Class Review- 4 Grade Section B - 12/16/2012 - Class Room # A108

We started our session with  breathing exercise and chanting Om 3 times. We recited Sree Ganapathi Stotram and completed learning Sree Govinda Damodara Storam . You can listen to the song we recorded in class at this link Damodara Stotram recorded in class.  We revised the qualities of Krishna we learnt in the last class. Some of the kids were concerned about the unfortunate  incident in Connecticut school . As the incident  is very sensitive we  didn't wanted to discuss it in the class but we maintained silence for 2 mins in the memory of the diseased.

In the Krishna Lila story time,we talked about Raslila. How all the inmates of Vrindavan were enchanted with Krishna's basuri/flute.. How all the gopis left their chores to see Krishna playing his flute, how they all danced together and in the process became possessive of Krishna and to teach them lesson how he disappeared and reappeared after they realized their mistake. We also discussed what the 7 holes of the flute represent..

We recited the first 9 verses of Geeta and also learnt the 10th verse. Please encourage kids to practice Gita chanting at home. Kids did Likhita japa in their books before we started the fun session of Garbha. We played some music and all the kids danced together.  We ended our session with Arti and pledge.

See you all in our next Balavihar session on Jan 6th  2013 . Have a wonderful break and happy holidays to you and your family! Happy New Year!

-Grade 4B teachers

Class Review- 4 Grade Section B - 12/09/2012 - Class Room # A108

HARI OM EVERY ONE! 

We started our session with  breathing exercise and chanting Om 3 times. We recited Sree Ganapathi Stotram and learnt Sree Govinda Damodara Storam - first 4 verses . We talked about last week's homework and what kind of service kids had performed over the week. There were lot of questions about difference between service, help and duty. That brought us into the discussion of Karma. How one should perform their duty with out expecting any favors.. What happens when one performs their Karma and Karma Phala.. 

This discussion lead us to the Krishna Lila's story time..and we had a perfect story of  "Egoistic Indra and Krishna The Govardhan Giridhar"... People in Gokul didn't perform yagna to please Indra as Krishna convinced them that Indra is just performing his duties and he doesn't need to be pleased to do his duties..Egoistic Indra becomes offended and drowns Vrindavan with storms. Krishna rescues  people of Vrindavan by lifting the mount Govardhan. All the people and cattle of Vrindavan took shelter under mount Govardhan for 7 days. None of Indra's wicked actions affected them. They were happily enjoying the company of Krishna .. This made Indra realize his mistake. He figured out that the blue boy was no other than lord Vishnu and comes down to apologize. 

We practiced Geeta chanting -- recited the first 9 verses. Please encourage kids to practice Gita chanting at home. Kids did Likhita japa in their books before they continued on their fun project, which was started two weeks back. Kids wrote the virtues of Krishna that they learnt so far on each finger of their palm cut out. They could decorate the palm in coming sessions and also at home. 

PS- Please make sure to remind your kids to file the hard copies of bhajan's provided in class. 

 

See you all in our next Balavihar session on Dec 16th  2012. 

-Grade 4B teachers

Class Review (Section 1) 12/09/2012

Hari Om,
    We had some interesting discussions in class today. Some of the questions were about mortality and immortality, about many Gods, Supreme God, concept of becoming one with God, does that mean we enter God's body? It was like a tap had been opened in the class and water of questions flowed out from almost every child.

  We started the class in the usual manner with likitha japa and opening prayers. We then moved to the Govinda Damodra stotram. We are learning verses 11 and 12 in geeta. We are happy to note that some of the children have memorized upto verse 4.

During Krishna Story time we went over the divine vision offered to Akrura when he offered mid afternoon prayers in the shores of the Mandakini river . We went over the miracles Krishna performed in Mathura. Kamsa ' s bad dreams and night mares.

The next day  Krishna and Balarama arrived at the stadium for the wrestling contest. Krishna kills the  elephant KuvalAyapida who is at entrance waiting to stamp the brothers. We ended the chapter with Krishna killing Kamsa. Ugrasena is reinstated as the king. Vasudeva and Devaki meet their son. 

