Hari Om
Update of class : 11/08/2024
We started our class with 3 OMs and opening slokas. Kids led through daily prayers. We taught them Mahalakshmi Ashtakam unto verse 3.
We continued with Mahabharata.
Virata Parva
The Pandavas came up with the names and roles that they were going to assume, as they headed out Matsya kingdom where Virata was ruling with her queen Sudhesna
Yudhistra assumed the role of being a wise person and teach gambling to the King and called himself Kanka. Bheema assumed the role of a cook and called himself Valala. Arjuna decided to take advantage of his curse and be a eunuch for the year and called himself Brihannala. Nakula decided to train the horses and called himself Damagranthi. Sahadeva decided to tend to the cows and called himself Tantripala. Draupadi decided to serve as a maid and beautician to the queen and called herself Sairandhri
As they headed towards Matsya, they decided to put away their weapons including Gandiva in a Sami tree outside of the town. They approached King Virata and explained their talents. King Virata happily employed all of them. Sairandhri was summoned by the queen, looking at her beauty and skills, was readily accepted. As days passed by the King of Matsya was extremely happy with all of them
In the meanwhile Radheya had a dream, Surya Bhagavan warned him that Indira would visit him in disguise and ask for his Kavacha/Kundala as alms and advised him not to offer them since they were there to protect him. When Indira visited him disguised as poor brahmin seeking kavacha kundala as alms, Radheya recognized Indira and offered his kingdom. When Indira refused, Radheya tore apart his kavacha kundala from his body and offered him. Indira blessed him with a weapon called Sakti which could be used once.
Almost 11.5 months had passed. One day Keechaka, Sudhesna's brother came to visit the palace and upon seeing Sairandhri he fell in love with her. He tried to coax her to be with him. When Sairandhri refused he chased her to the King's court. King Virata was a soft spoken and timid person he dismissed Sairandhri. Kanka also insisted Sairandhri to wait for another 15 days when their 13th year would be over. Sairandhri went to Valala who was fuming over the incident and asked him to do kill Keechaka. Together they made a plan for Sairandhri to invite Keechaka to the dance room. Keechaka went to the dance room at night and when he started misbehaving with Sairandhri, Valala attacked him. Keechaka was almost an equal match to Bheem and hence a strong duel ensued. Atlas Keechaka was killed.
While in Hastinapura, Duryodhana was scheming plans to get rid of the Pandavas forever. Against the advice of all his gurus and Bheeshma, he planned to hunt for the pandavas. When he learnt about the killing of Keechaka he quickly recognized the pandavas and set out a plan. He sent Susharma, King of Trigardha to attack Virata but was defeated by Bheema. At the same time, Duryodhana marched with his army to attack the Kingdom. Upon Sairandhri's insistence, Brihannala became the charioteer of Virata's son Uttara and marched to meet Duryodhana. Dronacharya recognized Arjuna. Uttara upon seeing the mighty army that stood against him dropped everything and started running away. Arjuna ran behind him towards the tree where Gandiva was hidden.
We took a pause here and played an activity with kids. We grouped them into 4 teams and quizzed them about what was taught that day. The kids were excited to participate and it was fun to see how they recalled the answers.
We completed our class with 'Purna madam'
Next class : 11/15/2024
Thanks
Purnima and Anupama
