March 3, 2013

We started the much awaited class with Likhita Japa of OM namaH shivAya. Kids had already written the Japa on the board as soon as the language class was over :) We reminded the students about the Likhita Japa that each student has to write in loose leaf paper, to be used in the new Vrindavan Ashram.

After OM chanting, we meditated for a few minutes. We sang our opening prayers. Today, we completed Gita Chanting right after opening prayers. Kids can read and chant quite fluently. We discussed the meaning of Verses 13, 14 and learned to chant these two verses.

We reminded the kids again to register for the Geeta Chanting Yajna along with their parents. We discussed how Mahatma Gandhi would look for answers to his daily challenges in Bhagavad Gita, and how blessed the children are to have an opportunity to learn Bhagavad Gita. Parents, please encourage chanting at home everyday. With the excellent memory that these kids possess, chanting the verses few times everyday, gets it down in their memory faster than you would think. Check it out.

As there were no other suggestions for the name of the gameshow, sent to 5thgradecmtc@gmail.com, we finalized the name of the gameshow to be Fab Five!!

We then started the Shiva Lingam Craft Activity, that the children have been eagerly looking forward to. We divided the class in to three groups. Each table worked on their shiva lingam, chanting OM namaH shivAya. We used Black Crayola Model Magic Clay to sculpt our shiva lingams. We made the Rudra bhaaga, Vishnu bhaga and then the Brahma bhaaga. We attached the Vishnu bhaga on top of the Brahma bhaaga. We inserted a wood-stick to hold all three sections in place and carefully placed the Rudra bhaaga on top of the Vishnu bhaaga. Kids then took turns using a gray sharpie to draw the tripunDram mark in the rudra bhaaga. Vola, we had made our own shiva lingams, just in time for Mahaashivaraatri. Kids please handle the shivalingams with care and devotion; keep in in a safe, dry place until your lingam is fully dried.

Prasad uncle then led the class in chanting Shiva panchaakshara shlokam. Kids thus completed the activity by offering prayers to the shiva lingam that they had created in class.

Hope the kids enjoyed the craft activity and will cherish their Shiva Lingam.

This friday, March 8, 2013, Fifth graders are meeting in the Ashram, to watch a movie with Swami ShantanandaJi. Please remember to be there by 6PM.

Blessings,
Anjana Aunty & Prasad Uncle