Worshiping Govardhan Hill

Hare Krishna!!!

Dear Parents,
Thank you for bringing your kids to Sunday school.

This week,
PRAYERS: We sang “ he krsna” and “tapta kanchana” offering our prayers to Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani.
(Note: Please refer to the previous posts for the prayers and their translations.)

SLOKA: We revised Bhagavad-Gita slokas “dhrtarastra uvaca”(chapter 1 : verse 1) and “yad yad acarathi” (chapter 3 : verse 21)
(Note: Please refer to the previous posts for the slokas, translations and audio links).

STORY TIME: We heard what is Govardhan Puja, why Lord Krishna stopped Indira Puja, why Govardhan should be worshiped, how Lord Krishna became the Govardhan Hill to accept the offerings , how King Indira being offended, tried to show his powers on the people of Vrindavan and how Lord Krishna protected his devotees from the devastation.

Next week: We will discuss more on this story and find out what happened to King Indira.

Parents, please read chapter 24 from Krsna book to your kids
or click the following link for the chapter http://krsnabook.com/ch24.html

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

Haribol!!!!
Gopala Class Teachers
Namapriya Mataji
Amutha

Damodar Lila

Hare Krishna!!

Dear Parents,
Thank you for your enthusiasm in bringing the kids to sunday school.

This week,
PRAYER: We learned a new prayer about 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 of Vrindavana. You are the daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu, and You are very dear to Lord Krsna.

We continued with the last week prayer

naaraayanam namaskrtya
naram caiva narottamam
deviim saraswatiim vyaasam
tato jayam udiirayet

TRANSLATION :
Before reciting the Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Narayana, unto Nara-narayan Rsi, the supermost human being, unto mother Saravasti, the goddess of learning, and unto Srila Vyāsadeva, the author.

Parents, please sing the prayers with the kids.

SLOKA: We revised Bhagavad - Gita sloka(Chapter 3 : Verse 21) . Please refer previous updates for the audio link and the verse. Please revise with your kids.

STORY TIME: Kartik Month is very special to Lord Krsna, so, we heard the stories of how mother Yashoda bound Krsna with a rope (Damodar - one whose belly is bound by ropes), how Baby Krsna relieved Nalakuvara and Manigriva from being two arjuna trees and we learned who cursed Nalakuvara and Manigriva to become trees and why and what we learned from these stories and how we should behave.

Practical Applications:
1. We should never do naughty/bad things.
2. When our parents punish us, it is to prevent us from doing bad things and they are helping us to grow as good persons.
3. We should always remember Krsna and never forget Krsna.

Parents, please read chapter 9 & 10 from Krsna Book to your kids.

Looking forward to seeing all of you in the class.

Haribol!!!
Gopala Class Teachers
Namapriya
Amutha

Lord Krishna's Birth Ceremony and story of Putana

Hare Krishna!!!

Dear Parents,
Thank you for bringing the kids to sunday school.

Oct 23 Week: We heard a wonderful presentation from our sunday school principal Vrajabhakti mataji about Diwali. So, our regular sunday classes were not conducted.

Oct 30, Sunday:
We recited "he krsna karuna sindho" prayer. Most kids knew this prayer and recited very nicely. Good job to kids and Parents!!

SLOKA:
We revised the sloka from Bhagavad-Gita(Chapter 3 : Verse 21)

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas
tat tad evetaro janah
̣sa yat pramāṇaḿ kurute
lokas tad anuvartate

TRANSLATION: Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

AUDIO LINK: To hear the sloka, click on the link below
http://kids.iskcondesiretree.info/Audio/03_-_Sloka_recitation_by_5_year_old_Samhita/Bhagavad_Gita_108_Important/Ch%203%20Karma%20Yoga/BG3.21.MP3

We started learning another sloka.

naaraayanam namaskrtya
naram caiva narottamam
deviim saraswatiim vyaasam
tato jayam udiirayet

Parents, please let the kids hear the sloka often.

STORY TIME:
We heard how the Birth ceremony of Lord Krishna's was celebrated by Nanda Maharaj and Mother Yashoda,and we found who sent the witch Putana to kill Baby Krishna, learned how Lord Krishna killed Putana and how mother Yashoda and Rohini chanted and prayed to Vishnu to protect Baby Krishna.

Namapriya mataji said the story about Nara-Narayana relating the importance of reciting "naaraayanaam' sloka before reading Srimad Bhagavatam.

Next Week: We will continue learning "naaraayanam namaskrtya" sloka and the remaining story of Nara-Narayanan.
We will hear another story about Trinavarta.


Looking forward to seeing all of you in the class.

Haribol!!!
Gopala Class Teachers
Namapriya Mataji
Amutha

Krishna Colors and Importance of Nava Rathri

Hare Krishna!!!

Dear Parents,

Thank you for bringing your kids to sunday school.

This week,

Prayer:

We recited "he Krishna karuna sindhuo" prayer.

Story Time:

We read "Krishna Colors" book and learned all the colors in relation to Lord Krishna.

Our sunday school principal Vraja Bhakti mataji gave a very nice presentation on the importance of Nava Rathri and Dushera and heard stories of why Nava Rathri is celebrated and which Deva/Devi is worshiped on this day and what is the benefit of observing these Pujas.

Next week, we will hear about Diwali and importance of Govardhan Puja.

Haribol!!

