Hari Om Parents! This is our first readout in 2025. Hope your new year got off to a great start. Since we only had 2 classes in December, we are including December and January classes' summary in one report.
As always, we start the class with opening prayers and chanting of Nama Ramayana. Since the last report was sent out, we covered Aranya Kanda, Kinshkinda Kanda and Sundara Kanda from the story Ramyana. Heres' a high-level summary. These timeless values of duty, loyalty, friendship, justice, courage, and devotion are highlighted in these stories. Each character and situation offer valuable lessons that continue to inspire us.
Aranya Kanda
Events:
- Encounter with Surpanakha: Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana after moving to Panchavati encounter Surpanakha, Ravana's sister, who falls in love with Rama. When Rama rejects her, she attacks Sita, prompting Lakshmana to mutilate her nose.
- Battle with Khara and Dushana: Surpanakha's brothers, Khara and Dushana, attack Rama with a large army of demons. Rama defeats them all, showcasing his prowess and commitment to protecting the innocent.
- Abduction of Sita: Ravana, enraged by the treatment of his sister, devises a plan to abduct Sita. He sends Maricha, who disguises himself as a golden deer to lure Rama and Lakshmana away. Ravana then kidnaps Sita and takes her to Lanka.
- Jatayu's Battle with Ravana: Jatayu, the vulture king, witnesses Ravana abducting Sita and bravely attempts to rescue her. Despite his old age, Jatayu fights valiantly but is mortally wounded by Ravana. Before dying, he informs Rama and Lakshmana about Sita's abduction.
- Meeting Sabari: Rama and Lakshmana meet the elderly ascetic Sabari, who has been waiting for Rama's arrival as foretold by her gurus. She offers them fruits and shows them the way to Sugriva. After fulfilling her duty, she attains moksha (liberation) by entering a sacrificial fire
Values Learned:
- The repercussions of having adharmic desires such as Soorpanaka's and how one should have control over our senses.
- Rama's glory and dharmic life and how he was an ideal son, brother, husband, and a student.
- 'Think before you act' value through the stories of golden deer and Seetha's haste decisions.
- Courage and Sacrifice: Jatayu's brave attempt to rescue Sita, even at the cost of his life.
- Discussing Ravana's character, we talked about how selfish desires and pride clouds our ability to distinguish between Right and Wrong.
- Through Sabari's story, we discussed how the Lord always accepts whatever we offer, provided we do with pure love and devotion.
Kishkinda Kanda
Events:
- Meeting Hanuman: Rama and Lakshmana meet Hanuman, who introduces them to Sugriva, the exiled monkey king.
- Alliance with Sugriva: Rama forms an alliance with Sugriva, promising to help him reclaim his throne from his brother Vali in exchange for help in finding Sita.
- Battle with Vali: Rama assists Sugriva in defeating Vali. Sugriva becomes the king of Kishkindha and mobilizes his army to search for Sita.
Values Learned:
- Never act in haste. Always think before we act. This is a learning from Sugreeva's story on how he locked his own brother in the cave in haste.
- Vali's drawback was anger and hence was destroyed.
- Sugreeva's was too attached to the desire of becoming a king unlike Bharatha who never cared for it. Sugreeva's deep desires made him suffer for a long time
- Desire and anger are our own enemies
- Hanuman's unconditional love and devotion for Rama and his dedication to the mission.
- We also discussed Friendship and Loyalty through the bond shared between Rama and Sugriva
Sundara Kanda
Events:
- Hanuman's Leap to Lanka: Hanuman makes a giant leap across the ocean to reach Lanka, overcoming various obstacles.
- Finding Sita: Hanuman locates Sita in Ashoka Vatika, reassures her, and gives her Rama's signet ring as a token of hope.
- Hanuman's Havoc in Lanka: Hanuman wreaks havoc in Lanka, destroying parts of the city and killing many demons. He is captured but escapes after setting Ravana's palace on fire.
Values learned:
Hanuman's actions in Sundara Kanda highlight his unparalleled devotion, strength, and heroism. His character serves as an inspiration, teaching us the importance of intelligence, strength, fame, courage, fearlessness, health, determination, and articulateness in overcoming life's challenges as depicted in the following Dhyana Shloka
बुद्धिर्बलं यशोधैर्यं निर्भयत्वमरोगता।
अजाड्यं वाक्पटुत्वं च हनुमत् स्मरणाद्भवेत्॥
- Devotion, determination and Selflessness: Hanuman's unwavering devotion to Rama and his selfless efforts to find Sita.
- Courage and Strength: Hanuman's bravery in facing the challenges in Lank inspires one and all
- Hanuman's sharp intellect and problem-solving abilities.
- His eloquence (skillful communication) helps in gaining trust and conveying important messages
We will begin Yudha kanda in next class. In parallel, we will start working towards our Class play that is scheduled for March 28th. Please confirm your kid's availability in the WhatsApp group if you have not already done so.
Thank you and Best Regards
Nirmala and Mythili
