Hari Om Parents,
Please find the below update from our class on Friday April 14th, 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 - 10).
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:A father's grief
Yudhishthira was beyond grief with the death of Abhimanyu. He was lamenting that he who overcame Drona, Aswatthama, and Duryodhana and who was like a destroying force to the enemy was cruelly killed by the Kauravas. He was questioning what else remained for them to fight this war or want the kingdom. In his desire for victory, he pushed the young boy to the battle front. In the absence of his father, Yudhishthira cried that he should have protected Abhimanyu, but now he became the reason for his death. He did not know how he could comfort Arjuna or bear the news to Subhadra. The warriors all around Yudhishthira were silent in sorrowful thought of the valor of the youthful hero and his cruel death.
It was a custom with Vyasa that whenever the Pandavas were in great sorrow, to come and comfort them. He was their great teacher and their grandsire. So, he appeared now before Yudhishthira and comforted him that knowing the nature of death, he should not let himself be lost in grief. He then narrated an incident about Brahmaji.
When Brahmaji created living things, he was soon filled with anxiety at the thought that they would multiply, and their number would be beyond the capacity of the Earth to bear. This thought grew into a flame and became bigger and bigger until it threatened to destroy all creations at once. Then Rudra pleaded to control this great fire and Brahmaji subdued it into a law that is known to the mortals as Death. This law takes many forms such as war, disease, or accident and keeps the balance between birth and death. Vyasa told Yudhishthira that it is not true wisdom to be impatient with Death.
Krishna and Arjuna were proceeding towards their camp after defeating the samsaptakas. Arjuna was feeling a great presentiment of loss and he was worried if something had happened to Yudhishthira. Krishna told him that all his brothers were safe. As they neared the camp, Arjuna's premonition of calamity increased. Abimanyu along with his brothers usually would run out to meet Arjuna and Krishna, but he did not see them or hear the usual auspicious music in the camp.
On entering the camp, Arjuna asked for Abimanyu as he had learnt that Drona had arranged the army in lotus formation. If Abimanyu had broken the formation, he knew that he would not have been able to come out as Arjuna had not instructed him on that. Seeing the mournful silence, Arjuna knew that Abimanyu was slain. He burst into a heart-broken lamentation and asked how the great warriors of his army allowed his son to be killed. He had no comfort to give Draupadi, Subhadra or Uttara.
Krishna comforted Arjuna that born as a Kshatriya they had to live and die by weapons. Abimanyu, although a boy had attained the happy regions which grey haired veterans yearn to reach in battle. Krishna encouraged him to stop grieving, otherwise all his brothers and other kings would lose heart. He should infuse courage and fortitude into the hearts of the others.
Arjuna then desired to know the full story of his brave son's end and Yudhishthira narrated the full incident and how Jayadratha had stopped them from following Abimanyu and how Abimanyu was brutally killed by the Kauravas. On hearing that Arjuna took an oath that before sunset the following day, he would slay Jayadratha. If Drona or Kripa intervened, he would kill them as well. Saying that he twanged the Gandiva string and Krishna blew the Panchajanya and they Bhima said that it was death summons for the Kauravas.
The Sindhu King
News of Arjuna's oath that Jayadratha who was responsible for Abimanyu's death would be killed before sunset the next day, reached the enemy. Here is the story of Jayadratha.
Vriddhakshatra, the king of the Sidhus was blessed with a son named Jayadratha. At the time of his birth, a voice was heard to say that that prince will be slain in a battle and will attain the happy regions above. The most illustrious warriors of all ages would sever his head from the body. Vriddhakshatra was grieved to hear this and he uttered a curse that he who will be responsible for his son's head to roll down on the ground will have his head burst at that very moment into fragments.
