Hari OM Parents,
Please find below updates from our class on Nov 15th.
We started our class with 3 OMs and the following slokas
Sahana Vavatu
Vakratunda Mahakaya
Saraswathi Namastubhyam
Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu
The kids, then took turns to recite 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
Prince Uttara set out with great enthusiasm and valor to meet the Kauravas in his chariot with Brihannala as the charioteer. But on seeing the Kaurava forces drawn in battle by Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Duryodhana and Karna, he lost all courage and with great fear asked Brihannala to turn back the chariot. He refused to listen to Brihannala' s encouraging words and got down from the chariot to fly towards the city in panic. Brihannala had to run behind the prince to force him back to his chariot. Drona was puzzled at the sight, and he was reminded of Arjuna on seeing Brihannala. But Karna and Duryodhana dismissed his anxiety.
Arjuna consoled the sobbing Uttara and said that he would fight the Kauravas. He asked the prince to drive his chariot. He reminded Uttara that no good came of flight. He lifted the prince back to his chariot, put the reins in his hands and asked him to drive towards a tree near the burial ground. With Uttara's help, Arjuna took down a bag from the tree that contained the arms of the Pandavas. When the bag was opened, the prince saw weapons as bright as the sun. Arjuna then confided his identity as well as the other Pandavas and Draupadi's to the prince. Uttara was amazed and with folded hands expressed how fortunate he was to see Arjuna. Uttara drove the chariot in front of the arrayed Kauravas. Arjuna got down, prayed to God, tied his hair with a cloth, stood facing east and meditated on his armor. He then stringed his Gandiva bow and twanged the string to send a shrill echo. Hearing the sound, the Kaurava forces immediately knew it was Arjuna. When he blew his Devadatta conch, the Kaurava army was alarmed.
The story of Uttara, who spoke boastfully in the ladies' boudoirs and fled in panic at the sight of the hostile array, has not been introduced in the Mahabharata, merely as a comic interlude. It is in ordinary human nature to look with contempt on lower levels of conduct in ability. The rich scorn the poor; the beautiful, the plain; the strong, the weak. Brave men despise cowards. But Arjuna was no ordinary man but a great soul and a true hero who felt that his duty as a strong, brave man was to help others to rise above their weakness. Knowing that nature had endowed him with courage and bravery at birth, he had the true humility of a great warrior, and he did what he could to put courage into Uttara and make him worthy of his lineage. This was Arjuna's characteristic nobility. He never abused his strength and power.One of his many names is Bibhatsu, which means one who shrank from doing an unworthy act, and he lived up to it.
Drona suggested that the army must be arrayed well since Arjuna had come. Duryodhana mentioned that even if it were Arjuna, if he is exposed then it would mean that the Pandavas would have to go in exile for another twelve years since the thirteenth year has not ended yet. Hence, there was no need for fear or worry. Karna suggested that he would single handedly face Arjuna and win him. Kripa also suggested that they should make a combined attack on Arjuna if they were to succeed in the battle. When Karna sneered at Kripa and Drona, Aswatthama, Drona's son got angry and reminded him that the battle is yet to be won and that he had not found in any sastra that it is honorable for kings to seize kingdoms by cheating at dice. The leaders of the Kaurava army lost their patience and began to argue loudly. Seeing this, the grandsire Bhishma was filled with sorrow and said that wise men do not insult their teachers. He urged that this was not the time to nurse enmity and asked Aswatthama to not mind Karna's offensive remarks. Arjuna consoled the sobbing Uttara and said that he would fight the Kauravas. He asked the prince to drive his chariot. He reminded Uttara that no good came of flight. He lifted the prince back to his chariot, put the reins in his hands and asked him to drive towards a tree near the burial ground. With Uttara's help, Arjuna took down a bag from the tree that contained the arms of the Pandavas. When the bag was opened, the prince saw weapons as bright as the sun. Arjuna then confided his identity as well as the other Pandavas and Draupadi's to the prince. Uttara was amazed and with folded hands expressed how fortunate he was to see Arjuna. Uttara drove the chariot in front of the arrayed Kauravas. Arjuna got down, prayed to God, tied his hair with a cloth, stood facing east and meditated on his armor. He then stringed his Gandiva bow and twanged the string to send a shrill echo. Hearing the sound, the Kaurava forces immediately knew it was Arjuna. When he blew his Devadatta conch, the Kaurava army was alarmed.
The story of Uttara, who spoke boastfully in the ladies' boudoirs and fled in panic at the sight of the hostile array, has not been introduced in the Mahabharata, merely as a comic interlude. It is in ordinary human nature to look with contempt on lower levels of conduct in ability. The rich scorn the poor; the beautiful, the plain; the strong, the weak. Brave men despise cowards. But Arjuna was no ordinary man but a great soul and a true hero who felt that his duty as a strong, brave man was to help others to rise above their weakness. Knowing that nature had endowed him with courage and bravery at birth, he had the true humility of a great warrior, and he did what he could to put courage into Uttara and make him worthy of his lineage. This was Arjuna's characteristic nobility. He never abused his strength and power.One of his many names is Bibhatsu, which means one who shrank from doing an unworthy act, and he lived up to it.
We discussed Arjuna's nobility and how he felt that his duty as a strong, brave man was to help others to rise above their weakness, with the children and asked them to think about situations they face in school during school work or project work to always help others in need.
When Bhishma saw the Kaurava army leaders argue loudly instead of deciding how to array well to win Arjuna, he spoke words of wisdom to his army - 1. the wise man does not insult his teachers; 2. One should engage in battle only after a careful calculation of time, place and circumstance; 3. When the intellect is clouded by anger, the sense of reasoning is lost.
We asked the children to think about situations when they needed to assess time and place - what to say, when to say etc and share their experiences in the next class.
We had a parent/teacher meet and explained what we have covered so far in the class.
We also shared details on the Sampoorna Ramayana Yagna by Pujya Swami Shantanandaji from Sat Dec 7 - Fri Dec 14th. This will also be our Surabhi 2024 - annual fundraiser. Radha Kalyana Mahotsavam on Sat Dec 14 and Sun Dec 15.
For details and registration, please visit https://www.chinmayavrindavan.org/activities/surabhi
We completed our class with 'Purna madham'.
Next class : 11/22/2024 at 7 pm.
Thanks
Purnima and Anupama
