/balavihar/balavihar-houses
- We learned a new Bhajan on Sri Hanumanji - Veera Maruti Gambheera Maruti.
- Game time: Rama says
- Bhagavadgeeta. We reviewed 1st and 2nd shlokas of Bhagavath geeta from last week and learned 3nd and 4th shlokas. Please make sure kids are practicing with this recording. https://youtu.be/Eylejch4kR0 Once they have memorized, please share it in our whatsapp group, to motivate all the others. Even parents are welcome to share.
Few Announcements:
- Next class is on Oct 30th (NO CLASS on OCT 23rd)
- Hanuman Chalisa book are on stock in the front desk
- Class starts at 9:15 am sharp with opening prayers. If kids come late, please ask them to come inside quietly and sit. They won't be greeted right away, since it is a distraction for the other kids listening to the class.
Few videos for parents:
Bhagavadgeeta Chapter 3 shloka 3 meaning
Bhagavadgeeta Chapter 3 shloka 4 meaning
Happy Diwali
Hari Om
Meena Rajan & Ramya Belavadi