After Jayadratha grew up, Vriddhakshatra handed over the kingdom to the prince and retired to the forest spending his time in austerities in an ashrama near the plain, which afterwards became the Kurukshetra field of battle. When Jayadratha came to know about Arjuna's vow, he feared his death was near and he told Duryodhana that he did not want to be in the battle any longer and wanted to go back to his country. But Duryodhana promised his full support and protection and said that all the other great warriors in his army will stand between him and danger. Jayadratha finally agreed. He went to Drona, who was also his teacher and asked who was illustrious between him and Arjuna. Drona said that he had discharged his duties impartially to both Jayadratha and Arjuna. But Arjuna excelled because of his superior discipline and his own practice. He encouraged Jayadratha saying that he will be placed behind a strong force which Arjuna will not be able to pierce.
Jayadratha was placed to the rear of the main army. Bhurisravas, Karna, Aswatthama, Salya, Kripa, and Vrishasena were all there with their forces. Between them and the Pandava army, Drona arrayed the main Kaurava forces in circular formation. This was backed and supported by lotus formation. Beyond that stood Jayadratha. Drona stood at the head of the circular army.
Durmashana, one of Dhritarashtra's sons, moved forward the main army and challenged Arjuna and blew his conch. Arjuna blew his conch in answer and Krishna drove the chariot towards Durmashana. Durmashana's army was badly beaten. Seeing this, Duhsasana got angry and led a high force of elephants surrounding Arjuna. He fought Arjuna fiercely but was finally defeated and went back to join Drona's forces.
Arjuna's chariot swiftly proceeded forward and passed Drona. He told Drona that as a father grieving for his son, he sought the archarya's blessings to the fulfillment of his vow to kill Jayadratha. But Drona asked Arjuna to fight him first before he could reach Jayadratha. Drona discharged a shower of arrows and Arjuna responded back. He continued to rain a shower of arrows on Arjuna, his horses, and his chariot. Arjuna fought back but the acharya showered his arrows which covered Arjuna and his chariot in darkness.
Krishna saw things were not going well and told Arjuna not to waste time with Drona but to proceed towards Jayadratha. Drona tried to stop Arjuna saying that he should first defeat him to which Arjuna said that Drona was his guru and not his enemy and that there was no one in the world who could defeat Drona. Krishna then drove Arjuna's chariot to the left of the acharya and proceeded forward.
Then Arjuna pierced the Bhoja army. Kritavarma and Sudakshina who opposed his passage were defeated. Srutayudha tried to stop Arjuna. There was a fierce battle in which Srutayudha lost his horses. He hurled his mace at Krishna. Srutayudha's mother had obtained a divine mace because of her penance that had pleased Varuna who gave a boon that Srutayudha may not be killed by an enemy. But he should not use the weapon against one who did not fight. If he did, the weapon would recoil and kill him.
Since he hurled the mace at Krishna who did not fight in the battle, the mace hit Krishna's chest and then rebounded with full force back to Srutayudha and killed him. Then the king of Kamboja led his forces against Arjuna. After a fierce battle, the king of Kamboj fell dead on the field.
The Kaurava forces were now in confusion seeing Srutayudha and the king of Kamboja dead. Srutayu and his brother Asrutayu then attacked Partha on both sides. At one stage, Arjuna leaned against the flagstaff dazed with the wounds, but Krishna spoke words of encouragement and he resumed the fight, slaying the two brothers as well as their sons.
Arjuna now marched on killing many more warriors and successfully made his way to Jayadratha.
Borrowed Armor
When Dhritarashtra heard Sanjaya relate the success of Arjuna, he was sorrow-stricken. He realized that when Krishna came to Hastinapura for a peace settlement, the king had repeatedly told Duryodhana not to lose the great opportunity and to make peace with the Pandavas. But Duryodhana listened to the words of Karna and Duhsasana and did not yield. Drona, Bhisma, Kripa, Bhurisravas and others did not want war but Duryodhana would not listen. He got entangled in anger and hatred and invited this ruinous war.
