Hari Om Parents,
Please find the below update from our class on Friday Mar 31st, 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 - 8).
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:ABHIMANYU
When Dronacharya was unable to capture Yudhishthira, Duryodhana was very upset and uttered insulting words at the acharya. But Drona explained that if Arjuna is present, supporting Yudhishthira, it is not possible for them to seize him. On the thirteenth day, the samsaptakas again challenged Arjuna to battle and he accordingly went to attack them in the south of the main battlefront. The battle between the samsaptakas and Arjuna was the fiercest that ever had been seen or heard of till that day.
When Arjuna left the main front for meeting the samsaptakas, Drona rearranged his army in lotus formation and attacked Yudhishthira fiercely. All the great warriors on the Pandava side opposed Drona, but they couldn't defeat Drona. At that point, Yudhishthira called Abhimanyu and said to him that to defeat Drona, it was important to break the lotus array. In the absence of Arjuna, only Abhimanyu knew how to break the formation.
Abhimanyu agreed to do it, but he confessed that he could break the formation, but he was not instructed in the art of extrication i.e., how to come out. Yudhishthira and Bhima advised that once the passage was open, they would follow closely behind him, and help to break in.
Abhimanyu thought of his father and Krishna and, feeling encouraged by what had been said by Bhimasena and Yudhishthira, and impelled by his own gallant nature, undertook the adventure with enthusiasm. Abhimanyu told his charioteer Sumitra to drive straight and fast towards Drona. His charioteer warned Abhimanyu to think well before he pierced Drona's array because the acharya was unrivalled in skill and experience. Abhimanyu mentioned that he was Krishna's nephew and son of Arjuna as his advantage. The charioteer drove the chariot towards Drona's division. The Pandavas followed Abhimanyu close behind him. The Kaurava army were perturbed as they saw Abhimanyu's chariot approach them with great speed. There was a ripple in the Kaurava ranks which bent under his headlong onslaught. The bend soon became a break and under Drona's very eyes, the formation was breached, and Abhimanyu entered.
But the breach closed under the inspiration of Jayadratha, king of the Sindhus, before the other Pandava warriors could force their way in according to plan-and Abhimanyu was alone. Kaurava warriors opposed him, but they fell like moths in the fire, one after another. Abhimanyu's shafts searched the weak points in the armor of his enemies, and the bodies of soldiers lay strewn on the field like Kusa grass on the sacrificial platform. Bows, arrows, swords, shields, javelins, pieces of harness, chariot canopies, axes, maces, spears, whips, conchs, along with severed heads and limbs of slain warriors, covered the field.
Seeing the destruction wrought by Abhimanyu, Duryodhana was angry and rushed in person to oppose the youthful warrior. Drona, having learnt that the king himself was engaged in battle with Abhimanyu, became anxious and sent veterans to protect Duryodhana. With great difficulty, they managed to rescue the king from the boy-hero who, greatly disappointed at the escape of Duryodhana vented his anger on the warriors that had come to rescue him and put them to headlong flight. Then, throwing away all sense of shame and chivalry, many veteran warriors made a combined and simultaneous attack on the hero, who found himself alone, surrounded by enemies on all sides. But, Arjuna's son withstood this united onslaught.
Drona, Aswatthama, Kripa, Karna, Sakuni, Salya and many other great warriors in their chariots, equipped with all arms, surged in attack on the young hero, only to be dashed back, baffled and broken. Asmaka rode his chariot at great speed against Abhimanyu's but smiling, Abhimanyu sent his shafts and disposed of him in no time. Karna's armour was pierced. Salya was badly wounded and sat, unable to move, in his chariot. Salya's brother came up in great wrath to avenge his brother's disgrace, but he fell and his chariot was broken to pieces. Thus did Abhimanyu, alone and unsupported, oppose a host of veteran warriors and show the skill in the use of arms which he had learnt from his illustrious father and from Vasudeva, his uncle.
Seeing this, the poet says, Dronacharya's eyes were filled with tears of affectionate admiration seeing the boy's valor. This angered Duryodhana. Duhsasana roared in anger and led his chariot forward to attack Abhimanyu. The chariots of Abhimauyu and Duhsasana made wonderful movements against each other, and the battle raged long. Duhsasana was struck senseless in his car, and his charioteer just managed to drive away from the field saving Duhsasana's life. Karna attacked Abhimanyu with his shafts and harassed him greatly. But one of Abhimanyu's arrows felled Karna's bow and the young warrior followed up this advantage so vigorously that he put Karna and his supporters to flight. The Kaurava forces when they saw this were completely demoralized. The army was in confusion and men fled in all directions, not caring for Drona's shouts of remonstrance, and Abhimanyu destroyed those that stood, as fire destroys a dry jungle in summer.
