It's so nice to see everyone after the Navaratri break. Hope everyone had a joyous Navaratri/Dussehra.Today we started the class with some Stretching and jumping jacks. This helps with a nice warm up before we sit down for our prayers,
After the 18 jumping jacks we sat down for 3 OMs followed by Sahana Vavatu.
Each class we have different set of kids chant the Vakratunda, Saraswathi Namasthubyam and Guru Brahma shlokas.
We also chant the Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi and Samudravasane Devi shlokas each week.
We went to the Dhyana Shloka right after discussing how Mother Earth is very patient for all the we do on the earth, stomp, drill, dig for water and put heavy machinery to make tunnels.
We did our Veera Hanumana bhajan today and sang with action and enthusiasm in two speeds.
We chanted :
Buddhir Balam Yasho dhairyam Nirbhayatvam Arogata
Ajadyam Vakpatuthvamcha Hanumat Smaranat bhavet
This will be dhyana shloka that we will chant each class, and we will be learning the meaning of it with stories and examples.
We did a quick 1.5 minute meditation today that helps with calming the minds, doing Nama in their mind (chanting Ram Ram or any God they like)
We did a recap of last class's story about the boy who refused to lie about the roasted seeds and chose to say the truth. Honesty is a virtue to be practiced no matter what situation you are given.
Our first story is about the first value in the Dhyana Shloka - Buddhihi - meaning intelligence.
Story: Birbal's intelligence:
Once in Akbar's kingdom, Akbar wanted to test the intelligence of his ministers. He asked a question to his ministers and if they failed to answer will be punished severely. Akbar asked how many crows are in the country. He gave them 7 days to answer the question. Everyone ws surprised by the question and didn't know how to give a correct answer. Birbal is one of his intelligent ministers gave a very smart answer. He said there are 24097 crows in the country. The King warned Birbal that if his number was incorrect that he will be put in prison. Birbal was way too smart, he said if the number is less that means some of the crows are traveling and have gone out of the country visiting relatives. If the number was high then that means the relatives are visiting the country . The King was pleased with the intelligence of his minister Birbal and rewarded him with 1000 gold coins.
Moral of the story: Use the intelligence that is God given to save yourself in situations
Next we moved on to the next value: Balam - Strength. Stength means physical and mental strength. It's important not only to be physically strong but also mentally strong.
Story: Bhima's arrogance:
Once Bhima was in the garden with Draupadi and she wanted a beautiful smelling flower. Bhima tried to go near the flower to pick it, but a monkey was on the way. The monkey was no other than Hanuman ji, but Bhima did not realize it.. He carelessly asked the monkey to move without being polite . The monkey(Hanuman ji) said to Bhima, if you can move my tail from the way you can get to the sweet smelling flower. Bhima in arrogance tried to flick the monkey's tail but could not move it an inch. After many attempts Bhima gave up and then realized it was Hanuman ji. Hanuman ji taught him that having Mental strength is more important than having physical strength.
Moral of the story: Strength of body alone is not enough, need to be mentally strong as well.
After story time we did a game Simon Says (Hanuman Says) where children need to follow instructions only when Hanuman says. Like Hanuman says stand up, sit down. If the instruction is just sit down without Hanuman says then they are eliminated from the game. They had loads of fun doing this few iterations.
We were ready for the Gita Chanting that came on TV, Today's verses were Verse 5 and 6 of Chapter 15.
Please have them chant regularly at home, so they can prepare themselves for the chanting competition next year.
We picked our Line leader, door holder and Caboose for the day and lead into the Prayer Hall for Aarti.
Please note that each child will be given plenty of opportunities for chanting the shloka, singing the bhajan, being the line leader and other opportunities in class. We ask of the parents to bring the children on time to class so they don't miss the class activities.
Next class we will be doing a Craft activity and a Game.
Have a blessed week ahead
With Prem and Om
Gr 2 teachers
