Hari Om Parents!
Here is the Summary of what we covered in the past Balavihar class(Jan 29th):
1. We started the class with opening prayer. We chanted 3 OMs and Sahana Vavatu.
2. We also chanted Vakratunda Mahakaya, Saraswati namastubhyam and Guru Brahma shlokas.
3. 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.
4. We chanted the Guru Stotram - Verse 1, 2 & 3 verses- refer My prayers Book page 61. Please have them practice.
5. We did some yoga poses to warm up.
6. We did Geeta chanting Chapter - 3 ( Verse 1 - 6). Please use the below link Swamiji chanting videos to practice with kids:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Eylejch4kR0&list=PLwv-WSJSokEMjzRiL_CQC--igySyIgJqA&index=2 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Eylejch4kR0&list=PLwv-WSJSokEMjzRiL_CQC--igySyIgJqA&index=2)
7. We did meditation to bring mind quietness and concentration. Some kids were little restless during that time. After the meditation, we explained again why and how it helps us.
8. Then we started the Ramayana story with recap of last week and moved to the next stories about Sage Agastya 1) Agastya & his Journey to South India during Siva & Parvati marriage 2) Agastya & Raksasa brothers - Vatapi and Ilvala to highlight the Tapas power of Agastya and how great he was. When Rama, Sita and Lakshmana met Sage Agastya, Agastya blessed them and gave a bow Visvakarma made for lord Vishnu. Since Agastya knew who Rama was and why he took this avatar, he gave the bow as well two quivers of arrows and two swords.
9. Sage Agastya adviced them to go to Pancavati and set up ashram to spend rest of their stay.
10. The brothers and Sita reached Pancavati which is located near River Godavari; beautiful surroundings with trees, flowery bushes and birds, fruits and different roots. Bharata made a hut with bamboo sticks, stone and mud. Rama admired his craftsmanship. Those days even price and princess learn very basic skills to live a life without always seeking help from another. We highlighted this to the kids to indicate basic life skills are also important to learn.
11. One day they three were sitting under the big tree and enjoying the nature that time a lady came out from behind a bush dressed with silk and jewelry and reached Rama to introduce herself: Story of Surpanaka was shared with kids and explained how she ended with hurting herself because of her misbehavior with Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. Highlighted the moral of story that we should know what to talk and what not to talk with people around us otherwise we will end up like Surpanaka "Nose cut".
12. Finally ended the class with closing prayer and went to arati.
13. Please have the kids to complete the homework of writing names and places from Ramayana until now what has been taught. Only one kid brought the homework last week.
Pranams
Subha and Selvi
