Hari Om Parents,
This week we had a shorter class due to Houses inauguration. Below is the syllabus covered this week.
Shlokas:
Saraswathi Namastubhyam (along with the meaning)
Nama Ramayanam- verses 9 to 16 (My Prayers page 135)
Lesson & Discussion
Significance of Deepavali / Diwali: Kids talked about the Diwali celebrations at their homes. We discussed the reasons why people celebrate Diwali. Few of them were- To celebrate Rama's return to Ayodhya after Ravana's defeat, Lord Krishna's victory over Narakasura, Lord Vishnu's triumph against the demon-king Bali in Vamana Avatar, as well as demon king's return to the world.
Ramayana:
Story Continued:
Manthara convinces Kaikeyi to encash the two boons that Dasaratha had given her earlier. Dasaratha is surprised to see the queen in Krodha-Graha and pleads to her. Kaikeyi proceeds to encash her two boons. She asks Bharata to be the crown prince and Rama to be sent to the forest for 14 years. Dasaratha was shocked at the cruel requests of his queen. Rama was brought to Kaikeyi's palace the next morning and was asked to fulfill his father's promise.Rama assured Kaikeyi that he would. Lakshmana was filled with anger to see the injustice done. Sita decides to go to the forest with Rama. Rama could not dissuade the persistent Lakshmana who chose to accompany them. People of Ayodhya follow the chariot of Rama. At midnight when people are asleep, Rama crosses the river Tamasa in the midnight and gets to the other side so that the people would go back to Ayodhya. They travel deep into the forest and reach the banks of river Ganga. Tribal chief Guha receives them with love and devotion and bids them farewell as they cross river Ganga. Rama, Sita and Lakshmana meet sage Bharadwaja to seek his blessings.
Back in Ayodhya, Dasaratha recollects an earlier curse on him. As a young prince, with a gurgling sound of an animal drinking water, he shoots an arrow which kills a young boy named Shravana Kumara. Sharvana Kumara's grieving parents curse Dasaratha that he would die of the anguish and grief of separation from his son.
Question from the class?
Q)What is the significance of the number 14 for the exile period of Rama?
It is long enough for people to forget about Rama and start adoring Bharata as their king.
Interesting answer from one of the students in our class(Aarna):
Cells change in our body constantly. It is said that in 7 years the human body will replace itself. With twice the replacement and Lord Rama being in forest unnoticed by the people, he would not be able to claim the kingdom back after the exile period.
Pranams
Sirisha & Prarthana
