Nov 18, 2022 - Grade 6 (Friday)

Hari Om Parents, 




Please find the below update from our class on Friday Nov 18th, 2022.

 

Class began with Opening Prayers  - 3 OMs, followed by the chanting of Sahana Vavatu. Then invoked the blessings of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Saraswati and all our Gurus, by chanting..

Śri Ganeshaya Namah!

Śhri Saraswathyai Namah!

Śhri Sad-Gurubhyo Namah!




Kindly encourage the kids to memorize these and recite them at appropriate times throughout the day. Thus instilling in them, not just the learning part but to put all that they learn, into practice in their daily routine.





Shlokas: ( My Prayers Book)

 

We recited  the Daily Prayers ( page#11) in the order of:

•    Karagre Vasate

•    Samudra Vasane

•    Gange cha Yamune

•    Sarasvati Namastubhyam

•    Brahmaarpanam

•    Shubham Karoti

•    Kara-charana-krtam vak

We proceeded to learn the Devi Dhyana Shloka (page #39). We also recited Mahalakshmi Ashtakam (page 40) verses 1- 6 in the class. We then continued with our Mahabharata review.

Mahabharata Summary

When the Pandavas were camping in Upaplavya, they sent emissaries to all friendly rulers and soon they had a mighty force of seven divisions. The Kauravas collected an army of eleven divisions.

Drupada's brahmana messenger arrived in Hastinapura. He gave a detailed account of all the injustices rendered to the Pandavas and stated that they were equally entitled to their father's property. He also mentioned that the Pandavas desired peace and were unwilling to resort to war. To give the Pandavas what rightfully belonged to them would be in accordance both with justice and with the agreement previously reached.

After this appeal of the messenger, Bhishma agreed that to restore them to their property was the right thing to do. This angered Karna who stood up and accused the messenger and spoke ill of the Pandavas. Karna added that if Yudhishthira wanted to claim anything of a property, he should beg for it as a gift, since he had lost all the property at the dice game. Bhishma intervened and warned Karna that if they did not do as the messenger had informed, war would bring destruction to the Kauravas. At this point, Dhritarashtra intervened and asked Sanjaya to go as a messenger to the Pandavas on his behalf to secure the avoidance of war.

Sanjaya's message was that Yudhishthira should not abandon the supreme path of dharma even if they did not get back the kingdom and a kingdom won after killing their own relatives would not reap any good or gaining the whole earth bounded by the ocean, old age and death were inescapable. He also added that Duryodhana and his brother were fools but that was no reason why Yudhishthira should lose patience. On hearing these words from Sanjaya, Yudhishthira turned to Krishna to understand what dharma was, as Krishna wished both sides well.

Krishna said that he desired the welfare of the Pandavas and wanted the Kauravas to be happy. He decided to go to Hastinapura to obtain peace from the Kauravas on terms which did not conflict with the welfare of the Pandavas.

Yudhishthira asked Sanjaya to convey the message to Dhritarashtra that he preferred peace and that they should not be denied of their share of the kingdom. He also asked Sanjaya to remind Duryodhana of all the insults and hardships they had to bear patiently. They were willing to forget everything and to give them back what lawfully belonged to them. At the least Duryodhana should give them 5 villages. Sanjaya took leave of Krishna and the Pandavas and went back to Hastinapura.

After he had sent Sanjaya to the Pandavas, Dhritarashtra, filled with anxiety, spent the night with Vidura talking to him. Vidura counseled him to give the Pandavas their share of the kingdom and to treat them as his own sons. The next morning Sanjaya returned to Hastinapura and gave a full account of what had taken place in Yudhishthira's court. Sanjaya mentioned that Arjuna wanted Duryodhana to know that along with Krishna, he would destroy Duryodhana and his followers. His Gandiva was impatient for war.

Bhishma counseled Dhritarashtra against opposing the combined might of Arjuna and Krishna. Bhishma said that Karna was not equal to a sixteenth part of the Pandavas and reminded of instances where Karna was unable to help Duryodhana either during the battle with the Gandharva king or during the attack on Virata's capital.

Dhritarashtra knew that what Bhishma and Vidura had counseled was the right thing to do, but he felt helpless as his sons would not listen to him.

Duryodhana, who had been listening to all this, asked his father not to worry about them or doubt their victory.  He said that Yudhishthira was scared that they have eleven divisions and hence was begging for five villages. Dhritarashtra again mentioned to Duryodhana not to have war, but to be satisfied with half the kingdom. Duryodhana became furious and mentioned that the Pandavas would not receive even a needle point of territory and left the court.

After Sanjaya left Upaplavya for Hastinapura, the Pandavas divined what was in Dhritarashtra's mind. Dhritarashtra was trying to secure peace without giving them any territory. Although Yudhishthira made an offer that they would be content with only five villages, he knew that the Kauravas would refuse even that. They realized that crisis was approaching and surrendered to Krishna to guide them in dharma and statesmanship.