We hope to quiz the children next week. Please help them prepare.
Thanks

Class Review (Section 1) 12/2/2012

Hari Om,
    We had a nearly full class after the long Thanksgiving break. We started with the usual 3 loud oms and the     n continued with Achutham Kesavam bhajan. Was thrilling to hear all the children sing this melodious song. We then continued learning the Govinda Damodra strotam. We are now learning verses 3 and 4. 


Next came the toughest part of the class. Many children enjoy it but quite a few fear this part of the class. Parents, please help your children with the geeta chapter 13. We have many tools available. Please avail of the link http://www.geetachanting.net

We moved on to the story time. We told the story of salvation of Sudarshan. Following Krishna's twelth  Nand Baba wanted to perform puja for Ambika devi. Nanda and all other Gopas drove their carts with families and reached Ambikavana on a pilgrimage tour. There they took bath in the river Saraswati and with devotion worshiped lord Lord Shiva and Parvati. They also observed day long fast and decided to pass their night on the bank of Saraswati. But that place was inhabited by a huge python. During the night: the python emerged and catches hold of Nand's leg. Nandbaba cried loudly. He cried again: "Kanhaiya, This snake is all set to strangulate me. Save me." Lord touched the python with his feet and instantly, the python vanished. In its place appeared a divine-looking human. He said: "O Lord, I was a Vidyadhar named Sudarshan. I was so much obsessed with my beauty, youth, luxury and comforts that I used to insult others. One day I had derided at the ugly appearance of the sage Angira. So indignantly he cursed me to become a python. But, pleased by my realization of mistake, he had told that when God himself would touch me, I would regain my original appearance." Thereafter, Sudarshan went round the God, worshiped Him and with his permission, departed to his abode.

On another occasion a demon Shankhchur tried to escape away kidnapping some of the Gopis. A stampede resulted among Gopis. Hearing their noise, Krishna ran after the demon. In no time He overtook the demon and killed him by just one blow. He picked up the gem from demon's head and handed it to Balarama.

We then moved on to Akrura story. After Narada muni visits Kamsa and reveals Krishna's whereabouts, Kansa is enraged. He decides to hold a Dhanuryagna and invite the special inhabitants of Vrindavan. He sends Akrura a popular yadava as messenger. Akrura warns Kamsa that all well made plans can go awry. 
  Akrura is eager to see the lord. He is warmly welcomed in Vrindavan. The Nanda and Krishna welcome this invitation from Kamsa. Plans are made to set out the following day. 
When Krishna leaves Vrindavan, he leaves behind the gopis and his mother Yashoda maiya. The simple folks are dejected to Krishna leave their village. But with exemplary devotion, they all attain the lord's side.

We had closing prayers in the auditorium, We may be having a quiz next week. See you all next week. 

pranam

Class Review- 4 Grade Section B - 12/02/2012 - Class Room # A108

HARI OM EVERY ONE! 

We started our session with  breathing exercise and chanting Om 3 times. We recited Sree Ganapathi Stotram 

We learnt Sree Govinda Damodara Storam - first 2 verses . Kids enjoyed learning this well known bhajan.

We moved on to Krishna Lila's story time.. The devotion of the noble  Rishi patni's .. how they left the Yagna and went to serve Krishna and provided food for hungry gopas. At this context we discussed the importance of trees and brainstormed on why they are noble, how we all can serve others in need.. Next week's home work is to think of any noble actions of service that kids have performed and write a 2 liner on that.

We heard the wonderful story of King Sibi -- who was well known for his kindness and service. How he rescued the hurt pigeon and offered himself in tun to the eagle who was indeed the Kind of Devas, "The Indra". Fire God"Agni" and Indra were testing Sibi and nature to serve all beings equally.

We practiced Geeta chanting -- recited the first 7 verses. Please encourage kids to practice Gita chanting at home. Kids did Likhita japa in their books before they continued on their fun project, which was started in last class. All the kids had cut the traced out palms on the poster boards. We are going to work more on this project and also conclude it  in our next class.

PS- Please make sure to remind your kids to file the hard copies of bhajan's provided in class. 

 

See you all in our next Balavihar session on Dec 9th  2012. 

-Grade 4B teachers