Teaching Resource Term 1 for " Hindu Dharma for Beginners " by "Vishva Hindu Parishad of Australia Inc. (World Hindu Council of Australia Inc) (ABN: 78862155168, Reg No: Y2898719, Charity No: CFN10709) GPO Box 1374, Sydney 2001- WWW.VHP.ORG.AU "

1. Hindu Dharma for Beginners
Teaching Resource
Term 1
Vishva Hindu Parishad of Australia Inc.
(World Hindu Council of Australia Inc)
(ABN: 78862155168, Reg No: Y2898719, Charity No: CFN10709)
GPO Box 1374, Sydney 2001-WWW.VHP.ORG.AU
1

2. For Beginners Term 1
Term outcomes
Concepts God is one, but has many forms
Religious symbols Aum, Swasthika, Siva Linga, Dipa
Festivals Pongal, Ugadi, Shivrathri, Rama Navami
Values Respect for parents, elders, laws, environment
General Notes to Teachers:
Common mother land.
All the Hindus migrated from different countries and settled in Australia. We all have
common forefathers and ancestors who lived in Bharat (India). The all share the history of the
same land and in their holy books recognize Bharat as their motherland.
The main philosophical ideas of all branches of Hinduism are based on the Vedic literature.
Hindus and the Environment: How we promote peace and harmony in the society
While teaching the river slokas we need explain these things.
Hindus and in Hindu culture: Respect the environment.
Hindus care for and protect the environment.
The rivers - we call river as our mother - Ganga Maatha.
Hindus offer lights /lamps in the river and do namaskarams and do Aarti to the rivers.
This practice proves that Hindus treat the river as a person and not as an object.
The whole universe is created by Bhagwan and everything has given to us.
In this world everything is holy and we respect each other.
We are all the same. The differences are to enjoy, create novelty in the world, like different
colours of flowers in the garden.
Our motto "THE WHOLE UNIVERSE IS ONE BIG FAMILY"
Most of the time we need to take combined classes like k - year 2 and year 3 to 6
In these circumstances, please follow the curriculum
And general rule - K TO YEAR 2 - Ramayanam
YEAR 3 TO 6 Bhagavatam -all the classes Please go through the greatness of two authors,
Rishi Veda Vyasa and Rishi Valmiki and their contributions to Hindu Culture and our
literature.
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3. Hindu Scripture Syllabus - Year 1 to 4
In year 1 and 2 we introduce the concept and in year 3 and 4 we build it strongly with more activities.
Term I Kindy &Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
Wk 1 Lord Ganesha ─ Prayer, Lord Ganesha ─ Prayer, Lord Ganesha ─ Prayer, Lord Ganesha ─ Prayer,
Colouring, Chanting Colouring, Chanting Colouring, Chanting Colouring, Chanting
Wk 2 Slokas chanting Lord Slokas chanting Lord Slokas chanting Lord One God, many forms of
Ganesha's family -Lords Ganesh's family -Lords Ganesh's family -Lords God- Slokas chanting Lord
Shiva, Goddess Parvathi, Shiva, Goddess Parvathi, Shiva, Goddress Parvathi, Ganesha's family -Lords
Lord Muruga - Introduction Lord Muruga - Introduction Lord Muruga - Introduction Shiva , Goddess Parvathi,
Lord Muruga.
