Hari Om Parents,
Below was covered in the class this week.
Shloka Chanting:
We started the class with our opening prayers.
We started the class with opening prayers and chanted verse 5 of Mahishasuramardini Stotra from My Prayers book - Page 40
Gita Chanting:
Class chanted along with Bhagavad Gita Video of Chapter 5, Verses 24 & 25
Link : BG5 - V24 - V25
Lesson:
Mahabharata:
In an effort to prevent war, Krishna offers to mediate and travels to Hastinapura as an emissary.
Upon his arrival, Krishna is received with honor, but Duryodhana, full of arrogance, refuses to grant even five villages to the Pandavas. Instead, he plots to capture Krishna, believing that holding him hostage would weaken the Pandavas' position. When Krishna is invited to Duryodhana's palace for a grand feast, he refuses, stating that he does not eat at the house of one who harbors malice. Instead, he goes to Vidura's home, where he is welcomed with love and humility.
During the assembly of the Kaurava court, Krishna earnestly appeals for peace, urging Duryodhana and Dhritarashtra to avoid the destruction that war would bring. However, Duryodhana, blinded by pride, remains defiant. When he attempts to have Krishna bound, Krishna manifests his divine Vishwaroopa—a cosmic form that fills the entire court, revealing his supreme power. The assembled kings, including Bhishma and Dhritarashtra, are overwhelmed. Dhritarashtra, blinded from birth, momentarily gains divine sight and begs Krishna to restore his blindness, unable to bear the vision.
With his message delivered and his power demonstrated, Krishna leaves Hastinapura, knowing that war is now inevitable. Krishna arrives at Upaplavya and narrates the incidents to Pandavas. Pandavas begin the tiresome task of war preparations. They had 7 akshuhinis in their army and Drihshtadyumna was made as the commander-in - chief. Kauravas on the other hand had 11 akshuhinis and Bhishma was made as the commander- in-Chief. Bhishma told Duryodhana that he would not harm Pandavas and he would not want Karna to be part of the army as long as he was in the battlefield due to karnas's disrespectful and negative behavior. Bhishma also narrated the story of Shikandi who was Amba in the previous life and was born to take revenge on Bhishma. Duryodhana understood that his great uncle could not fight Shikhandi in the war because he was born as female earlier and with severe austerities transformed into a man.
We later revised all the lessons for the jeopardy game and did a mock game & show practice.
Thanks
Sirisha and Sachin
