Hariom Parents,
We had a great start to Sunday morning with our kids dressed in beautiful attire and they were enthusiastic to discuss Navratri. We also noticed that we had children walking into class past 9.15am. Just wanted to keep you informed we will start class at 9.15am.
We started class with 3 Oms and then followed it by chanting Opening Prayer Om Sahanavavatu.
1. Chanting Slokas
Vakratunda Mahakaya (Ganesha shloka)
Saraswati Namastubyam (Saraswati shloka)
Gurur brahma gurur vishnu (Guru stotram)
We had our children who led the shlokas. Some children are new to balavihar. So we asked for volunteers to video recording of shloka and posting in our class whatsapp group. We would like them to chant slowly and clearly and then post it to the group.
( Om Sahanavavatu - Anika
Vakratunda Mahakaya Renon
Saraswati Namastubyam - Mihika
Gurur Brahma Gurur vishnu - Siya)
2. Dhyana Shloka - Buddhir balam
3. Discussion : We recapped the meaning of Buddhi and Balam. Then we talked about the 3rd quality of Hanumanji Yasas.
a. All children came with someone they knew who were famous - Children talked about Presidents - George Washington, Abraham Lincoln. Social reformers - Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks. Sports personalities and Musicians.
b. Then we discussed what kind of qualities led them to fame and the children came up with Hardwork, Perseverence, Passion and Focus.
c. We discussed if famous people could also be famous for something bad they did and how they would become famous but that is not what we should be...example that some bad people crashed into twin towers and they also became famous. We need to be famous by being great in what we do or what we do to better the lives of others.
4. Story Telling - We talked about Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda and Mahatma Gandhi and how they were just ordinary people who became famous because of what they did for others.
Mahatma Gandhi : Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a Indian lawyer in South Africa when he encountered discrimination. Then he saw how all the locals and Indian immigrants were discriminated against by the Britishers who colonised South Africa. This led him to fight for the rights of Indians and local south africans. He then realised he needed to do the same for his own people as India had the same problem in India under British rule. So, he came back to India and opposed every law that British rule brought about in a non violent way going into hunger strikes, getting in the civil disobedience movement and how he motivated and led the country men to independence from British rule. He was an inspiration for Martin Luther King.
Swami Chinmayananda: Swami Chinmayananda was an intelligent journalist and he was from the Indian state of Kerala known as Balakrishna Menon. He was a playful child and never focussed during pujas and enjoyed playing games like many of us. As a young man he was not a believer of god and he had an idea that all the sadhus were fake. So, he went to Varanasi to write an article and expose the Sadhus. But as he went he met with Swami Shivananda and got inspired. He did not want to come back as he wanted to learn more and he also went on to meet Swami Tapovanji Maharaj. As he learnt more he felt the need to disperse knowledge to all the Indians (mainly English educated who did not believe) and children (who are the future of society). He came back from the Himalayas and started Gita Yagnas preaching in English our scriptures. He also established Balavihars for children all over the world. He wanted to spread the knowledge to all as a teacher. Today we have thousands of chinmaya mission centers all over the world spreading our knowledge because of his vision.
5. Bhajan - We then learnt a new Saraswati Bhajan
6. Circle time - We discussed Navratri on how it is celebrated differently in different parts of India. We talked about Golu and Haldi Kumkum in South, Garba and Dandia in the West with fasting for 9 days, Durga puja(Maa durga being prayed along with Saraswati, Lakshmi, Ganesha and Karthikeya) in the East and Ravan Dahan in the North of killing 10 bad qualities of Ravana in North India.
7. We then proceeded to the temple for
a. Gita Chanting : Swamijis video was played and we all learnt the first 2 verses of 3rd chapter Bhagavad Gita ((88) Verses 1-2 Ch.3 BG - YouTube . Please play the video at home so the children can learn)
b. Saraswati Puja :All children did Saraswati Puja
c. Pledge: We concluded the day with Pledge.
We look forward to meeting you next Sunday.
Pranaam,
Meena and Ramya
