Churning of Milk Ocean - part 1

Hare Krsna!!!

Dear Parents,
We are very happy to see all(most) of the students in the class.

This week,
PRAYERS : We started the class with prayers to get the blessings of Lord Krsna .

SLOKA TIME: We revised " ye yatha mam" ( BG 4:11) and "vit-raaga-krodha" (BG 4:10) slokas.
(Note: Please refer to the old posts for all the previously taught slokas and their translations.)

STORY TIME: "Churning of Milk Ocean"
Once, while Durvasa muni was walking along a road, he saw Indra riding on the back of his white elephant, Airavath. Sage Durvasa gladly presented Indra with a flower garland. Indra being very prideful, instead of appreciatively placing over his neck, he just hung it on the trunk of his elephant.
The elephant being an animal could not understatnd the value of the garland. So, he threw the garland and stomped on it. Sage Durvasa felt offended, immediately cursed Indra to loose all his power and wealth. In due course, Indra lost all his wealth and in battle against the demons, many of the demigods were killed.
Since Indra and the demigods were in worse condition, they asked Lord Brahma for help. Lord Brahma suggested that they take shelter of Lord Vishnu. As such, everyone went to Ocean of Milk situated in the island Svetadvipa where Lord Vishnu resides. Though the Lrod Brahma and the demigods couldn't see Lord Vishnu, they worshiped Him with beautiful prayers and begged that Lord Vishnu be pleased with them.
Lord Vishnu pleased with their prayers, appeared in front of them in four handed form holding a disc, conchshell, lotus flower and a club. Lord Vishnu said to the demigods that they should churn the milk ocean to get the nectar, which would make them immortal, but with the help of the demons. Hearing from the Lord, the demigods went to King Bali, the leader of demons and asked for the demons help. Understanding that the demigods were willing to share the nectar, King Bali agreed to their proposal of churning the milk ocean.
Following the Lord's instructions, the demigods and the demons went to the base of the golden Mount Mandara.....

Namapriya Mataji will continue narrating the story in the next class.

Looking forward to seeing all of you in the next class.
Haribol!!!!
Gopala Class Teachers
Namapriya Mataji
Amutha Mataji

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Birthday

Hare Krsna!!!

Dear Parents,

We are very happy to welcome back our most dear teacher Namapriya Mataji from her vacation.Welcome Back Mataji!!!

This week,

PRAYERS : We started the class with prayers to get the blessings of Lord Krsna .

SLOKA TIME: We revised most of the previously taught slokas (Note: Please refer to the old posts for all the previously taught slokas and their translations.)

STORY TIME: We were discussing the pastimes of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for the past 3- 4 weeks. We celebrated Gaura Poornima (Birthday of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) from last Wednesday to Sunday. On the request of the kids, we heard the same Brahmana story again from the childhood pastimes of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Namapriya Mataji narrated "Churning of Milk Ocean" which she will continue next week.

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

Haribol!!!!

Gopala Class Teachers

Namapriya Mataji

Amutha Mataji

Lord Chaitanya - Merciful Incarnation of the Supreme Lord

Hare Krsna!!!

Dear Parents,
We are happy to see all the kids participating nicely in the class. Thank you for bringing your kids regularly to Sunday Gopala class and we are happy to see more new kids. Welcome!!!.

This week,
PRAYERS : We started the class with prayers to understand and apply the knowledge of Lord Krsna in our daily life.
Here are the prayers and the translations listed for all the newcomers.
Guru Prayer:
om ajnana -timirāndhasya
jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaḿyena
tasmai sri-gurave namah

Translation: I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.

Lord Krsna:
he krsna karunaa-sindho
diina-bandho jagat-pate
gopesa gopikaa-kaanta
raadhaa-kaanta namo'stu te

Translation: O my dear Krsna, You are the friend of the distressed and the source of creation. You are the master of the gopis and the lover of Radharani. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Radharani:
tapta-kanchana-gaurāńgi
radhe vṛndā vaneśvari
vṛṣabhānu-sute devi
praṇamāmi hari-priye

TRANSLATION: I offer my respects to Rādhārāṇī, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen 0f Vrindavana. You are the daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu, and You are very dear to Lord Krsna.

SLOKA : Radhika Mataji taught the Bhagavad-Gita Sloka from Chapter 4: verse 10
vita - raga-bhaya-krodha
man-maya mam upasritah
bahavo jnana-tapasa
puta mad-bhavam agatah

TRANSLATION: Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me — and thus they all attained transcendental love for Me.

Audio Link: Please let the kids hear the sloka for few times and they can recite very easily in the class. http://kids.iskcondesiretree.info/Audio/03_-_Sloka_recitation_by_5_year_old_Samhita/Bhagavad_Gita_108_Important/Ch%204TranscendentalKnowledge/BG4.10.MP3

Bhagavad-Gita Link: If you would like to know more about this verse and its purport, please visit http://vedabase.net/bg/4/10/en
(Note: Please refer to the old posts for all the previously taught slokas and their translations.)

STORY TIME: We heard another pastimes of Caitanya Mahaprabhu where He shows mercy to even worst sinners.
Story of Jagai and Madhai: On the request of Lord Chaitanya, Lord Nityananda went door to door in Navadvipa to preach to everyone to worship Lord Krsna, to chant the holy name and study the teachings of the Lord. Once while preaching, Lord Nityananda came across Jagai and Madhai who were drunkards, meat-eaters and violent criminals. Being very compassionate, Lord Nityananda requested Jagai and Madhai to chant the holy name of Krsna. But Madhai threw a piece of broken pot at Nityananda, which hit Him on the head and caused bleeding. Then Jagai tried to hold Madhai from committing more violence.
When Lord Chaitanya heard about the attack on Lord Nityananda, He rushed to the spot with his Sudarsana Chakra to kill Jagai and Madhai. Seeing the Lord's anger, Lord Nityananda begged Lord Chaitanya not to kill them and said that they have killed demons in other incarnations but now they have come only to save all fallen and worst sinners. Then Lord Chaitanya forgave them on one condition that they should not commit anymore sins and chant the holy name of the Lord. There after, Jagai and Madhai became exalted devotees of the Lord.

Finally, we concluded the class with Narasimha prayer(Please visit the previous post for the prayer) and coloring pictures.

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

Haribol!!!!
Gopala Class Teachers
Namapriya Mataji
Radhika Mataji
Monika Mataji
Amutha Mataji