Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Vidyadhara's Deliverance

Hare Krsna!!!

Dear Parents,
We would like to thank Radhika Mataji for helping out in the class. Thank You, Radhika Mataji. We heartily thank all the parents for their sincere efforts and great enthusiasm in bringing the kids to sunday school. Thank You!!

This week,

PRAYERS : We sang Guru prayer thanking him for giving us knowledge, Lord Shri Krsna and Srimati Radharani seeking their blessings and guidance to become knowledgeable good devotees of the Lord.

SLOKA : We learnt the Bhagavad-Gita Sloka from Chapter 10 : verse 8
aham sarvasya prabhavo
mattah sarvam pravarte
iti matvaa bhajante maam
budhaa bhaava samanvitaah

TRANSLATION : I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.

Audio Link: http://kids.iskcondesiretree.info/Audio/03_-_Sloka_recitation_by_5_year_old_Samhita/Bhagavad_Gita_108_Important/Ch%2010%20Opulence%20of%20the%20Absolute/BG%2010.8.MP3

Bhagavad-Gita Link : If you would like to know more about this verse and its purport, please visit http://vedabase.net/bg/10/8/en
(Note: Please refer to the previous posts for the prayers and their translations.)

STORY TIME: We heard the liberation of Vidyadhara.
Once Nanda Maharaj and other cowherd men went to Ambikavana to observe siva-ratri, to worship Lord Shiva. Ambikavana was near river saraswati, so Nanda Maharaj and other men took bath in the river and went to worship Shiva and went to sleep on the bank of river Saraswati. That night, from the nearby forest, a big snake came and hungrily began to swallow up Nanda Maharaja. Nanda Maharaj called out to Lord Krsna to save him from the snakc. By the sounds, the cowherd men woke up and began beating the snake with burning logs but the snake would not stop swallowing Maharaj Nanda. Lord Krsna appeared on the scene and put his lotus feet on the snake head and the snake turned into a demigod.
The demigod named Vidyadhara bowed down to Lord Krsna and Lord Krsna asked Vidyadhara, what bad activities he did to get the body of a serpent. So, Vidyadhara explained to Lord Krsna that he was a beautiful demigod in his previous life and while he was traveling in his airplane, he came across a great sage, Angira. As he was so proud of his beauty, he made fun out of Angira Muni's features. Due to this sinful action, Angira Muni cursed him to take the body of the lowly species, snake.
Now, being touched by Lord Krsna's lotus feet, Vidyadhara was freed from all kinds of sinful reaction. He asked Lord Krsna's permission to go home in higher heavenly planets. Lord Krsna gave permission and Vidyadhara circumambulated Lord Krsna to offer obeisances and went to his home. That's how Nanda Maharaj was saved from being swallowed by the big snake.
While Nanda Maharaj and other cowherd men returning home, they kept on recalling the wonderful activities of Lord Krsna. They came to worship Lord Shiva but became more attached to the supreme Lord Krsna.

Practical Application:
1. Always remembering Krsna and never forgetting Krsna will help us in living a peaceful and happy life.
2. We can develop love for Lord Krsna by hearing His pasttimes, chanting His Holy name, singing for Him, and dancing for Him.
3. With pure love for Lord Krsna, we will be able to go to our original home, Lord Krsna's spiritual planet.

Krsna Book link : Liberation of Vidyadhara http://krsnabook.com/ch34.html

Finally, we concluded the class with coloring pictures. All the kids know who they are coloring and they like this activity more.

Looking forward to seeing all of you in the next class.

Haribol!!!!
Gopala Class Teachers
Namapriya Mataji
Amutha

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Dhenukasura and Pralambasura story

Hare Krsna!!

Dear Parents,
We would like to express our most sincere thanks to Monika Mataji for conducting the class on Jan 15 eventhough the Sunday school was cancelled due to weather. She read the story of Pralambasura and engaged the kids with coloring pictures. THANK YOU Monika Mataji.

