Hari Om Parents,
Please find the below update from our class on Friday Mar 17th, 2023.
Class began with Opening Prayers - 3 OMs, followed by the chanting of Sahana Vavatu. Then invoked the blessings of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Saraswati and all our Gurus, by chanting..
Śri Ganeshaya Namah!
Śhri Saraswathyai Namah!
Śhri Sad-Gurubhyo Namah!
Shlokas: ( My Prayers Book)
We recited the Daily Prayers ( page#11) in the order of:
• Karagre Vasate
• Samudra Vasane
• Gange cha Yamune
• Sarasvati Namastubhyam
• Brahmaarpanam
• Shubham Karoti
• Kara-charana-krtam vak
We then recited the Devi Dhyana Shloka (page #39). We also recited Mahalakshmi Ashtakam (page 40)
We then proceeded to learn to chant the MahishasuraMardini Stotram (verses 1 - 6).
Kindly encourage the kids to memorize these and recite them at appropriate times throughout the day. Thus instilling in them, not just the learning part but to put all that they learn, into practice in their daily routine.
Mahabharata Summary:When the eighth day dawned, Bhishma arrayed his army in tortoise formation. The Pandava forces were arrayed in a three-pronged formation. Bhima was at the head of one prong, Satyaki of another, and Yudhishthira at the crest of the middle division. Our ancestors had developed the science of war well. It was preserved by tradition in the families of Kshatriya. The principles and the secrets of warfare and the science and art of the use of military weapons were handed down from generation to generation by tradition and personal instruction.
Bhima killed eight of Dhritarashtra's sons early in the battle that day. Duryodhana's heart quailed before this. Arjuna had a great bereavement in this day's battle. His dear son Iravan was killed. This son of Arjuna by his Naga wife had come and joined the Pandava forces at Kurukshetra. Duryodhana sent his friend, the rakshasa Alambasa, to oppose the Naga warrior. Iravan was slain after a fierce fight. When Arjuna heard this, he broke down completely before Krishna and questioned the need for war just for the sake of property, but he continued fighting only because men would otherwise think he was a coward. Seeing Iravan killed, Ghatotkacha uttered a loud war-cry and with his division, fell upon the Kaurava army ferociously. The Kaurava formation was broken. Seeing this, Duryodhana personally led an attack on Bhima's son. The king of Vanga joined Duryodhana with his elephants. Duryodhana fought most bravely on this eighth day of the battle. He killed a great number of warriors on Ghatotkacha's side. Ghatotkacha hurled a javelin which would have ended Duryodhana's career but for the Vanga chief's prompt intervention with one of his elephants. The missile hit the beast which fell dead and Duryodhana was saved. Bhishma was anxious about Duryodhana and sent a large force under Drona to support the Kaurava prince. So tumultuous and fierce was the fight at this sector of the battle that Yudhishthira feared for Ghatotkacha's safety and sent Bhimasena in his aid. Then the battle became even fiercer than before. Sixteen of Duryodhana's brothers perished on this day.
On the morning of the ninth day, before the battle began, Duryodhana was upset with the grandsire. He gave vent to his bitter feelings of disappointment over the way the battle was going. He uttered words which were like the sharp spears and pained the grandsire greatly. The grandsire was patient and said he was doing his utmost for him. He said that Duryodhana was now reaping the harvest of the hatred he deliberately sowed. He added that it was not possible for him to fight Sikhandin, for he could never raise his hand against a woman. Nor could he kill the Pandavas. Duryodhana was heartened. He sent for Duhsasana and said to him that Bhishma should not be exposed to Sikhandin's attacks. There was a great fight between Abhimanyu and Alambasa. There were fierce battles between Satyaki and Aswatthama and between Drona and Arjuna. All the Pandavas attacked the grandsire, but Bhishma fought furiously and beat the Pandavas back.
The Pandava forces were thoroughly demoralized. Krishna told Arjuna not to hesitate to kill the grandsire. Krishna drove the chariot towards Bhishma. Arjuna's heart was not in the fight against Bhishma for he preferred to be in exile in the forest than kill the grandsire and the teachers he loved. Bhishma's arrows came thick and fast and covered the advancing chariot so completely that neither horses nor vehicles could be seen. Krishna was unperturbed and drove on with circumspection and skill. Arjuna's shafts hit Bhishma's bow and shattered it many times. But the grandsire went on renewing his weapon. Krishna saw that Arjuna was not fighting as he should and so jumped from the chariot taking up his discus. He advanced towards the grandsire. Bhishma saw Vasudeva approaching and welcomed him for he knew it would be a privilege to die at the hands of the Lord.
Arjuna jumped down from the chariot and, rushing forward overtook and held Krishna, casting both his arms round him. He asked Krishna not to break his promise to not use weapons in the battle. Arjuna promised that he will not fail and will send his arrows and kill the beloved grandsire himself. Arjuna took Krishna back and the battle was resumed. The Pandava forces had been handled roughly, but now the sun was down in the west and the fighting ended for the day.
