Hari Om Parents,
Please find the below update from our class on Friday, May 5th and May 12th, 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:YUDHISHTHIRA'S FOND HOPE
Yudhishthira was very concerned that Arjuna had not returned as well as Satyaki. He sent Bhima to join Arjuna. Bhima asked Dhrishtadyumna to keep an alert vigil and protect Yudhishthira and he hurried away. Bhima pierced the Kaurava army and killed eleven of Dhritarashtra's sons. Drona stopped him and was hoping to receive the same courtesy as Arjuna, but Bhima was furious. He broke Drona's chariot and Drona had to take another chariot. Bhima broke 8 of Drona's chariot, defeated the army of the Bhojas and proceeded to where Arjuna was fighting Jayadratha's forces. On seeing Arjuna, he gave a lion's roar much to the happiness of Krishna, Arjuna and Yudhishthira. Yudhishthira now really hoped that Arjuna would fulfil his oath and slay Jayadratha before sunset. He also fondly hoped that Duryodhana may realize his fault and ask for peace. The battle was raging against the enemy.
KARNA AND BHIMA
It was the fourteenth day and the battle raged fiercely at many points, between Satyaki and Bhurisravas at one place, between Bhima and Karna at another and between Arjuna and Jayadratha at a third. Drona remained at the main front resisting the attack of the Panchalas and the Pandavas and leading a counter-offensive against them. Duryodhana arrived with his forces at the sector where Arjuna attacked Jayadratha but was soon defeated and turned back. He went and complained to Drona who advised him to offer his full support to Jayadratha. Drona had to engage the Panchalas and the Pandava army, otherwise they would be destroyed. As Bhima was proceeding towards Arjuna, Karna stopped him and challenged him to a battle. Bhima was angry but Karna did everything with a smiling air of ease. The battle was furious. Bhima brought before his mind all the insults and injuries which he and his brothers and Draupadi had suffered, and fought desperately, caring not for life. Karna lost several chariots that day. Duryodhana saw Karna's plight and asked his brother Durjaya to attack Bhima and save Karna's life. Durjaya went as ordered and attacked Bhima who in a rage sent seven shafts which killed Durjaya. Karna was overwhelmed with grief and circled round the hero, paying mournful honor to the dead. Bhima did not stop but continued the fight. Karna once again had to find a fresh chariot. He sent well-aimed shafts and hit Bhima who in a fury hurled his mace at Karna and it crashed on Karna's chariot and killed his charioteer and horses and broke the flagstaff. Karna now stood on the ground with a bent bow. Duryodhana now sent another brother to relieve Karna. Durmukha went accordingly and took Karna on his chariot. Bhima sent nine shafts on the newly arrived enemy, and, even as Karna climbed up to take his seat in the chariot, Durmukha's armour was broken and he fell, lifeless. When Karna saw the warrior bathed in blood and lying dead by his side, he was again overwhelmed with grief and stood motionless for a while. Bhima relentlessly continued his attack on Karna. His sharp arrows pierced Karna's coat of armour and he was in pain. But he too at once returned the attack and wounded Bhima all over. Still the Pandava would not stop and attacked Karna furiously. The sight of so many of Duryodhana's brothers dying for his sake one after another was too much for Karna. This, and the physical pain of his own wounds made him lose courage and he turned away defeated, but, when Bhima stood up on the field of battle red with wounds all over like a flaming fire and emitted a triumphant yell and returned to the combat.
PLEDGE RESPECTED DHRITARASHTRA.
On hearing the slaughter of his sons, Dhritrarashtra was desolate. Sanjaya reminded the king that he had disregarded the advice of Bhishma and other elders and had blindly listened to Duryodhana. Sanjaya then continued the narration. Five sons of Dhritarashtra, Durmarsha, Dussaha, Durmata, Durdhara and Jaya, when they saw Karna put to flight by Bhima, at once rushed on the latter. When Karna saw this, he was heartened and turned back to resume his attack. Bhimasena at first ignored the sons of Dhritarashtra and concentrated on Karna. But they became so violent in their assault that Bhima disposed of all five of them. They lay dead on the field, with their horses and their charioteers. When Karna saw another batch of princes slaughtered for his sake, he fought more grimly than ever before. Bhima too was more violent than before, thinking of all the evil that Karna had wrought against the Pandavas. He used his bow to disarm Karna completely. His horses and charioteer were also laid low. Karna now jumped down from his chariot and hurled his mace at Bhima. But Bhima warded it off with shafts from his powerful bow and covered Karna with a shower of arrows and forced him to turn back and walk on foot. Duryodhana, who watched this combat, was greatly grieved, and sent seven of his brothers Chitra, Upachilra, Chitraksha, Charuchitra, Sarasana, Chitrayudha and Chitravarman, to relieve Radheya. They gave battle to Bhima displaying great skill and energy, but fell dead one after another, for Bhima's passion was roused and his attack was irresistible.
When Karna saw so many of the sons of Dhritarashtra sacrificing themselves for him, his face was wet with tears, and he mounted a fresh chariot and began to attack Bhima with deadly effect. All the warriors around them were filled with admiration as they watched Bhima fighting. Duryodhana sent 7 more of his brothers to help Karna and they all perished under Bhima's attack. Vikarna, who was killed last, was beloved of all. When Bhima saw him fall dead after a brave fight, he was deeply moved as Vikarna was just and knew what dharma was. Seeing Duryodhana's brothers, who came to help him, slain one after another in this manner, Karna was overwhelmed by anguish. He leant back on his seat in the chariot and closed his eyes, unable to bear the sight. Then recovering control over his emotions, he hardened his heart and began again his attack on Bhima.