This week,
PRAYERS: We said the prayers for Lord Shri Krishna, Srimati Radharani and Guru prayer.

SLOKA: We started learning a new BG sloka from Chapter 10 : verse 8
aham sarvasya prabhavo
mattah sarvam pravarte

iti matvaa bhajante maam
budhaa bhaava samanvitaah

TRANSLATION : I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.

Audio Link: http://kids.iskcondesiretree.info/Audio/03_-_Sloka_recitation_by_5_year_old_Samhita/Bhagavad_Gita_108_Important/Ch%2010%20Opulence%20of%20the%20Absolute/BG%2010.8.MP3

Bhagavad-Gita Link : If you would like to know more about this verse and its purport, please visit http://vedabase.net/bg/10/8/en

(Note: Please refer to the previous posts for the prayers and their translations.)

STORY TIME: We heard Pralambasura story one more time.
Pralambasura:
One day Lord Krsna, Lord Balaram and their friends were dancing, singing and playing when a demon named Pralamba wanted to kill Lord Balaram came to play with them, disguised as a cowherd boy. The Supreme Lord Krsna saw through the disguise, but He treated him as a friend, even as He thought of how to kill the demon. Lord Krsna and Balaram divided the boys into two groups and said that the losers would have to carry the winners on their shoulders. So, when the cowherd boys on Balaram's party won, Lord Krsna and another boy in His party carried them on their shoulders. Pralambāsura took Lord Balaram on his back and began to walk away very fast and far. But Balaram became as heavy as a Mountain and Pralambasura was unable to carry Lord Balaram. Pralambasura, then turned to his real, huge demoniac form and Lord Balaram struck a hard blow on the demon's head with His fist. This blow shattered Pralambāsura's head and he fell dead upon the ground. When all the cowherd boys saw Lord Balaram return, they happily hugged and congratulated Him and the demigods showered garlands of flowers from the heavens.

Dhenukasura :
When Lord Balaram and Lord Krsna became six years old, their father gave them cows to tend. Along with their cowherd friends, they wandered all over Vrindavan forest herding the cows. One day, when they were wandering in Vrindavan, Lord Krsna glorified Lord Balaram by telling that the trees are bowing their heads at Lord Balaram’s lotus feet offering their fruits and flowers, the bees are worshiping and chanting Lord Balaram’s glories, the peacocks are dancing before Him out of joy and the doe are pleasing Him with affectionate glances. The earth became most fortunate, because Lord Balaram walked and touched and saw them with His merciful glance. Thus they enjoyed tending the cows in the beautiful Vrindavan forest on the banks of the river Yamuna below Govardhan Hill.
Once, Sridama along with Subala and other cowherd friends said to all powerful Lord Balaram and Killer of the demons, Lord Krsna that there is a very great forest nearby named Talavan filled with rows of palm trees. In that Tālavana forest, there are many trees with ripe fruits and many fruits are lying on the ground. But all these fruits are guarded by the powerful demon Dhenuka in the form of a donkey. He has many friends who are also donkeys and also as powerful as him. Everyone is afraid of this demon Dhenuka becuase he has eaten men alive, and even the birds are afraid to fly there. The cowhered boy friends loved the smell of this fruit and wanted to taste. They asked Lord Krsna and Balaram whether they can go to Talavan forest and get those fruits.
Lord Krsna and Balaram wanting to please their friends, went to Tālavana along with them. Lord Balaram entered the forest first and began shaking the trees forcefully causing the fruits to fall to the ground. Hearing the sound of the falling fruits, the demon Dhenuka ran forward to attack, making the earth and trees tremble. The powerful demon braying loudly kicked the chest of Lord Balarama. He tried to kick Lord Balaram again with his hind legs, but Lord Balaram caught Dhenuka by his hooves, whirled him with His one hand and threw him into the top of a palm tree. When the dead demon landed in the treetop, the tree began shaking and broke and fell on the nearby tree and it fell on the other tree causing fruits to fall.
The other demons were very angry when they saw Dhenukasura’s death, and they all immediately ran to attack Lord Krsna and Balaram. But, Lord Krsna and Balaram easily caught them one after another by their hind legs and threw them all into the top of the palm trees. Since the demon Dhenuka was killed, all the people of Vrindavan were able to go to the Talavan forest and get the fruits of the palm trees. Also, the cows grazed freely upon the grass in the Talavan forest.
When Lord Krsna and Balarama returned home, their mothers bathed, massaged and dressed them in beautifuldresses and gave them delicious food to eat and finally laid them down in bed and they slept happily.

