Hari Om! Parents,
Please note Bala Vihar will be on spring break, there is no class on April 9th.
Week 20 Class The children were given pictures of Lord Rama to stick in their red notebooks and they did their Rama Nama likhita japa. They covered the entire page with "Rama" and "Jai Sri Ram".
Shlokas
Om chanting 3 times, Sahana vavatu, Vakratunda mahakaya, Saraswati namastubhyam, Guru Brahma, Sarva Mangala Mangalye (ref. My Prayers book pg 39).
We chanted the entire Mahalakshmi Ashtakam and 1-10 verses of Mahishasura Mardini Stotram (ref. My Prayers book pg. 47).
Geeta Chanting
Geeta Chanting Yagna registrations are now open. Details are shared on the parent WhatsApp group. Grade 6 is in the Partha group, and is assigned verses 1-30 this year. We did a review of verses 1-10 today. Your child can start memorizing the verses now. Here is Swamiji's Geeta chanting video link for your child to practice with the correct pronunciation.
India Sacred Land, Topic : Idols in Temples and Shodashopachara = steps of puja
Last class we discussed temples and continuing the same topic, today we spoke about how an idol is consecrated in a temple. First step is "murti sthapana", where the idol is placed on an altar. Next water is filled in vessels called "kumbha" and vedic chanting is performed. Sacred hymns like "Purusha Suktam" and "Rudram" are chanted continuously. There is a Ganesha and Navagraha puja conducted. The "prana pratishta" ( to infuse life into) is performed for the idol, followed by "kumbhabhishekam" where the sanctified water is poured over the idol. Now the idol in the temple is ready to be worshipped. We spoke about how each child participates in the puja ritual at home or in a temple. The class shared which part of the puja they love to participate in.
Next we went through the steps of puja called "Shodashopachara". This is done daily or on special festival days. Invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesh, "kalasha puja' followed by "dravya puja" and then "atma puja" is performed. We spoke about how Bhagawan is treated just like a special guest that visits our homes. He is welcomed - "avahana". Seated - "asana", water is offered to wash hands, feet and for drinking. The deity is bathed - "snaana". The idol is dressed in new clothes and ornaments, offering "chandana", "kumkum" and "nama japa" with flowers. Then "dhoopa" - incense, "deepa"- lamps are lit and "naivedya" offered. The "naivedya" is freshly prepared food that is then eaten as "prasad". Finally the "aarti" with camphor is performed. This is our way to communicate with Bhagwan. We discussed whether we can perform the "shodashopachara" in our minds without the physical materials. Maybe your child can try and share their experience with us in the next class.
Practice of the class play performance took up the rest of class time. Each participant got their costume and prop list. We assembled in the Prayer Hall for aarti and the pledge recitation.
Have a fun and safe spring break!
- Rashmi Kuroodi and Venu Sadda
Supplies needed for every class:- Bala Vihar Handbook, My Prayers book, their special red notebook and pencils for likhita japa; everything in their Bala Vihar bag
*Reference books - Mahabharata by Rajagopalachari / Mahabharata by Kamala Subramaniam