THE DEATH OF ABHIMANYU
THE Pandavas, proceeding according to plan, had closely followed Abhimanyu when he broke into the Kaurava formation, but Dhritarashtra's son-in-law Jayadratha, the gallant king of the Sindhus, swooped down upon the Pandavas with all his forces, and enabled the breach in the formation to be effectively and solidly closed, so that the Pandavas found it impossible to force their way in. Yudhishthira hurled a javelin and cut Jayadratha's bow but, in an instant, the Saindhava took up another bow and sent unerring shafts at Dharmaputra. Bhimasena's arrows made deadly work, crashing down the canopy and flagstaff of Jayadratha's car. But the Saindhava was alert and re-armed himself, each time his equipment was broken. He killed Bhima's chariot horses, and the latter had to go into Satyaki's car. In this manner, Jayadratha, with stubborn valor, prevented the Pandavas from entering in Abhimanyu's wake.
The young hero was thus isolated and surrounded by the Kaurava forces. The son of Subhadra was however undaunted. He attacked all the warriors around him and slew them in great numbers. The Kaurava army reeled under Abhimanyu's onslaughts. Duryodhana's son Lakshmana, a gallant young warrior, then charged on Abhimanyu. When they saw this, retreating soldiers came back and supported Lakshmana, showering arrows on Abhimanyu, like rain falling on a hill. Still Arjuna's son was undaunted and his shaft came swift and shining, and pierced Lakshmana. The handsome youth, with beautiful nose and eyebrows and hair, lay dead on the ground and the Kaurava soldiers were filled with grief. The angry Duryodhana, and the six great warriors, Drona, Kripa, Karna, Aswathama, Brihatbala and Kritavarma closed upon Abhimanyu.
Drona said to Karna that it was impossible to pierce Abhimanyu's armor, and to aim at the reins of his horses and cut them off and attack him from behind. The son of Surya did accordingly. Abhimanyu's bow was broken by a shaft discharged from behind. His horses and charioteer were killed. Thus disabled, the young warrior stood on the field, with sword and shield, facing his enemies. As he stood dauntless like kshatriyadharma incarnate, he filled the warriors around with amazement. Whirling his sword, he held his own against the numerous warriors who had surrounded him, with a skill that confounded them. It seemed to them as if his feet did not rest on earth and he was on wings in the air. Drona sent a shaft that broke Abhimanyu's sword. Karna's sharp arrows tore his shield into bits.
Then Abhimanyu bent down and took up one of his chariot wheels and whirling it like a discus, stood up facing all the enemies that surrounded him. The dust from the chariot wheel covered him and the poet says it enhanced the natural beauty of the young hero. He fought fiercely like a second Vishnu with the discus. But soon, the combined onslaught of the warriors that surrounded him, overpowered him. The chariot wheel was shattered to pieces. The son of Duhsasana came up then and closed with him in mortal combat. Both fell together but Duhsasana's son rose again and, while Abhimanyu was struggling to his feet, struck him with his mace and killed him.
Sanjaya narrated this to Dhritarashtra and said that his people danced round Abhimanyu's dead body like savage hunters exulting over their prey. All good men in the army were grieved and tears rolled from their eyes. Even the birds of prey that circled overhead making noises seemed to cry "'Not thus!' 'Not thus!'"
While there was blowing of conchs and cries of victory all over the Kaurava army, Yuyutsu, the son of Dhritarashtra, did not approve of all this. He knew it was an ignoble act and they had all forgotten the kshatriyadharma in the battlefield. Instead of being ashamed, they were shouting cries of victory blind to the danger that was imminent. Yuyutsu threw his weapon away in disgust and left the battlefield. This young son of Dhritarashtra feared sin. His words were not sweet in the Kaurava ears, but he was a good man and spoke out his mind.
Class Reflection:Swamiji visited our class and the kids raised several questions. We had a great interactive session with him.
We instructed the children on the States of India Presentation – 2023.
The children can pick an Indian State and create either a PowerPoint presentation or a poster board presentation with information on the topics listed below 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
They must post their assignment in google classroom by April 12th. We will review the slides and provide feedback if any. They can present it in class on April 14th.
Aarathi: We assembled at the main prayer hall. There was a monthly program by the ninth 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 April 14th 2023.
Pranāms,
Viji Lakshmi Hari and Anupama SivakumarFriday Grade 6 sevikas
