Dharma 4 - Ramayana

Class Information -

This class covers: Learn the core tenets of Dharma through the example of Shri Rama. Focus is on the Ramayanas of Valmiki, Tulsidas and Kamban. Use the animated Ramayana DVD to start the year. Cover the main episodes in the story of Ramayana. Each class should have an activity. Teach the Hanuman Chalisa and Ramastuti.

Ages: 7-8 / Grade: 2-3

Download PDF copy of book: CLICK HERE

Classroom: Board Room

Teachers -

Teachers:

• Mrudula Wadake

• Saritha Kumaran

EMAIL teachers: CLICK HERE

Teenage Volunteers:

• Aashni Deglurkar

• Ria Thakkar

• Navya Devda

Class & Homework-

May 12

This class is mostly the second graders who already knew Ramayana stories. We tried to revisit the stories in an analytical way and tried to see what, how and why it happened and how every character responded in the epic Ramayan creating an example of how we can have the good qualities to practice and the bad qualities we stay away from.

January 6

We started with new year celebration, new year plans along with our starting prayers.

Shabari story - talked about devotion and love towards your ideals

Today's skills - Anya shared her puppet making skills with class and everyone made one puppet today in the class.

December 16

We reviewed the Lakshmana rekha and how in real life we need to listen to our parents and not let any strangers in. We reviewed Rama,Lakshmana and Sita and their roles. Also we discussed the presentation ideas. Then we played games.

December 9

Note: Parents should remind kids to bring their books to class.

Last class we learned that we shouldn't get tricked by strangers who are offering us gifts.

Notes for December 9th:

You shouldn't let your anger influence your decisions and how you act. Rama was angry at Lakshmana because Lakshmana left Sita all alone. Lakshamana should've ignored Sita's angry words and stayed with Sita. Ravana wouldn't have dared to take Sita if Lakshmana was protecting her.

Rama and Lakshmana are told to go meet Sugreeva, who would help them on their search for Sita.

Kabandha is a monster who originally was cursed, which was why he became a monster. Rama and Lakshmana would perform cremation which would bring him back to his original form.

December 2

-The sadhu is offended because Sita put the food but the sadhu wants Sita to come outside the house and past the line.

-Jedi: the bird that tried to save Sita from Ravana

-The name of the deer that Sita wanted is Mariche-he was golden (fake which Sita falls for)

-Vanaras:monkeys

-Sita let her jewelry off so she could make a traces for Rama

-Sugreeva the Varnas leader

-Ravana kidnapped Sita because Sita is Rama’s wife. Without\Against her wishes.

-the golden dear was a trick because he did it against his wishes and he chooses to get killed by Rama.

-Sita falled for the golden dear, she asked Rama to get it for him, Rama went and he put Lakshmana to protect Sita. Mariche pretends to be Rama and cries for help. Sita forces Lakshmana to go and he draws a line (Lakshman Rehka) to protect Sita.

-teaches us to protect ourselves from strangers

-Safe distance from a stranger and don’t fall for tricks

November 18

We did golden deer story and talked about how Ram, Seeta, Lakshman reacted to it, if not that way, what would have happened

Talked about how to control our emotions - Anger, being emotional, falling for non- real ambitions, how to have realistic dreams

Note for parents - please make sure your kid comes with his Dharma book to the class

Homework - who was Rishi Agatsya ?

What is the meaning of Shurpnakha ?

November 11

We did revision of Ramayana from the beginning

Analytical reasoning of Ram going to Vanvaas

Why Diwali is celebrated - kids homework to come up with more reasons for celebration

Homework - who was Ratana's uncle who helped Ram ( discussed in the class already)

November 4

Diwali/Deepavali is the festival of lights that is celebrated for five days.

Rama weds Sita:

King Janaka said Rama should be allowed to lift the bow. To everyone's surprise, Rama was actually able to lift it up. King Janaka asked Rama to treat Sita as he would treat his dearest friend before and after their marriage.

October 14

There are 4 vedas:

Atharva Veda

Sam veda

Rigveda

Yaruveda

2 of these show you how to do a yagya (fire Pooja)

2 times Ashvamedha pooja were performed; birth of Rama and when they returned .

Rama’s sons:Luv and Kush

Dashera got pasayam(Kheer) . Blessed by Vishnu so a form of Vishnu is born.

Kaushala give birth to Rama

Kayki gave birth to Bharat

Sumatri gave birth to lakshmna and shutragan

How the 4 brothers respected each other that’s why we should follow their example by respecting elders and caring for them

In Ram’s temple we see lakshmana and Sita

They have different teachers: Drashrata taught them and then Rishi Vashishta thought then to read and write .

Ram Navmi is a festival that celebrates the birth of Rama. Celebrated on March or April

Ramchartimanas: the story of Rama but in a simpler language

October 7

Dashratha-King of Ayodhya

His wives: Kaushalya,Sumitra, Kaikayee

Kaushalya was Rama’s mother

Kaikayee was bharats mother

Read pg 21-Chapter 5

we talked about mistakes and how making mistakes is okay but accepting your mistakes is courageous. We also talked about good deeds and if you do good deeds, good things will happen to you and if you do bad deeds, bad things will happen to you. We learned from the story that obedience to our parents and elders is important and hunting innocent animals isn’t justifiable.

we then read pg 23

No Homework

September 30

Kaikayee gets two boons from Dashratha because she saves him during war.

Manthara convinces her to use those boons to send Rama to the forest so that Bharat can become the king.

Ravana’s siblings: Kumbakaran, Vibhishan, and

All three of them pray and get granted boons:

Ravana asks for immortality - Nobody can kill him unless they attack his stomach

Kumbakaran asks for 6 months of no disturbance where he gets to sleep, every year

Vibhishan asks that he is always devoted to Vishnu and that nothing distracts or stops him from that

Ravana gets married multiple times and starts doing bad things because he knows that he can’t be killed easily.

Ravana has to be reminded that he isn’t the most supreme power and that he isn’t someone everyone looks up to. This is why God comes to earth in the avatar of Rama.

No homework

September 23

Materials Covered in Class

Who was the "bad guy" in the Ramayana and why was he bad?

Ravan was the antagonist in this story, but he wasn't always evil. He was actually very well educated, mand very devoted. However he was bad because he took Sita because he wanted her to become his wife.

Ramayan was originally written in Sanskrit by rishi valmiki, but then goswami tulsidas wrote it so the common man could understand it. In Class we read pages 11 and 12 which was the beginning of Chapter 3: Goswami Tulsidas. We also discussed the info in this chapter. We then discussed that India has over 400 languages and during the time period of the Ramayana, Awadhi was the main language. Tulsidas wrote the Ramayana in the common language. We then read pg 15: What can we learn from the life of Tulsidas? We learned that even if we have a tough life, we should pray to god and he will help us. We should remember god with faith and devotion no matter what language you pray in, as long as you are connected to god.

If you miss a lesson, please read the material you miss!

No Homework

September 16

I went through chapters 1 and 2

Exploring Ramayana story with kids and sharing details for the chapters which were new to them.

Asked them questions on chapters 1 and 2

Went through the ritual of starting and ending the class with mantras.

Back to Top