Krsna book link:
Killing of demon Pralambasura : http://krsnabook.com/ch18.html
Killing of Dhenukasura http://krsnabook.com/ch15.html

Looking forward to seeing all of you in the next class.

Haribol!!!!
Gopala Class Teachers
Namapriya Mataji
Amutha

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Gajendra Story

Hare Krishna!!!

Dear Parents,
We had most of our old students back. Welcome Back. Many kids wanted to lead the prayers and it was so nice to see such enthusiasm in them. We appreciate the parents effort in teaching them and bringing them to Sunday school.

This week,
PRAYERS: We said the prayers for Lord Shri Krishna and Srimati Radharani.
SLOKA: We revised the previously taught slokas and learnt the BG sloka (Chapter 9: Verse 26)
(Note: Please refer to the previous posts for the prayers and their translations.)

STORY TIME:
Gajendra Story: In the midst of the ocean of milk, there is a very high and beautiful mountain known as Trikūṭa. Once the chief of the elephants, along with female elephants, went to enjoy bathing in that lake, and they disturbed the inhabitants of the water. Because of this, the chief crocodile in that water, who was very powerful, immediately attacked the elephant's leg. Thus, a great fight started between the elephant and the crocodile. This fight continued for one thousand years. Neither the elephant nor the crocodile died, but since they were in the water, the elephant gradually became weak whereas the power of the crocodile increased more and more. Then the elephant, being helpless and seeing that no one could help him, prayed to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The King of the elephants remembered a prayer that he had learned in his previous life and began to chant it to himself. First he offered his respectful obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and because of his awkward position in having been attacked by the crocodile, he wasn't able to recite prayers nicely. However, he tried his best to chant the mantra as nicely as he could.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, seated on Garuḍa, personally appeared before him. Gajendra, by lifting his trunk, he immediately took a lotus flower in his trunk, and with great difficulty due to his painful condition, he said the following words: "O my Lord, Narayana, master of the universe, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You." and the Lord immediately pulled him from the water along with the crocodile who had captured his leg. Then the Lord killed the crocodile with his disc and thus rescued Gajendra.

Who was Gajendra?
Gajendra, in his previous birth, had been a great devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. His name was Indradyumna, and he was the King of the Tāmila country. He went to the hills to meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead in silence. Agastya Ṛṣi, along with many disciples, once approached King Indradyumna's āśrama, but because the King was meditating on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he could not receive Agastya Ṛṣi properly. Thus the ṛṣi became very angry and cursed the King to become a dull elephant. In accordance with this curse, the King was born as an elephant, and he forgot all about his previous activities in devotional service. Nonetheless, in his birth as an elephant, when he was dangerously attacked by the crocodile, he remembered his past life in devotional service and remembered a prayer he had learned in that life. Because of this prayer, he again received the mercy of the Lord. Thus he was immediately delivered, and he got the same bodily features as the Lord, being dressed in yellow garments and possessing four hands.

