Kids started with the Likhita Japa of the stuti - "OM durgaayai namaH". The class meditated for a few minutes, holding their hands in chinmudra. We sang our opening prayers.
** Section 1 **
We discussed the Devi names that the kids are familiar with. It was surprising to the kids that most of the girls/female relatives whom they knew had one of Devi's names as their name. We then moved on to the topic of the day - "Durga". We understood what the name Durga meant: the one who destroys evil tendencies, "Durgati hariNi" in sanskrit. Then we carefully examined the form of Durga, the various weapons she holds in her hands, the vehicle on which she is riding, the skull necklace that she is wearing, etc.
We then discussed the story of MahiShaasura, the boon he had acquired, and the trouble he was stirring up for the Devas. We recalled how Durga got her power and weapons from all the Devas, and after a fierce battle that raged for nine days, she vanquished all the demons. The day she slayed all the demons is also celebrated as the Vijaya Dasami day, the tenth day after NavaRaatri.
We then looked at the symbolism behind slaying MahiShaasura. MahiShaa, the bull, represents laziness, the evil tendency in all of us that prevents us from reaching our full potential. Praying to Durga, helps us overcome our laziness, procrastination, and other evil tendencies.
We did a small project to re-inforce this concept. We had a picture of Durga Maa traced in a big sheet of paper hung on the white-board. She was adorning a necklace. Each child got a paper cut-out of a skull. They carefully thought about the evil tendency that they would like to overcome and wrote it in their cut-out. Kids identified Over-eating, lethargy, procrastination, resentment, laziness, over-confidence, anger, etc. in themselves as the evil tendency they would like to overcome. Kids then chanted the mantra "hrIm" for a few minutes. They learned to chant the dhyana shloka "sarva managaLa maangalye ..". After the small prayer, each skull was attached to the necklace on Durga Maa. The skulls in Durga Maataa's necklace, are nothing but the evil tendencies of her devotees, slayed by Her.
** Section 2 **
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** "Fab. Five" Game Show Planning by the Fifth Grade Team **
Now it was time for both the sections to get together and plan for the game show. Our friends from the other section joined us. Kids found their team-mates, based on the role assignments in the last class. Each Team shall be mentored by one of the four teachers. Few kids who were absent in the previous class, signed up in one of the four teams. We then brain-stormed the topics or categories for the questions. The final topics or categories are:
- Names of Vishnu
- Names of Shiva
- Names of Devis
- Characters renowned for daanam in Ramaayanam, Mahaabhaaratam and Bhaagavatam.
We ironed out some more details of the game show. We played two mock rounds of the game, with the clues and tiles prepared by one of the students, on the topic "Names of Vishnu" from Vishnu Sahasranaamam. Kids: Please send your questions to "5thgradecmtc@gmail.com". We request each student to research and send at least five fabulous words on the above mentioned topics. Here is a suggested format:
Word #1:
- Topic: Names of Vishnu
- Clue: A Pure Soul
- Answer: pu̅ta̅tma̅
- Author: {kid's name}
Each Team shall decide when, where and how often they would have to meet to get their tasks accomplished. At the end of the class, we found out that the Hosts & Presentation Team, already decided the roles for all the current team-members :) Way to go!! Good Job, kids.
With closing prayers and pledge the class dispersed.
Parents: please stay tuned with the emails regarding game show preparatory meetings and help the kids work as a team. We need your help to host the fabulous game show, that the kids are enthusiastically planning out.
Blessings,
Fifth Grade Teachers
Anjana Aunty, Sangeeta Aunty, Prasad Uncle, and, Kasturi Uncle
