Hari OM Dear Families,
Here is this week's update.
The war of ten days begins and both sides attack. Ravana's army is equipped with deadly weapons. While the vaanara army has no weapons, their strength comes from their utmost devotion and faith in Lord Rama. With shouts of "Jai Sri Ram!" the vaanaras attack using rocks, trees and boulders. Each day Ravana sends his generals Prajangha, Jambumali, Nikumbha and Viroopaksha and they are all killed by Lakshmana, Angada, Neela and Hanuman. Next Ravana sends his favourite son, Indrajit, who immediately showers serpent darts on Lord Rama and Lakshmana. The poison makes them immovable and they lie helpless on the battlefield. Sugreeva and the vaanara army are tricked into thinking the princes are dead. Vibheeshana, who knows of Indrajit's tricks, tries to pacify them. Indrajit reports to Ravana, who is overjoyed. He sends Sita along with a rakshasi in a pushpaka vimana to the battlefield in the hope that she will surrender. Suddenly, Garuda, devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu, arrives and all the serpents fled seeing their enemy. Lord Rama and Lakshmana were rid of the poison and sat up to the delight of the vaanara army. Sita returns to ashoka vaatika hopeful of Lord Rama's victory. Ravana's evil plan fails and the princes get ready to resume battle with renewed energy.
Ravana has a large retinue of generals that he sends one after another to battle. Rama's vaanara army fights back bravely. Hanuman and Angada defeat Dhoomaraksha, Akampana and Vajradumshtra. Even Ravana's commander-in-chief, Prahasta, meets his end in the hands of Neela. Ravana's rage is fueled by this news, and he rides out into the battlefield himself. Lord Rama and Ravana face each other and began a fierce battle. After a long fight, Lord Rama's arrows break down Ravana's chariot and even topple his crown. Then Lord Rama does a noble and kind deed. He tells Ravana to go back, take rest and return to battle the next day. We discussed how Lord Rama showed compassion even to his mortal enemy. On the other hand, evil Ravana only thought of revenge and the destruction of Lord Rama. Next Kumbhakarana, Ravana's giant brother who was under a curse to sleep for six months, is woken up. Ravana tells his brother all of the story and asks his help to defeat Lord Rama. Kumbhakarana is unhappy to hear of Ravana's shameful act and scolds him. However, he agrees to help Ravana since they are brothers and it is his duty to protect Ravana. As Kumbhakarana enters the battlefield the vaanaras are crushed under his large feet. He picks up and kills handfuls of the vaanara army. Angada, Sugreeva, Hanuman, Lakshmana and Neela attack him, but are all knocked unconscious. Lord Rama strikes Kumbhakarana with several arrows, but they only injure the giant rakshasa. Finally, Lord Rama used a powerful arrow that severed Kumbhakarana's head and he was killed. The news reaches Ravana, who seeks revenge for his brother's death and sends his sons to battle. They are all defeated, so finally Indrajit rides out to the battlefield. During the fight, Lakshmana is pierced with a poison dart, and he falls unconscious. Jambavan immediately calls for Hanuman, and sends him to the Himalayas to get special herbs. With a giant leap Hanuman lands in the Himalayas, but does not recognise the herbs. He assumes his mighty form, picks up the entire mountain and brings it to the battlefield. Lakshmana is revived and he resumes the fight with Indrajit. Lakshmana uses his "Indra-astra" to behead Indrajit. The vaanara army is overjoyed that Ravana had lost his biggest support. The sad news reaches Ravana, who is so angry that he rushes out to kill Sita. Ravana wants to avenge the loss of his near and dear ones. Few of Ravana's ministers stop him, reminding him that Sita is an unarmed and helpless woman. They remind him as a warrior his dignity lies in a valiant death.
Characters introduced - Prajangha, Jambumali, Nikumbha, Viroopaksha, Dhoomaraksha, Akampana and Vajradumshtra, Prahasta, Kumbhakarana
Please play the videos and show it to the children, they can practice. The playlist is linked in the description box of our class whatsapp. We have to memorize verses until 16 for our grade level.
Next class on 3/23/2025
(please head to class, unless there is any message)
Children should bring their own copy of "My prayers" book, Ramayana coloring book (for coloring activity), Balavihar handbook (we provided on the first session) 9/15), pencils and erasers and crayons.
Children may bring their own "spill proof water bottles"
NO snacks please. Please give them a good breakfast before coming to Balavihar. Also make sure they use the bathroom before going into the class.
Please bring the children to balavihar a few minutes before 9.15. We want to promptly start by 9.15. Please make sure the student is not late and may come latest by 9.20 and not later than that.
Links and Reminders:
Please join the class WhatsApp group if you have not already-
https://chat.whatsapp.com/IAbzyq5I0ioF7FF6Cr85J0
