Sanskar Gurukul Weekly Update

Class Name: Prahlada Week# 04: Oct 21st 2012

General Assembly We started the GA with three Omkaras followed by the Shanthi Mantra. Aparna aunty wished everyone "Happy Navarathri". She asked students what are considered scriptures for Hinduism. Response was: Vedas. Students recalled the four Vedas as Sama, Atharva, Rig and Yajur Veda. Talked about the content of Vedas. They contain prayers.

Vedas have three sections. First major section contains hymns about nature (trees, sunrise, oceans etc.). Second section contains rituals for desire satisfaction (for want of:--rain, good food, sons/daughters, etc.). Third section contains aranyakas (studied in forests / mountains /jungles). Talked about the environment found in forests: cool, wet, snow, big rocks were some of the students responses. When we reach the mountain peak, we experience calmness/tranquility free from anger/anxiety.

The treasure of scriptures is Upanishads. These are texts that contain magic key to live your life purposefully. Students were given a handout of Taitrriya Upanishad which is a part of aranyaka. The Taitrriya Upanishad is divided into three sections or Valli's, the Siksha Valli (art of living), the Brahmananda Valli and the Bhrigu Valli. Each Valli further subdivided into anuvakas or verses. We learned how to chant first two lines of 11th verse under Siksha Valli section. Meaning of the first two lines is having taught the Vedas the teacher exhorts the disciple,--"Speak the truth. Perform the : Swerve not from the study of the scriptures”

Class Had a quiz just to see how well students are retaining story.

Continued with Mahabharata: Sabha Parva. who is seething with jealousy (he was the treasurer for during rajasuya-Yagna) comes up with a plot to make everything belonging to Pandavas to be his, with the help of uncle . He manages to convince even his father. Accordingly a sabha is built at Jayantha and Pandavas are invited to see the hall and spend some days with and amuse themselves by playing dice with their cousins. Yudhistira knowing it is not a good thing to play dice, still can’t disobey (his father like) Dhritarastra’s invite.

During the game Yudhistira loses all that is precious as well as near and dear to him as well (including all his , himself and wife ). Duryodhana, Dussasana and misbehave towards Draupadi, where by all Pandavas except Yudhistira take oaths. Bheema promises to kill Duryodhana, break Dussasana’s thigh, to kill Karna, to kill Shakuni and to kill Shakuni’s son Ulluka. Draupadi vows not to pleat her hair and leave it as is until her hair is smeared with Dussassana’s blood. When Draupadi asks the court whether she is a free woman or not, everyone remain silent except for (Duryodhana’s ) who declares that she is a free woman as Yudhistira wagered her after he was won. After repeated pleadings by the elders asking Dritarastra to stop the dice game, (where he takes no

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Sanskar Gurukul Weekly Update

action), Dristarastra finally grants boon to Draupadi. With first boon, she asks her husband Yudhistira be a free man. When asked to choose a second boon, she asks that rest of the Pandavas be declared free. She refuses the third boon, saying she should not be greedy and is happy. Dritarastra pleased by her humility, grants everything that was lost back to Pandavas and asks them to go back to and rule the kingdom happily.

Had a class discussion about the value friendship.

Class ended with closing prayers.

Homework None

Announcements  Please take good care of the Taitrriya Upanishad handout.  Students are invited to dress up in honor of Halloween. (Your picture will be in Yearbook). You can dress up as any character from Indian history (Mahatma Gandhi- ji, Bhagat Singh, Sardar Patel, King Ashoka, Jodha Akbar etc., ) or from scriptures (Sri Rama, Shabri Mata, Mother Seetha, etc.,) No queen Victoria or as any movie actor's please.  Remember to check the updates every week. Complete and submit any homework on-time.  Parents are welcome to attend General Assembly from 11:00 - 11:30 AM in the main hall.

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