Dear Parents,
Hari Om! I hope you are doing well. Here's a quick update on what the children learned and practiced in class on :Nov 10 2024.
Class Opening:
We started the class with chanting OM three times, followed by the Dhyana Sloka ("Om Sahana Vavatu").
Temple Aarthi Practice:
Children practiced singing the Aarthi to prepare for singing it at the temple. It was a great session, and they were excited about performing in the temple.
Story from the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata:
We began with the story from the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata. The children learned about King Shantanu of Hastinapura and his meeting with Ganga Devi. The key events included:
- King Shantanu meeting Ganga Devi and wanting to marry her.
- Ganga Devi setting a condition that Shantanu should not question who she is or her actions.
- The tragic story where Ganga Devi drowned their first seven children in the river. Shantanu was shocked but did not question her because of the agreement.
- When their eighth child, Devavrata (later known as Bheeshma), was born, Shantanu questioned Ganga Devi about her actions.
- Ganga Devi revealed that the eight children were the Ashtavasus, cursed by Sage Vashishta to be born as humans, and that she would return Devavrata to him once he was sixteen.
The children also learned about Devavrata's education from Sage Vashishta and Parashurama, and his eventual decision to renounce the throne and take a vow of celibacy to ensure Satyavati's sons could inherit the throne. He became known as Bheeshma, symbolizing duty and sacrifice.
Story of Swami Sivananda Saraswati:
We also shared the inspiring story of Swami Sivananda Saraswati, born as Kuppuswami on September 8, 1887. The children learned about his early years as an active and promising child in fine arts, his studies in medical school, and his time working as a doctor in Malaysia.
Swami Sivananda never charged poor patients for his services and even gave them money to cover their expenses after being discharged. His life took a spiritual turn after reading the book Jeev - Brahm - Aikyam, which awakened his dormant spirituality. He moved to Rishikesh, took Sannyasa, and became Swami Sivananda.
In 1936, Swami Sivananda started the Divine Life Society in a small hut. He dedicated his life to serving the sick, providing medicines, food, and care. His message of Love, Service, Compassion, and Devotion is one we discussed in class, and we encouraged the children to reflect on how they can apply these values in their own lives.
Fun Activity – Mahabharata Hangman:
To make learning more interactive, we played a game of Hangman with words related to the Mahabharata. The children enjoyed recalling characters and events from the epic in a fun way!
Bhagavad Gita Chanting:
Finally, the children practiced Chapter 5, Verses 2 and 3 from the Bhagavad Gita. Please encourage your child to continue practicing these verses at home. You can find the chanting here: Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 5, Verses 2-3
Thank you for your continued support in helping your child grow spiritually. We look forward to more learning and practice in the upcoming classes!
Thanks
Roopa & Bhuvana