Who was the Crocodile?
There was a king on the Gandharva planet whose name was Hūhū. Once this King Hūhū was playing with his wife in the water, and while playing around he pulled the leg of Devala Ṛṣi, who was also taking a bath in the water. Upon this, the sage became very angry and immediately cursed him to become a crocodile. King Hūhū was very sorry when cursed in that way and he begged pardon from the sage, who in compassion gave him the benediction that he would be freed when Gajendra was delivered by the Personality of Godhead. Thus the crocodile was delivered when killed by Nārāyaṇa

Srimad-Bhagavatam link to Gajendra story(Canto 8 : chapters 2, 3 and 4) http://vedabase.net/sb/8/en

Practical Application:
1. Disrespect to our elders or mischief will certainly cause us trouble.
2. No one can help us in dangerous/troublesome situation except Lord Krishna.
3. Everyone can go to Vaikunta if we develop love for Lord Krishna.
4. It is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam, simply hearing this Gajendra story, one is unaffected by the contamination of Kali-yuga, and one never sees bad dreams.

Looking forward to seeing all of you in the next class.

Haribol!!!!
Gopala Class Teachers
Namapriya Mataji
Amutha

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Lord Krishna comes when called with love

Hare Krishna!!!

Dear Parents,
We missed many kids during this winter holidays. We would really like to see all the kids in the class.

This week,
PRAYERS: We offered our respects to Guru, Shri Krishna, Srimati Radharani.

SLOKA: We revised the previously taught slokas and started learning a new BG sloka (Chapter 9: Verse 26)
patram puspam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam
asnami prayataatmanah

TRANSLATION : If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.

Audio Link: http://kids.iskcondesiretree.info/Audio/03_-_Sloka_recitation_by_5_year_old_Samhita/Bhagavad_Gita_108_Important/Ch%209%20The%20Most%20Confidential%20Knowledge/BG9.26.MP3

Bhagavad -Gita Link: If you would like to know more about this verse and its purport, please visit http://vedabase.net/bg/9/26/en

(Note: Please refer to the previous posts for the prayers and their translations.)

STORY TIME: Namapriya Mataji told a story about How loving and kind Krishna is.

Krishna comes when called with love
There was a mother and she had a son named Kanna. One day, when it was Janmashtami (Lord Krishna’s Birthday), the mom made lots of sweets and savories. Seeing all this sweets and savories, the boy was very hungry and he wanted to eat it. But the mom said, we can eat only after offering the eatables to Lord Krishna and draw Baby Krishna’s lotus feet with rice powder all over the house. She also said to her son to go outside and watch the procession of Lord Krishna coming out of the temple until she calls him for Aarthi.

So, Kanna went outside to watch the procession. After awhile, the mother done with offering and putting Lord Krishna’s lotus feet, came out to call her son. She called, Kanna, Kanna, please come to eat. At that time, the Lord Krishna who was in the procession thought that one of the mother, just like Mother Yashoda and Mother Devaki, is also calling him to eat. So, Lord Krishna came to this mother in the form of her son Kanna and the mom gave Lord Krishna who is in the form of her son gave the sweets and savories. Lord Krishna was very hungry and kept on eating. Then the mother was little confused because her son Kanna won’t be able to eat this much at one time. Understanding the mother’s thoughts, Lord Krishna said He is full, leaving few laddus and other sweets and kissed the mom for giving him lots of sweets and went out to play again.

Little later, the mom’s real son Kanna, after watching the procession, came to his mom and said he was very hungry. His mom was confused and went to look at the plates where the sweets were kept. To her amazement, she saw lots and lots of sweets were in the plates than what she had prepared. Finally, she understood that Lord Krishna Himself had come as her son when she called. She was so happy that Lord Krishna being kind and loving came to her when she called her real son, Kanna with love because Lord Krishna has several names and one of them is Kanna.

From this story,we learn that we should call/chant Lord Krishna's name with love and devotion. Then, He will definitely respond to our love and come to us.

Gajendra Story: We also heard the story about Gajendra, the elephant devotee, calls out for Lord Hari when he was caught in the mouth of a big crocodile for one thousand years and Lord Hari comes to save him on Garuda. We will hear more about this story in the next class and also find out who are Gajendra and the crocodile.

Looking forward to seeing all of you in the next class.

Haribol!!!!
Gopala Class Teachers
Namapriya Mataji
Amutha