This report covers two classes in November, 2022
Hari Om! Parents,
We started class with the beginning prayers followed by Sri Rama dhyana shloka and the chanting of Sri Rama nama ramayanam.
We then did our meditation by first trying to calm our mind by watching our breath and then recited the mantra ' Om namah Sivaya'.
We continued our story of the Ramayana from the episode of Sri Rama and his brothers along with their wives returning to Ayodhya after their marriage. Sri Rama was then declared king and everyone was happy. Seeing this the Gods in heaven became worried that Rama would no longer be interested in killing Ravana. They approached Goddess Saraswathi. She thought of a unique scheme by coming to earth in search of a person whose intellect could be twisted against Rama. She found Kaikeyi's maid Manthara who could be manipulated to plant a seed of discontent against Rama. Manthara then approached Kaikeyi and poisoned her mind. She reminded her of her two boons and suggested that this was the perfect time to use them.
Manthara suggested that she should ask the king to make Bharatha the king and Rama should be sent to the forest for 14 years. Kaikeyi reluctantly agrees. King Dasharatha on hearing this is shaken and filled with sorrow . He begs her not to do this.
We then told the story of Shravan Kumar whose parents were killed by Dasaharatha by accident. The king had to pay for his mistake.
When Rama comes to know about Kaikeyi's conditions he happily and readily agrees to go to the forest. He was delighted as he could be in the company of the sages in the forest. When Sita and Lakshmana hear of this they also take permission from Rama to accompany him to the forest. Dasharatha is heart broken but he is bound by his promise to Kaikeyi. He reluctantly grants his permission to Rama to leave for the forest. The citizens of Ayodhya follow Rama, Sita and Lakshmana to the forest.
During the first day they rest beside the river Ganga where they are met by the king of the boatmen Guha. Rama asks Guha to help them cross the river in the early hours of the next morning without the knowledge of the people of Ayodhya who had followed them. The people then sadly returned home.
We then talked about the values from the story.
The Manthara and Kaikeyi story teaches us to be influenced by evil people by using our intellect to judge such people.
Dasaharatha's story teaches that we have to reap the results of our actions. Talked about karma and karma phala.
We talked of Rama's samatva bhava. The Lord was unaffected in pleasant and unpleasant situations. We should also try to remain calm when we encounter difficult situations.
For our last class Mahit, a JCHYK student, visited our class. He told the story of Sita's resolve to follow Rama to the forest as she felt it was her duty to be with her husband during difficult situations. Mahit conducted a jeopardy game with questions from the Ramayana. The children participated very well and could answer most of the questions. Thank you Mahit!
Our class led the Arathi and pledge at the temple.
Our next Balavihar class is on December 2nd.
Pranams
Nirmala and Mythili