Hearing the king's lament, Sanjaya said that there was no use regretting now. He had the chance to prevent Yudhishthira from gambling and had he done the right thing then, all this great grief would not have happened. If he had been firm and stopped Duryodhana from his evil ways, he could have avoided this calamity. Although the king saw evil, he followed the foolish advice of Karna and Sakuni. Dhritarashtra admitted his dereliction of duty. He pressed Sanjaya to tell him everything happening in the battlefield, however unpleasant it may be.
Duryodhana was greatly agitated when he saw Arjuna's chariot proceed towards Jayadratha and Drona did not stop him. He went to Drona and again rebuked him that he was helping the Pandavas. Duryodhana was now worried about the safety of Jayadratha as he had committed to not let Jayadratha leave the battlefield. If Arjuna attacked Jayadratha, he would surely be killed.
Drona, hearing Duryodhana's frantic appeal, gave a coat of armor and asked Duryodhana to wear that and to stop Arjuna. Since Arjuna had moved away, Drona said that Yudhishthira was now left unsupported by Arjuna, and it would be easy to capture him as prisoner and deliver him to Duryodhana. Hearing this, Duryodhana's confidence was restored. Bearing the new magic armor and with a large force of soldiers, Duryodhana proceeded to attack Arjuna.
Arjuna had crossed the Kaurava army and gone far ahead towards Jayadratha. Seeing the horses were fatigued, Krishna stopped the chariot and was about to unyoke the tired animals, when the brothers Vinda and Anuvinda came up suddenly and began to attack Arjuna. They were both killed, and their forces scattered. After that Krishna unyoked the chariot and let the tired horses rest. The horses rested for a while and were refreshed. Then they proceeded again according to plan.
As Duryodhana was closing in on them, Krishna asked Arjuna to prepare to fight him. Duryodhana was a great archer, well-versed in bowlore and was also a strong-limbed fighter. Duryodhana approached without fear and he provoked Arjuna to fight with him. The combat was fierce and Krishna was surprised. None of Arjuna's arrows were piercing his armor and hurting Duryodhana. Arjuna immediately knew that he was protected by the magic armor. Drona had taught him the secret of this armor. Arjuna decided to have some fun in the battle with Duryodhana. He first deprived Duryodhana of his horses, his charioteer and then his chariot. Then Arjuna broke Duryodhana's bow and disarmed him completely. Thereafter, he sent needle-like darts which pierced just those parts of Duryodhana's body that were not covered by armor, until he could no longer bear it. He then turned back and fled.
When Duryodhana was thus defeated, Krishna blew his conch, and it sent a thrill of fear in Jayadratha's army. The warriors around Jayadratha were surprised and at once got ready in their chariots. Bhurisravas, Karna, Kripa, Aswatthama, Chala, Vrishasena and Jayadratha arrayed their forces against Arjuna.
Class Reflection:The children participated actively and asked several questions. When Drona first let Arjuna go without stopping him, they had a lot of questions and wondered why Drona did that. Later when Drona told Duryodhana that he had to stay to capture Yudhishthira since Arjuna was not there now to protect him, the children marveled at Drona's strategy. They could also understand the decline of Dharma in the battlefield and how important it was to keep up the Kshatriya code.
The children will be presenting their States of India presentation on Friday, April 21st.
States of India Presentation summary:
The children picked an Indian State and they were instructed to create either a PowerPoint presentation or a poster board presentation with information on the topics listed below. The presentation should be for 3-5 minutes.
They can pick one category from the below list and personalize it as a show-and-tell within the presentation – dress up, bring a food item, unique music etc.
- Location of the State on the India map
- Festivals
- Popular food items or cuisine
- Clothing or attire
- Temples
- Popular local sports
- Official State language and greeting in that language – "Hello"
- Music and dance
- Agricultural crops
- Famous figures of the State
- Historic, Scenic Landmarks
- Fun facts
Aarathi: We assembled at the main prayer hall for aarathi and concluding prayers.
Please have the children do their daily prayers regularly and also practice the ślokas and Gita chanting.
Thank you! See you back on Friday April 21st, 2023.
Pranāms,
Viji Lakshmi Hari and Anupama SivakumarFriday Grade 6 sevikas