Even the mighty Bhima wanted peace. But Draupadi was unable to forget her humiliation. Krishna consoled and promised her that she would see the Pandavas victorious, and the insult done to her fully avenged.

Krishna for the good of both the Pandavas and Kauravas decided to go to Hastinapura to secure the Pandavas rights without war. Yudhishthira was concerned about Krishna's safety and requested not to go. Krishna knew that the wicked Duryodhana would stop at nothing and asked the Pandavas not to be concerned about his safety for if the Kauravas gave any threat of bodily harm, they would be reduced to ashes. Krishna mentioned that he should make all attempts at a peaceful solution to give the world no cause to accuse them of not having done everything possible to avert war. Thus saying, Krishna took leave of the Pandavas and set off in his chariot to Hastinapura.

Satyaki accompanied Krishna to Hastinapura. Dhritarashtra had arranged Duhsasana's palace for the disposal of Krishna. When Krishna arrived at Hastinapura, he first went to Dhritarashtra's palace and then proceeded to Vidura's house. Duryodhana welcomed Krishna and invited him for dinner, but Krishna refused to eat until his mission was fulfilled. Declining Duryodhana's invitation, he returned to Vidura's house where he rested.

The next morning, Duryodhana and Sakuni came to Krishna and informed him that Dhritarashtra was waiting for him. Krishna went with Vidura to the court. After the initial introductions were over, Krishna explained the object of his visit. He made clear what the Pandavas wanted. He asked Dhritarashtra not to bring ruin to his people. He added that the Pandavas were prepared for war, but they desired peace. They wished to live in happiness under Dhritarashtra.

Dhritarashtra said that he desired what Krishna wanted but his sons would not listen to him. So, he asked Krishna to advise Duryodhana. Krishna turned to Duryodhana and said that as a descendent of noble line, he should pursue dharma and not resort to baseless thoughts and bring danger to his race.

Bhisma and Dhrona also repeatedly pressed Duryodhana to listen to Govinda. But Duryodhana's heart could not be softened. He became furious with everyone pressing him to agree to a peaceful solution. Duryodhana rose and said that the Pandavas of their own volition, staked their kingdom at play and being defeated, justly forfeited it and so he should not be blamed for that. He repeated that he would not give the Pandavas an inch of land, not even a needle point of it.

Krishna reminded Duryodhana that the play was fraudulently arranged in conspiracy with Sakuni and the insult that was rendered to Draupadi. Seeing that Bhishma and others were accepting Krishna's indictment of Duryodhana, the Kaurava brothers left the court in anger.

Dhritarashtra said to Vidura to bring Gandhari to the court with the hope that Duryodhana may listen to the words of his mother. When Gandhari came to court, Duryodhana was sent for. He returned and Gandhari tried everything in her power to bring him to reason, but Duryodhana refused to listen and walked out of the court.

Duryodhana and his friends had plotted to seize Krishna. News of this reached the court and Krishna who anticipated this, laughed, and disclosed his divinity. The blind Dhritarashtra, by the grace of Krishna temporarily regained his eyesight and was able to see Krishna in his Vishvarupa presence in every form. Having seen the Lord's Vishvarupa, Dhritarashtra did not wish to see anything else and asked to be blind again.

Seeing that Duryodhana was obstinate, Krishna along with Satyaki and Vidura left the court. He went to Kunti and told her what had happened. She asked Krishna to convey her blessings to her sons. They all knew that war had become a certainty.

Bhagavad Gita: Verses 5 & 6 from chapter 3 were taught and rehearsed this week, following our Swamiji, Swami Shantanandaji's chanting video. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SNwHpiAwWU&list=PLwv-WSJSokEMjzRiL_CQC--igySyIgJqA&index=3

Please have the children practice verses (read or memorize) 1 through 6 from Bhagavad Gita, chapter 3. In our next class, we will chant as a class and record the verses. The recording will be sent to earn house points.

JCHYKs visit to class

The children were excited to welcome 3 JCHYKs to our class. The JCHYKS summarized 3 chapters from Mahabharata - Sanjaya's mission, Not a needle point of Territory and Krishna's mission. After the summary, the children were divided into two groups and the JCHYKS were assigned to the groups to conduct activities with the children and help them to apply the learnings from Mahabharatha in their real life situations. 

One group conducted debate with the children playing the role of Pandavas and Kauravas and actively discussed why the Pandavas had the right to half the kingdom. The other group enacted a script written by the JCHYKs. The two groups then engaged in discussions applying the principles to real life. The JCHYKs moderated the discussions really well and helped the children understand the importance of dharma, speaking the truth, not being greedy, and treating others fairly. It was great to see all the kids actively participate in the discussions.

Aarathi: We assembled at the main prayer hall for aarathi and concluding prayers.

Please have the children do their daily prayers regularly and also practice the ślokas and Gita chanting.

Thank you! See you back on Friday Dec 2nd, 2022.

Pranāms,

Viji Lakshmi Hari and Anupama Sivakumar 

Friday Grade 6 sevikas