It was the tenth day of the battle. Keeping Sikhandin in front of him. Arjuna attacked Bhishma. When Sikhandin's darts pierced his breast, sparks flew from the grandsire's eyes. For a moment the old warrior's anger rose like flaming fire and his eyes glared as if to consume Sikhandin. But, at once, the grandsire restrained himself. He decided not to be provoked into lighting Sikhandin, who was born a woman and to strike whom it seemed unworthy of a warrior. He knew, however, his end was near and calmed himself. Sikhandin went on discharging his arrows, not minding the battle of emotions in his opponent's mind. Arjuna also steeled his heart, and from behind Sikhandin aimed arrows at the weak points in Bhishma's armour, even while the grandsire stood still. Bhishma smiled as the arrows continued to come down thick on him, and turning to Duhsasana, said that they were Arjuna's arrows.
Bhishma took up a javelin and hurled it at Arjuna. Arjuna met it with three arrows which cut it to pieces, even as it was speeding through the air. Bhishma then decided to end the combat and made as if to dismount from his chariot, sword and shield in hand, but before he could do so, his shield was cut to pieces by Arjuna's arrows. With arrows sticking all over his body so thickly that there was not even an inch of intervening space, Bhishma fell headlong to the ground from his chariot. As he fell, the gods, who looked on from above, folded their hands in reverent salutation and a gentle breeze, laden with fragrance and cool raindrops, swept over the battlefield. Thus fell the great and good Bhishma, the son of Ganga. As the grandsire fell, the hearts of the Kauravas also fell along with him.
Bhishma's body did not touch the ground, on account of the arrows sticking out all over his body. Both armies ceased fighting and all the warriors came running and crowded round the great hero, who lay on his bed of arrows. To support Bhishma's head, the princes' who stood nearby ran and brought cushions. The old warrior rejected them with a smile and, turning towards Arjuna, said to give him a cushion befitting a warrior. When Arjuna heard those words addressed to him, he took three arrows out of his quiver and placed them so that the grandsire's head found support on their points. Bhishma was satisfied and he said that he would lie until the sun turned North. His soul would not depart till then.
Then the grandsire turned again to Arjuna and said that he was tormented with thirst and wanted some drinking water. At once, Arjuna raised his bow, and drawing it to the ear, shot a shaft down into the earth near the grandsire on his right side. Up the opening made by the arrow, there gushed a stream of pure sweet water to the very lips of the dying man. Ganga came up, says the poet, to quench her dear son's burning thirst. Bhishma drank and was happy. Bhishma again reminded Duryodhana to make peace with the Pandavas and end the war. The grandsire's words did not please Duryodhana. Even when dying, the patient does not like medicine. He objects to the bitter taste. All the princes retired to their camps.When Karna learnt that Bhishma lay wounded and dying, he immediately rushed to the battlefield. With all humility he addressed himself as Radha's son who had incurred great displeasure of the grandsire and prostrated at his feet. Bhishma gently placed his head on Karna's head and blessed him. He told Karna that he was Kunti's son, the son of Surya bhagavan and not Radha's son. He also mentioned that he had no dislike for him, but grieved the fact that Karna hated the Pandavas. Bhishma advised Karna to make friends with the Pandavas and assume his role as their brother. He wanted war to end with him.
But Karna, respectfully refused to join the Pandavas. Having eaten Duryodhana's salt, he should be true to Duryodhana and not go over to the Pandavas now. He wanted to repay the debt with his life and sought Bhishma's blessings in the war. Bhishma gave his blessings to lead Duryodhana's forces to success. Even as Bhishma lay in the battlefield, the Kauravas resumed the war. When the Kaurava army saw Karna enter the battlefield, they were filled with renewed enthusiasm including Duryodhana.
Duryodhana and Karna held counsel as to who should be their supreme commander of the forces. All the kings and princes who were fighting on their side had great strength, valor, skill and wisdom. So selecting one would anger the others. So they decided to select Dronacharya as their supreme commander. Duryodhana approached Drona and with great humility and respect requested him to accept the supreme command. The assembled kings also consented with this proposal. Drona was installed in due form amidst thunderous acclamation. Everyone was confident in Drona's leadership.
Drona arrayed the army in circular formation. Karna was now seen moving about in the battlefield and this brought new courage and joy into the hearts of the Kaurava soldiers. Drona was in command for five days. During that time, wherever he led an attack, the Pandava forces suffered greatly. He fought with Satyaki, Bhima, Arjuna, Abhimanya and other Pandava leaders and defeated them on several occasions.
Bhagavad Gita: Verses 26, 27 from chapter 3 were taught and rehearsed this week, following our Swamiji, Swami Shantanandaji's chanting video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWTl_NiEU84&list=PLwv-WSJSokEMjzRiL_CQC--igySyIgJqA&index=13
Class Reflection:Then and NowThe children were intrigued by the war strategy and the weapons used by the warriors during the war. They compared it to modern day warfare and discussed it in length. We continued our discussion on the different army formations as the children seemed to be really interested in understanding that. The principles and the secrets of warfare and the science and art of the use of military weapons were preserved by tradition in the families of Kshatriya.
Aarathi: We assembled at the main prayer hall. There was a monthly program by the third graders, followed by pledge.
Please have the children do their daily prayers regularly and also practice the ślokas and Gita chanting.
Thank you! See you back on Friday March 24th, 2023.
Pranāms,
Viji Lakshmi Hari and Anupama SivakumarFriday Grade 6 sevikas