Gopala Class Teachers

Namapriya

Amutha

Advent of Lord Krishna and Yogamaya

Hare Krishna!!

Dear Parents,
Thank you for bringing your kids to Sunday school. It was delightful to hear many kids reciting 'he krsna karuna sindho' prayer wonderfully. We kindly request you to bring your kids regularly, so that they may grow spiritually strong.

SLOKA:
We learned a new sloka this week from Bhagavad-Gita(Chapter 3 : Verse 21)

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas
tat tad evetaro janaḥ
sa yat pramāṇaḿ kurute
lokas tad anuvartate

TRANSLATION
Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

AUDIO LINK:
To hear the sloka, click on the link below

http://kids.iskcondesiretree.info/Audio/03_-_Sloka_recitation_by_5_year_old_Samhita/Bhagavad_Gita_108_Important/Ch%203%20Karma%20Yoga/BG3.21.MP3

Parents, please let the kids hear the sloka often.

STORY TIME:
We revised "Birth of Lord Krishna" and heard how Vasudeva carried the newborn baby Krishna to Nanda Maharaj's house and placed Baby Krishna near Yashoda Maiya and brought their baby girl(Durga) to prison. We found out how Kamsa tried to kill Durga but couldn't and what Durga Devi warned Kamsa and what happened to Durga Devi. We discussed why Kamsa became very afraid and how he apologized to Vasudeva and Devaki and released them from prison.(Chapter 3 & 4 from Krishna book).

You can also visit
http://krsnabook.com/ch3.html for chapter 3 and
http://krsnabook.com/ch4.html for chapter 4


Next Week: BalaMela is held on Saturday, Oct 8(Science Fair) and Sunday, Oct 9(Cultural programs) , so we kindly request everyone to come and encourage all the kids participating in Science fair and various cultural programs. Have fun enjoying all of the kids performances.


Haribol!!
Gopala Class Teachers
Namapriya
Amutha

Birth of Lord Krishna

Hare Krishna!!!

Dear Parents, We appreciate your enthusiam in bringing your kids to sunday school.

This week,

Sloka:
We revised the Bhagavad-Gita sloka(Chapter1:verse1). To hear the sloka, please copy and paste the following link in a new tab.

http://kids.iskcondesiretree.info/Audio/03_-_Sloka_recitation_by_5_year_old_Samhita/Recitation_Imp_Verses/Bhagavad%20Gita/Kids_5yearoldSamhita_Recitation_LearningVerses_ImpVerses_BG01-1.mp3

Parents, please let the kids hear the sloka.

We are now learning a new bhajan "Jaya Radha Madhava".
Bhajan Lyrics:
(1) jaya rādhā-mādhava kuñja-bihārī
gopī-jana-vallabha giri-vara-dhārī

(2)yaśodā-nandana braja-jana-rañjana
yāmuna-tīra-vana-cārī

Translation:
1) Krsna is the lover of Radha. He displays many amorous pastimes in the groves of Vrndavana, He is the lover of the cowherd maidens of Vraja, and the holder of the great hill named Govardhana.

2) He is the beloved son of mother Yasoda, the delighter of the inhabitants of Vraja, and He wanders in the forests along the banks of the River Yamuna!

Kids could sing this Bhajan in BalaMela.

Story Time: We heard how Kamsa became friends with the demons, imprisoned Devaki, Vasudeva and his own father Ugrasena, why Yogamaya(Durga) transferred Balarama from Devaki's womb to Rohini's womb and took birth as daughter of Nanda and Yashoda. We discussed the prayers and request of Vasudeva and Devaki and how everything was auspicious and everyone was happy at the time of Lord Krishna's birth and how He looked, and what He said. (Chapter 2 & 3 from Krsna Book).

Practical Applications:
1. We should make friends only with good people.
2. We should never be mean to anyone. Pray to Lord Krishna to be nice to everyone.
3. We never have to be afraid doing the right thing, if we always think of Krishna.

Parents, please read Chapter 2 & 3 from Krsna Book to your kids before bedtime.

In the next class, we will recite the sloka, sing the above bhajan and discuss more about how Lord Krishna looked and learn about Krishna colors.

Haribol!!
Gopala Class Teachers
Namapriya
Amutha

Advent of Lord Krsna

Hare Krsna!

Dear Parents,

Thank you very much for bringing your kids to Sunday school.

We sang prayer, recited sloka and heard story about Lord Shri Krsna.

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

Meaning: 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.

Sloka:
Bhagavad Gita(chapter 1: verse 1). To hear the sloka, please copy and paste the following link in a new tab.

http://kids.iskcondesiretree.info/Audio/03_-_Sloka_recitation_by_5_year_old_Samhita/Recitation_Imp_Verses/Bhagavad%20Gita/Kids_5yearoldSamhita_Recitation_LearningVerses_ImpVerses_BG01-1.mp3

Parents, please let the kids hear the sloka.

Story Time:
We discussed who Lord Krsna is and why He appeared on earth (Chapter 1 - 'Advent of Lord Krishna' from Krsna book)


Practical applications :
1) Listen to elders(parents, grand parents, teachers)
2) Do your duties (morning duties, studying, eating etc)
3) Pray to Lord Krishna everyday


Parents, please read chapter 1 from Krsna book to your kids before bed time.

In the next class, we'll sing the prayer, recite the sloka and cover 'Birth of Lord Krsna'

HariBol!
Gopala Class Teachers