Hari Om Parents,
We started our class with 3 OM and the following shlokas and prayers
We started our class with 3 OM and the following shlokas and prayers
- Sahana Vavatu
- Vakratunda Mahakaya
- Saraswathi Namastubhyam
- Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu
- Samastha Jana Kalyane
- Chanted Mahalakshmi Ashtakam Dhyana Shloka & verse # 1 (Page 40 in My Prayers book) - Aadhya M and Ankita led the chanting while the whole class followed them
- We also practiced the Chinmaya Aarti
Gita Chanting:
This year, we will be learning Chapters 15 and 12 of the Bhagavad Gita. This week, the class chanted Chapter 15's verses 5 & 6:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPB4Zm9ajLgThis year, we will be learning Chapters 15 and 12 of the Bhagavad Gita. This week, the class chanted Chapter 15's verses 5 & 6:
Mahabharata:
We chanted the following prayers before starting the Mahabharata:
- Narayanam namaskritya
- Vyasaya Vishnu roopaya
- Vasudevasutam devam
- Vichitravera also dies without having any children. At this time, Satyavati asks Bheesma to marry so that he can have children and there can be a king to continue the dynasty. But Bheesma refuses.
- Satyavati then approaches Sage Veda Vyasa, with his blessings, Dhritarashtra is born to Ambika, Panduraj is born to Ambalika, and Vidura is born to the servant maid of Ambika.
- Since Dhritarashtra was born blind, Pandu was appointed as the king of Hastinapur. King Pandu married Kunti and Madri. While Dhritharastra marries Ghandari, who, after marriage, also puts a blindfold on her eyes since her husband was born blind.
- Vasudeva and Kunti were the children of Shurasena, a Yadava king. He gave Kunti to his cousin Kuntibhoja, as he had no children, so he could raise her. Kunti, upon orders of her father, served Sage Durvasa with devotion and reverence. Pleased by her service, Sage gave her a mantra as a boon. Whenever she chants the mantra, the presiding deity will come and bless her with children. Being young and immature, to see if this mantra works or not, she prays to Lord Surya, the Sun God. Surya deva blesses her with a child, Karna, who has natural armor and earrings. Because she had the child before marriage, Kunti, scared of society, left the child in the river Ganga. The child is found and raised by Athiratha, a charioteer, and Radhe.
India, the Sacred Land: Diwali / Deepavali
In this section, we covered the following points with the help of this presentation:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1YBTdv3rg-bz10UuxWRyiZTZY3S9lQWp6lSponCazObY/edit?usp=sharing
- What is the meaning of the word 'Deepavali'?
- 3 stories behind Diwali
- Legend of Narakasura
- Samudra Manthan
- Curse of Sage Durvasa
- Lord Vishnu's Plan to Help the Devas
- Churning of the Ocean (Samudra Manthan)
- Lord Shiva Drinks the Poison
- Treasures from the Ocean
- Emergence of Goddess Lakshmi
- Shri Rama Returns to Ayodhya
- How We Celebrate Diwali - Day 1: Dhanteras
- How We Celebrate Diwali - Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi
- How We Celebrate Diwali - Day 3: Lakshmi Puja
- How We Celebrate Diwali - Day 4: Govardhan Puja
- How We Celebrate Deepavali - Day 5: Bhai Dooj
Kids had a fantastic time learning and listening to all 3 stories behind Diwali. They were amazed to discover that the Guinness World Record for lighting diyas in Ayodhya is set during the annual Deepotsav festival. The most recent record, established in 2025, saw an incredible 26,17,215 diyas illuminated along the Saryu River, making it the "largest display of oil lamps." While many of them were familiar with some Diwali celebrations, they were surprised to learn about the "Abhyanga Snana Ritual," which involves applying Ubtan after an oil massage.
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Parents, please send your kids on time to class to avoid disruptions to the class. Also, have them bring the decorated name tags to the classes. Please make sure children bring in My Prayers book, handbook, notebook, pencils, etc (to take notes, do activities in the class)
Hari Om,
Sachin Gaikwad & Devender Akula
Sachin Gaikwad & Devender Akula
