We started the class with setting up the altar, kids who come early get a chance to help setting up the altar. Kids picked their nametags, and the whole class chanted OM three times, followed by meditation. After meditation, we chanted sahanavavatu, saraswati namstubhyam, shuklam bardharam, guru stotram.
Today's class we discussed what a symbol is, kids gave a few examples of popular symbols : peace sign, swastik, etc. Then we discussed about flag of a country - how it is also kind of a symbol, representing the values of the country, and when we salute a flag, we are also remembering the great leaders who sacrificed their lives for that country.
Then we heard a story about how Swami Vivekananda has dispelled the doubts a king had as to why we should worship a god's picture. Swami Vivekananda asked the servant to bring down the portrait of the king's grandfather, and made the servant spit on it. seeing this, the king got mad - and Swami Vivekananda told the king that it's just a picture of his grandfather, and why he is getting angered by it. At that point the king realized as to why we should worship god's picture or idol (murti). Just like the king has emotional attachment to his grandfather's picture, Veda Vyasa gave us various gods so that we can get attached to the all pervading God.
Hearing this story, some of the kids who had a doubt similar to the king got convinced and could get the connection between the picture in front of them & the quote of "God is everywhere".
Then we started to learn more about Lord Ganesha. Kids who knew the story of the birth of Gajanana, narrated it to the class. Then we learnt the symbolism in Ganesha, what Veda Vyasa wants us to understand when we see a picture / murti of Ganapati.
Then we heard the audio of M.S Subbalakshmi's rendition of Adi Sankaracharya's "Ganesha Pancharatnam". All the kids were given a folder of prayers we will be learning in 5th grade. As the audio was playing kids followed it in their prayer file. Those who missed can download the file here grade5-prayers.pdf
Then we learnt the important names of Ganesha,
and there was a word search homework on finding all these names, the word search is available here. We chanted
वक्रतुन्ड महाकाय कोटिसूर्यसमप्रभ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येशु सर्वदा॥
vakratunḍa mahākāya koṭisūryasamaprabha |
nirvighnaṁ kuru me deva sarvakāryeśu sarvadā ||
to seek the blessings of Vinayaka.
Wow! we didn't realize that it was almost time to conclude, as the kids who knew lead, the rest of the class joined in chanting pledge & poornamadah.
Today's class we discussed what a symbol is, kids gave a few examples of popular symbols : peace sign, swastik, etc. Then we discussed about flag of a country - how it is also kind of a symbol, representing the values of the country, and when we salute a flag, we are also remembering the great leaders who sacrificed their lives for that country.
Then we heard a story about how Swami Vivekananda has dispelled the doubts a king had as to why we should worship a god's picture. Swami Vivekananda asked the servant to bring down the portrait of the king's grandfather, and made the servant spit on it. seeing this, the king got mad - and Swami Vivekananda told the king that it's just a picture of his grandfather, and why he is getting angered by it. At that point the king realized as to why we should worship god's picture or idol (murti). Just like the king has emotional attachment to his grandfather's picture, Veda Vyasa gave us various gods so that we can get attached to the all pervading God.
Hearing this story, some of the kids who had a doubt similar to the king got convinced and could get the connection between the picture in front of them & the quote of "God is everywhere".
Then we started to learn more about Lord Ganesha. Kids who knew the story of the birth of Gajanana, narrated it to the class. Then we learnt the symbolism in Ganesha, what Veda Vyasa wants us to understand when we see a picture / murti of Ganapati.
Then we learnt the important names of Ganesha,
- ekadanta
- gajakarṇa
- gajānana
- gaṇapati
- gaṇeśa
- lambodara
- maheśvaraputra
- modakahasta
- pārvatiputra
- phālacandra
- vighnarāja
- vighneśvara
and there was a word search homework on finding all these names, the word search is available here. We chanted
वक्रतुन्ड महाकाय कोटिसूर्यसमप्रभ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येशु सर्वदा॥
vakratunḍa mahākāya koṭisūryasamaprabha |
nirvighnaṁ kuru me deva sarvakāryeśu sarvadā ||
Wow! we didn't realize that it was almost time to conclude, as the kids who knew lead, the rest of the class joined in chanting pledge & poornamadah.
