May

May 8

Dharma 1 class started with Teaching Assistants chanting the "Om Jai Jagadish Hare" Aarathi. TA Team led the 5mts Meditation for the students & their parents focussing their mind on their Ista Dev/Devatha.

In the class, as Gyan ji was absent, we(TA team & me) discussed individually with the students about their Ista Dev/Devatha and why they like that Deva/Devatha. The students practiced chanting a Shloka for their Ishta Deva/Devatha as well.

Following are the Devas/Devathas picked by students for their In-Person Annual Day Presentation on May 22nd. This Sunday, the class will be rehearsing their presentation virtually. The students will be doing their presentation in their costumes.

1. Jayasudha - "Lord Vishnu" :

Vishnu is the Preserver and guardian of the world, he protects the order of things (dharma) and he appears on earth in various incarnations (avatars) to fight demons and to maintain cosmic harmony. Vishnu is the most important god of Vaishnaism

शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् ।

प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥१।।

2. Aarya - Dattatreya :

Avatar of the three Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, collectively known as the Trimurti. Dattathreya got three heads and six hands, one head each for Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva who represent the Trimurti, the 3 main gods in Hinduism, and one pair of hands holding the symbolic items associated with each of these gods: japamala and water pot of Brahma, conch and discus of Vishnu, trident and drum of Shiva

गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णु र्गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः

गुरु साक्षात परब्रह्मा तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः

Prayers to you, Oh my Guru who is the Brahma (The Creator), Who is the Vishnu (The Preserver), Who is the Maheshwara (The Destroyer), With this knowledge, Guru you are the Parabrahma (Supreme God or the Absolute Truth), My Salutations to you Shri Guru.

3. Subha - Ram ji

Sri Ramachandra, the seventh incarnation (avatar) of Vishnu. the embodiment of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband and above all, the ideal king”. He is a symbol of the victory of right over the evil.

śrī rāma rāma rāmēti ramē rāmē manōramē । sahasranāma tat tulyaṁ rāmanāma varānanē ॥

Chanting Sri Rama's name even once is equivalent to saying Vishnu Sahasranamam a thousand times (as Lord Shiva said to Parvati).

4. Vedanth - Ganapathi

Ganesha is known as the remover of obstacles and the offspring of Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and his consort the goddess Parvathi.The form of Ganesha such as big ears (always listen to others), small mouth (eat less), trunk (drink water more), big head (develop wisdom) pose (sit on floor) , belly (always feel contented) is a big lesson/revelation by itself. With these qualities your life becomes so light that a moushik (rat) can carry to the places.

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ

निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा

May 1

- Reviewed Shlokas

- Reviewed the meaning of the Guru Mantra and what is a Guru

- Homework: Think of one guru in your life that is not a school teacher or your parents. Why are they your guru?

- Final presentation: Kids will sing the aarti together, tell everyone who their isht dev is and why.

March

March 6

Class was cancelled.

February

February 20

Assembly slides, story, aarti practice

Homework: practice om jai jagdish aarti

February 13

Materials covered in class :assembly slides,dharma book story, color the picture, played hang man.

Homework for this week; practice om jai jagdeesh hare aarti