In the renewed and fierce battle between Bhima and Karna, Bhima lost his horses and charioteer. Soon his chariot also was smashed to pieces. Then, Bhima hurled his spear at Karna who was in his chariot and as Karna parried it with his shaft, Bhima advanced with sword and shield. But Karna broke the shield at once with his shafts. Then, Bhima whirled his sword and hurled it, and it cut Karna's bow into two and fell on the ground. But Karna took up yet another bow and assailed Bhima with arrows more fiercely than before. Bhima, in a fit of uncontrollable rage, sprang upon Karna. Radheya took cover behind his flagstaff and escaped destruction. Thereupon, Bhima jumped out of Karna's car down into the field of battle where, deprived of all arms, he used the elephants lying dead on the ground to protect himself from Karna's arrows and continued the fight. He picked up anything he could lay hands upon, wheels of broken chariots, the limbs of horses and elephants that were lying about, and hurling them at Karna, kept him engaged without interval, but this could not long continue, and Bhima was soon at a great disadvantage. Karna hurled insulting taunts at Bhima. Arjuna's eyes burned red with wrath when he saw the plight of his valiant brother. He bent his Gandiva and discharged his arrows on Karna who then gladly turned his attention from Bhima to Arjuna. He had pledged his word to Kunti not to kill more than one of the Pandavas and he reserved that option for great Arjuna.
BHURISRAVAS END
A fierce battle raged between Bhurisravas and Satyaki. There was a family feud between Bhurisravas and Satyaki which made them inveterate foes. When Devaki, who was to be the blessed mother of Sri Krishna, was a maiden, many princes competed for her hand and there was a great battle between Somadatta and Sini over it. Sini won, and on behalf of Vasudeva he placed Devaki in his chariot and took her away. Since that incident there was a feud between the two clans. Satyaki was Sini's grandson. Bhurisravas was Somadatta's son. When they found themselves on opposite sides in the Kurukshetra battle, it was natural that the old enmity kindled.
Their horses were killed, their bows were broken, and both were rendered chariotless. They were now standing on the ground fighting with swords and shields, till their shields were hacked to bits and their swords broken. Then they were locked in a deadly embrace without weapons. Arjuna's mind was at the time concentrated on Jayadratha's movements and he did not watch this combat between Satyaki and the son of Somadatta. But his charioteer Krishna was deeply concerned about Satyaki's fate, for he knew about the family feud.
Krishna told Arjuna that Satyaki was exhausted, and Bhurisravas was going to kill him. Still Arjuna was following only Jayadratha's movements. Krishna insisted on helping Satyaki. Even as Krishna was saying this, Bhurisravas lifted Satyaki up and brought him crashing to the ground. Bhurisravas caught hold of Satyaki and dragged him on the ground. When Arjuna turned, he saw Bhurisravas with his foot on the prostrate body of Satyaki and sword raised to slay him. Before Bhurisravas could deliver the fatal thrust, Arjuna shot an arrow which went with the speed of lightning and the next moment the uplifted arm fell chopped off to the ground still holding the sword. Bhurisravas, all amazed, turned and said that it did not befit Arjuna, a noble warrior to attack him without notice when he was engaged in combat with someone else. He accused Krishna of tricking Arjuna into this action.
Arjuna said to Bhurisravas that how could he look on doing nothing, when, before his eyes, he was engaged in the act of killing his friend Satyaki, who was weary and exhausted when he came there and who was inadequately armed, was challenged by Bhurisravas to give battle. Having been defeated, he lay on the ground, powerless. Arjuna asked what code of honor enabled him to raise his sword to thrust it into the body of the fallen warrior and slay him. He also reminded Bhurisravas that he cheered the man who killed his son Abhimanyu when he stood staggering, exhausted and weapon-less, his coat of armor torn off.
Bhurisravas who heard this did not answer but spread his arrows on the ground with his left hand and made a seat for meditation. The old warrior understood his mistake and sat in yoga. The sight deeply moved all the Kaurava soldiers. Satyaki now recovered consciousness and rose. Carried away by the impetuosity of his passion, he picked up a sword and, advancing to Bhurisravas, sitting in yoga on his seat of arrows, even when all around were shouting in horror and before Krishna and Arjuna, who rushed to the spot, could prevent him, with one swift and powerful cut, he struck off the old warrior's head which rolled down, while the body was still in the posture of meditation. The gods and the siddhas, who looked on from above the battlefield, uttered blessings on Bhurisravas. Everyone in the field condemned Satyaki's act. The slaying of Bhurisravas is one of the many situations of moral conflict woven into the story of the Mahabharata to demonstrate that, when hatred and anger have been roused, codes of honor and dharma are powerless to control them.
Class Participation:The children continued their presentation of the Indian State they had selected. They have been doing a wonderful job presenting and speaking up in front of the class. The children have also been participating attentively in these discussions.Aarathi: We assembled at the main prayer hall for aarathi and concluding prayers.On May 5th, children performed Pujya Gurudev's Paduka puja. We also had the Grade 4 children perform their monthly program. On May 12th the Grade 2 children performed their monthly program.
Thank you! See you on Friday May 19th, 2023.
Pranāms,
Viji Lakshmi Hari and Anupama SivakumarFriday Grade 6 sevikas
