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Hanuman Chalisa Journey - Class highlights 01

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 Hari Om! Over the last three classes, kids started learning the Hanuman Chalisa along with its importance and meaning. We learned the Doha and the first two chaupais (Verses). Below is a brief summary of what we covered in class. What is Hanuman Chalisa? Hanuman Chalisa is chanted to make us fearless and purify the mind. It helps cleanse us of impure and negative thoughts. Hanuman Chalisa has 40 verses. It was composed by Sri Gosvami Tulasidas. It is written in the Avadhi language, a dialect spoken in Ayodhya (Birth Place of Sri Rama), Uttar Pradesh. It is traditionally believed that Sri Tulasidas composed the Hanuman Chalisa during illness and recovered completely while chanting it. Story of Sri Gosvami Tulasidasa Children heard important incidents from the life of Sri Tulasidasa: Born as the son of Atmaram Dubey, his birth was considered a bad omen because of death of his mother, later maid. He was rescued by Saint Narharidas, his first teacher, who called him Ram Bola. He later...
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1st Feb - Summary of Hanuman Dhayana Shloka

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After a short break of about a month, our classes joyfully resumed, bringing back familiar smiles and energy. It felt wonderful to gather again and begin just the way we love to — with opening prayers. We started with a fun and engaging activity: the Dhyāna Shloka card game. Through play, kids recalled the words and meanings of the Dhyāna Śloka. Next class, we would have more quiz and games.  In coming classes we will be learning Hanuman Chalisa, a brief introduction was given to the kids and we learnt first two lines of the Doha. Coming classes we will be learning the chalisa with meaning. We played kids Favorite, Hanuman Says and Memory game and ended our class with closing prayers.  Also, please find below the cheat sheet or summary of Hanuman Dhyana Shloka for kids and her is the link बुद्धिर्बलं यशो धैर्यं निर्भयत्वमरोगता । अजाड्यं वाक्पटुत्वं च हनूमत्स्मरणाद्भवेत् ॥ Buddhir balam yaśo dhairyam nirbhayatvam arogatā | ajā ḍ ya ṁ v ā k-pa ṭ...
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16th Nov Dhairyam - Courage

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We began our session with the  opening prayers and the dhyana shloka , followed by a quick recap of the qualities (and their associated stories) that are required to strengthen our invisible backbone. Class Story Theme : Courage -  Today, we discussed the  fourth quality in the dhyāna śloka — Dhairyam (Courage) . The children shared what courage means to them and why we need it. We discussed that courage does not mean doing risky things like jumping from second floor. True courage is  Facing challenges patiently  doing the right thing even when it's difficult and staying calm and steady We used examples. - I don't like to go to dentist, but I gather the courage to do. In any situation when we lose courage we would not succeed.  Stories -  We learnt about story of robber (Ratnakar) who with courage changed himself to a saint (Valmiki). The children were amazed when they heard that the saint who wrote Ramayana was once a professional robber...."Really?? ...
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9th Nov - Yashas - Fame

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We began the session with our opening prayers and dhyana shloka , followed by a quick recap of the qualities that are required to strengthen our invisible backbone Dhyana Solka:   Buddhir-balam yasho dhairyam nirbhayatvam arogatë,  Ajadhyam vakpatutvam ca hanumat smaraãd bhavet.  Meaning: Through the worship of Sri Hanuman, one will be blessed with buddhi (intelligence), balam (strength), yashas (fame), dhairyam (courage), nirbhayatvam (fearlessness), arogatë (free from diseases, good health), ajadhyam (alertness), and vakpatutvam (eloquence). Class Story Theme - Fame Today, we discussed the third quality in the dhyāna śloka — Yashas (Fame) . The children brainstormed what fame truly means, how one can achieve it, and shared names of famous people they admire — from YouTube influencers and Taylor Swift to Julia Donaldson and Mahatma Gandhi . It was nice to hear their unique reasons for considering them famous. As our discussion unfolded, the children unanimously ag...
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28 Sep - Navratri

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 We had a wonderful start today by invoking divine blessings together.  Here’s what we did: Chanted opening prayers — Om (3x), Om Sahanau-avatu, Vakratunda, Saraswati, and Gurur-Brahma  Opening Prayers   Om Saha Navavatu, Saha Nau Bhunaktu, Saha Viryam Karavavahai, Tejasvinavadhitam-astu Ma Vidvishavahai, Om Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi Ganesh Sloka1 Vakratunda Mahakaya, Surya Koti Sama Prabha Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva, Sarva Karyesu Sarvada. Saraswati Sloka Saraswati Namastubhyam, Varade Kaama-Roopini Vidyaarambham Karishyaami, Siddhir-Bhavatu Me Sadaa Guru Sloka GururBrahma GururVishnu, GururDevo Maheshwaraha Guru Saakshaat ParaBrahma, Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha Fun warm-ups Learnt about Dussehra/Navratri and how it is celebrated across India — Bathukamma, Bommala Koluvu, Aiydala Puja, Garba/Dandiya, Durga Puja, and more! Focused on the Divine Feminine forms and qualities — Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati Heard the stories of Mahishasura (Durga Mata) and Raktabhija (Kali Mata...
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