Hari Om Parents
We started our class with Likhitha Jaapa, followed by our daily prayers and Ganesh Pancharatnam. We started to learn Nirvana Shatakam by Aadi sankaracharya, we have distributed to all the kids print outs of the same. We learnt 4 stanzas out of the 6, kindly request all parents to help children in learning and also please make them practice at home.
Please note we have a Shlokathon,Bhajanotsavam competitions and chinmaya kaalarangam, we would encourage parents to register children for the same. The competitions help the kids to earn points for themselves and their houses as well.
Register for the Shlokathon event - https://bit.ly/Shlokathon23
Register for the Bhajanotsavam Contest - https://bit.ly/bvbhajan
Chinmaya KaalaRangam- to Showcase the talent in classical music/dance/instrumental music.
Register https://bit.ly/3kRjcmK
We continued to discuss India the sacred land.
Indian Flag: - we call it tricolor flag or tiranga, it has 3 main colors Orange (for bravery), White (for peace), and Green (for fertile lands and greenery). The Asoka chakra in the middle of the flag.
National Emblem:- The emblem features four Asiatic lions standing back to back, symbolizing power, courage, confidence, and faith. The lions are mounted on a circular abacus and the abacus is mounted on a lotus. The wheel of the law, Dharma chakra, is in the center of the abacus. The wheel has 24 spokes, which symbolize the progress and evolution of human civilization. The motto "Satyameva Jayate" ("truth alone triumphs").
National Bird:- Peacock.
National Animal:-- Royal Bengal Tiger
National Fruit:-- Mango- mango is called the king of fruits.
National Tree:-- Banyan tree, how the banyan tree looks, its roots go from top towards the bottom and how big and huge they are.
National flower:- Lotus, lotus even though it is a midst of water not a water droplet lets it sink down and affect the way the beautiful flower is.
We discussed king Asoka and why he was great. Asoka was Mauryan king and grandson of Chandragupta Mauryan, he fought many wars and expanded his kingdom. In one of the battles, the Kalinga war he fought so fiercely that he killed thousands of people and later won the war. The morning after the war when he went to see what he conquered he was astonished by the devastation he had caused. Having been brought face to face with the consequences of war, for the first time he felt overwhelmed with the brutality of his actions. He experienced an utter crisis of faith during this period and sought penance for his past deeds. He vowed never to practice violence again and devoted himself completely to Buddhism. Asoka was considered a great ruler due to his administration, he practiced Dharma, and Dharma is a way of life not a religion. Asoka spread his messages of public interest throughout his kingdoms by erecting stupas or pillars. This was one of the means through which he was able to reach a wide audience. He left a lasting historical record. He is remembered as a model ruler, controlling a vast and diverse Mauryan empire through peace and respect, with dharma at the center of his ideology.
We concluded with our Gita chanting, we learnt new verses 15-16. It was about time to leave for our Aarthi to the prayer hall. Our classes turn to perform the Aarthi and pledge.
With pranams,
Shivram and Anuradha
Resources to learn:-
Ganesha Pancharatnam
https://youtu.be/Oyo0FWP9fB8 (play at speed of 0.75)
Nirvana Shatakam/ Athmashtakam
https://youtu.be/UrZUQh6SpcQ (Sri Sri) - slow, lyrics clear pronunciation
https://youtu.be/PeKIzYPDlYs
https://youtu.be/7MooNhXCbHA - a peppy version, suitable once the lyrics are mastered.
