Ram Navami 2012 update March 31st
Ram Navami
celebration started with Sundarkand parayan chanting at ashram on March 31st
at 4:30pm. The grade 1 class came together to celebrate Rama’s birthday. Some
of the children dressed up as Hanuman, Rama or Sita. At the end of the Sundarkand
parayanam, the children got up on stage and sang a couple of Rama bhajans. After the bhajans dinner was served. Thanks to grade 1 parents and children.
April 1st class.
Before the class started we took a few minutes to review the prior night's celebrations at the ashram. The class started with the usual 3 loud ohms followed by om
sahana vavathu and then meditation for few minutes.The class then proceeded to enthusiastically say the guru strotrams.
We continued the Ramayana story. Rama has helped Sugriva
become the king. With advent of the monsoon season Rama and Lakshmana have to stop their search
and wait at the Rysamukha mountain. After the monsoon ends, Sugriva does not
come forward with the help he promised Rama. Sugriva ignores nudging from
Hanuman and Angada. Rama sends Lakshmana to remind Sugriva of his duty, but
cautions his short tempered brother to act with discretion.
When Lakshmana arrives at Kiskinda, Angada tries to stop him
from seeing Sugriva. Hanuman tries to sober up the intoxicated Sugriva.
Lakshmana gets angry and lets out a twang from his mighty bow. The shocking
sound stops everyone in their tracks and also wakes Sugriva to his senses. Sugriva
rushes to meet the waiting prince. He immediately organizes his vanara army for
Rama and Lakshmana. So this chapter ends with search party being dispatched to
North, East, West and South. Since Rama has a strong instinct about the South,
the best vanaras like Hanuman, Angada and Jambhavan were dispatched to the
South. Rama also gives his signet ring to Hanuman.
Instead of the drawing we all played the Zip zap
zoom game. Thus ended the last class before spring break.
