Hari Om Dear Parents,
Update of class : 4th Nov 2022
Started our class with Likhikta Japa and opening Prayers.
We then practiced Gita Dhyanam, first 5 verses. The text is in our BV handbook.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MoHkaBrCFw - Please play at home/car and ask kids to listen from 1min 50 secs.
Recap:
As part of recapping last class' lessons, we quizzed kids on the topics of Yato Dharmah Tato Jayah.
Lesson: Yato Dharmah Tato Jayah
We continued with our story.
Princess Kunti was a shishya of Sage Dhurvasa. Dhurvasa was pleased by Kunti and blessed her with a mantra - mantra that will give her children. Kunti was curious and tried that mantra with Surya Bhagavad in mind. She was blessed with a glowing child, who later in the story is called Karna. Kunti was terrified since she was not married. She put the child in a basket and set it afloat in a river.
Lesson learnt : Have faith in saint's words and our scriptures
Since the older son Dhrtrashtra was blind, Pandu was made the King of Hastinapura. Pandu married Kunti and Maadri. One day while hunting, Pandu killed a Sage who was disguised as a deer. The sage cursed Pandu that he would die if he ever became intimate with his wives. Saddened, Pandu left with his wives to the forest. Kunti used her mantra again and had Yudhistra (son of Dharma), Bheema (son of Vayu), Arjuna (son of Indira). Kunti taught the mantra to Maadri. Maadri used it with Ashwanikumaras and twins Nakula and Sahadeva. After Pandu and Maadri's death, Kunti took all 5 kids to Hastinapura
Princess Gandhari, having learnt the condition of Dhrtrastra, blindfolded herself before marriage. Her reasoning was that she didn't want to enjoy anything that her husband wasn't able to. She bore a big lump of flesh as a child. Sage VedaVyasa divided them into 100 equal parts which ultimately resulted in the birth of Kauravas. Duryodhana, the mighty and cunning, was the eldest of the Kauravas.
Kauravas always were greedy of Pandavas and fought with them. They tried to destroy Pandavas and every attempt to destroy them only made them stronger. For eg, when Bheema was poisoned and thrown in a bed of snakes, he was blessed by the Serpent King Vasuki with mighty strength.
Lesson learnt : Gandhari could have been the eyes of Dhrtrashtra and guided him whenever Kauravas committed Adharma. Never take decisions emotionally.
Lesson learnt : Kauravas forgot the laws of Karma and performed Adharmic actions. They had to ultimately face the results of it.
In another attempt, Dhuryodhana gifted Lac palace (made out of a material that will burn to ashes in no time) to the Pandavas. Since Yudhistra doubted Kauravas intention, he built an escape route. When the lac palace was set on fire, Pandavas escaped.
Lesson : Be alert. Kauravas could not have changed their vasanas overnight.
After escaping from the lac palace, they wandered through the forest and went to the Swayamvara of Draupadi. The challenge was to shoot the fish that was revolving by looking only at its reflection. Arjuna won the challenge, married Draupadi and brought her home to introduce to Kunti. Kunti without looking at the surprise, asked her kids to share amongst themselves.
Lesson : Kunti should have looked first. Look, think and then say.
It was our turn to lead Aarti and Pledge in the hall today.
Bhagavad Gita Chanting :
Kids continued to chant Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 3 - verses 3 and 4). They repeated after Swamiji's recorded verses.
Next Class : Please note we are off due to NJ Teachers convention on Nov 11th. Our next class is on Nov 18th 2022.
Thanks and Hari Om
Purnima and Shankar
