Hari Om Parents!
Here is the Summary of what we covered in the past two Balavihar classes (Jan 8th & Jan 22nd):
- We started the class with opening prayer. We chanted 3 OMs and Sahana Vavatu.
- We also chanted Vakratunda Mahakaya, Saraswati namastubhyam and Guru Brahma shlokas.
- We sang Atmarama AnandaRamana and we completed the remaining lines in the Bhajan. Please refer to the My Prayers Book - Page 143 and have them sing to you.
- We chanted the Guru Stotram - Verse 1, 2 & 3 verses- refer My prayers Book page 61. Please have them practice.
- Also we chanted Stotram about Bhumidevi. "Samudravasane devi Parvatastanamandale" please refer my prayer book page 11 - Stotram 2.
- We warmed up with jumping jack exercise.
- Then two teams ( Team Rama vs Team Sita) were formed to play a quiz to recap the Ramayana characters, places from beginning to till what they learnt so far. Both teams did their best. Team Rama scored 50 points and Team Sita scored 40 points. kids had ups and downs during their turn. But overall we all had fun with it. 😊
- Then We continued the Ramayana story with after King Dasaratha's passed away how Bharata and Satrughna were informed to come from Kekeya desam( Mother Kaikeyi's father kingdom) to Ayodhya. Brothers were not informed about Rama exile or Dasaratha's death. Sometime truth can be handled such a way not to disrupt the community and people until they need to know.
- Continued the next sequence of events as when Bharata and Satrughna reached Ayodhya how they felt when they find what had happened and their action to it.
- After King Dasaratha's final rituals, when Bharata was asked to take up the throne, he refused and said this kingdom belongs to Sri Rama. So please pardon me not obeying all of you. I want to go to the forest and bring Sri Rama back to rule the kingdom.
- When everyone heard they admired Bharata for his love and devotion towards Sri Rama and accepted to go with him to forest. Almost the entire Ayodhya city went to forest to meet Rama, Lakshmana and Sita.
- When Bharata reached the forest from distance Lakshmana saw and told Rama that Bharata is coming with army to kill us. Rama laughed and said Lakshmana what happened to you. How could you tell that about our brothers?. By hearing Lakshmana felt ashamed and accepted his mistake.
- When Bharata and Satrughna met Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, they paid their respects and Rama hugged them to show his love.
- Then Rama looked at others and showed his respect to all. And asked how is father doing?. That's when Bharata and Rishi Vasishta informed of king death and said they are here to make Rama as king and take them to go back to Ayodhya.
- Rama was fainted when he heard Dasaratha is no more. Later Rama and Lakshmana were asked to perform the last rituals. After that Bharata said to Rama the kingdom belong to you and you should accept the throne to come with us. Rama explained his Dharma to his father and clearly said he can't come back before 14 years. Finally Vasishta came up an idea to take Rama's paduka by Bharata to rule the country. Bharata kept the Rama's Paduka in his head with Rama's blessing to return to Ayodhya.
- In the forest Citrakuta Rama said to Sita and Lakshmana that he does not want to stay here anymore as he sees Bharata and Satrughna everywhere and also if they stay here people of Ayodhya can visit more often as it's close by Ayodhya. So they decided to go deeper inside the forest. When they went deeper they met Rishi Atri and his wife Anasuya and got their blessings. Sita got jewels and silk as gift from Anasuya.
- Then they went further inside the Dandaka forest which so dark and filled with any creatures. On the way suddenly one Raksasa named Viradha appeared and took Sita and ran away. Now Rama and Lakshmana followed him to release Sita. When finally Viradha fell down, Rama placed his leg near his neck that's when Viradha said Sri Rama I know who you are? I am waiting for you to release me from this demon body to go to Gandharva lokha as I am Gandharva cursed to be a demon here.
- After releasing Viradha, they went deeper inside where they met Rishi Sarabhanga and Rishi Sutiksna. Rama was blessed with all the tapas from them and Rishi Sutiksna asked them to go meet with Rishi Agastya.
- We stopped there and gave homework to write 20 names or places from Ramayana which they have learned so far. They can refer coloring book Lesson 1 to 14 to get names if they couldn't remember. Please encourage them to share the story as they write names.
- Finally did closing prayer and went to arati.
Pranams
Subha and Selvi
