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Stuti: [(Shrimad Sadgun Shālinam…), Jaynād (1 min)]
Dhun: [Bhaj Man Swāminārāyan - Anirdesh Kirtan Muktavali (3 mins)]
Gun Grahan: [Write down 3 qualities of people you have met, seen, or heard about this week, and share these with your family.]
Prasang Reading (3 mins):
Prasang: 28 May 2019, Sarangpur
The evening Bal Adhiveshan programme in Mahant Swami Maharaj’s presence was being concluded. A prarthana was requested to Swamishri, “You call the balaks ‘Akshar-Purushottamna yoddha’, and so the theme of this adhiveshan and the following shibir is also ‘Akshar-Purushottamnā yoddha’; so can you please write what it means to be ‘Akshar-Purushottamna yoddha’?”
Swamishri himself wrote, “Maya same yuddhma utarvanu chhe. Mayana kuchchā bolavi devana chhe. Maharaj Swamina pratapthi badhu thashe.” (You must join in the battle against maya. Beat up maya to the fullest extent. Everything will happen due to Maharaj and Swami’s power. Yoddha refers to bravehearts or warriors.)
Discussion Points:
Group 1: (6-9yrs)
- What do you understand about Akshar - Purushottam?
- Have you heard the word ‘Yoddha’ before? What does it mean?
- Think of a time when you thought you were a yoddha (things that one found too hard). Each member of the family can share their experience when they’ve been a yoddha.
- What explanation did Swamishri give to explain the meaning of Akshar Purushottamna yoddha? (Beat up maya..)
- What is maya? Each family member states one example of maya.
- How can we overcome maya? Discuss as family.
Group 2: (10-13yrs)
- What do you know about Akshar - Purushottam? Discuss as many points as possible.
- Who is a yoddha? Discuss as a family your experiences (things that one found too hard) when you’ve proved to be a yoddha. In hindsight, how would you have handled the situation differently?
- What explanation did Swamishri give to explain the meaning of Akshar Purushottamna yoddha? (Mayana kuchcha bolavi..) Discuss as family what mayana kuchcha means.
- How can we overcome maya? Discuss the various forms of maya that we need to overcome in everyday life. How can we overcome them?
Family Activity - Game - Aiming and acting out
Materials needed and how to play the game:
- 2 x Long cardboard rolls (two x empty kitchen roll can be stuck together to make it longer)
- Stick the roll with a circular board so that the roll can stand upright (see the picture below)
- Place them side by side as per the picture below.
- Approximately 10 paper plates with the middle section cut as per picture below.
- A jar consisting of small paper strips on which is written a scenario of a character to show their bravery. Fold the paper strips so that the written text is not seen.
- Each member takes a turn to aim to throw a plate over the cardboard roll.
- The person who gets it, takes a strip from the jar and gives it to a member in the family to act out.
- Carry on the game as long as you want.
Ideas of bravery characters: (You can add more as family)
- Shastriji Maharaj suffered beatings before leaving Vartal
- Bhagatji Maharaj was insulted but remained indifferent
- Pramukh Swami Maharaj picked up rubbish on his birthday
Summary:
In any challenging situation, one feels fearful and lacks courage. When playing the above game, firstly, one must have felt a lack of courage in aiming to throw the dish over the roll. Secondly, fearful, what if you were selected to act out?! But by keeping up with the courage mentally that ‘you can do it’ you were able to succeed.
Similarly, as in the prasang read today, one should become Akshar Purushottamna yoddha - You must join in the battle against maya. Beat up maya to the fullest extent. Everything will happen due to Maharaj and Swami’s power.