Wk 3 Many forms of God & Many forms of God & Many forms of God & Many forms of God &
Importance of Guru _ Importance of Guru _ Importance of Guru _ Importance of Guru _
Slokam. Respect to teachers- Slokam. Respect to teachers- Slokam. Respect to teachers- Slokam. Respect to teachers-
Learn to do namaskarams Learn to do namaskarams Learn to do namaskarams Learn to do namaskarams
Wk 4 Many forms of God & Many forms of God & Many forms of God & Many forms of God &
Importance of Guru _ Importance of Guru _ Importance of Guru _ Importance of Guru _
Slokam. Respect to teachers- Slokam. Respect to teachers- Slokam. Respect to teachers- Slokam. Respect to teachers-
Learn to do namaskarams Learn to do namaskarams Learn to do namaskarams Learn to do namaskarams
Wk 5 Chanting. Respect for father, Respect for father, mother, Respect for father, mother, Respect for father, mother,
mother, elders elders elders elders
Wk 6 Chanting. Respect for father, Chanting. Respect for father, Chanting. Respect for father, Chanting. Respect for father,
mother, elders mother, elders mother, elders mother, elders
Stories - Lord Ganesha and Stories - Lord Ganesha and Stories - Lord Ganesha and Stories - Lord Ganesha and
Mango story Mango story Mango story Mango story
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4. Wk 7 Festivals – Shivarathri. Festivals – Shivarathri. Festivals – Shivarathri. Festivals – Shivarathri.
Spot the difference sheets. Spot the difference sheets. Spot the difference sheets. Spot the difference sheets.
Introduce art and music
Wk 8 Festivals – Shivarathri. Festivals – Shivarathri. Festivals – Shivarathri. Festivals – Shivarathri.
Spot the difference sheets. Spot the difference sheets. Spot the difference sheets. Spot the difference sheets.
Wk 9 Religious symbols - Aum, Religious symbols - Aum, Religious symbols - Aum, Religious symbols - Aum,
Swastika. Swastika. Swastika. chanting Lord Swastika.
Lord Shiva chanting slokam Lord Shiva chanting slokam Shiva slokam Lord Shiva chanting slokam
Wk 10 Revision, chanting, others Revision, chanting, others Revision, chanting, others Revision, chanting, others
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5. Term II Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
Wk 1 Ramayanam. Ramayanam. Ramayanam. Ramayanam.
Sri Rama Slokams Sri Rama Slokams Sri Rama Slokams Sri Rama Slokams
Wk 2 Ramayanam. Ramayanam. Ramayanam. Ramayanam.
Sri Rama Slokams Sri Rama Slokams Sri Rama Slokams Sri Rama Slokams
Quiz+ Cradle Games
Wk 3 Stones - King Dasaratha Stones - King Dasaratha Stones - King Dasaratha Stories, story telling -
Discussion
Wk 4 Good habits – kindness. Good habits – kindness. Good habits – kindness. Good habits – kindness.
Lord Rama’s life. Lord Rama’s life. Lord Rama’s life. Lord Rama’s life.
Compassion Compassion Compassion Compassion
Wk 5 Good habits – kindness. Good habits – kindness. Hindus and the Environment. Hindus and the Environment.
Lord Rama’s life. Lord Rama’s life. Chanting River slokams. Chanting River slokams.
Compassion. Compassion.
Value based Stories. Truth - Value based Stories. Truth -
Harichandra story Harichandra story
Wk 6 Religious symbols. Religious symbols. Religious symbols. Religious symbols.
Hindu greetings Hindu greetings Hindu greetings Hindu greetings
Wk 7 Rangoli Rangoli Rangoli Rangoli
Wk 8 Festivals -Holy - Colour Festivals-Holy Colour Festivals -Holy- Colour Festivals _holy Colour
festivals festivals festivals festivals
Wk 9 Chanting – Saraswati Slokas Chanting – Saraswati Slokas Chanting – Saraswati Slokas Chanting – Saraswati Slokas
Wk 10 Sum up, quiz, trivia
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6. Term III Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
Wk 1 Dharma Dharma Dharma Dharma
Wk 2 Hindus and the Environment. Hindus and the Environment. Hindus and the Environment. Hindus and the Environment.
Chanting River slokams. Chanting River slokams. Chanting River slokams. Chanting River slokams.
Wk 3 Values - truth Values - truth Values – truth Values - truth
Wk 4 Values - honesty Values - honesty Values – honesty Values - honesty
Wk 5 Ganesha Ganesha Ganesha Ganesha
Wk 6 Festivals - Ganesh Festivals - Ganesh Festivals - Ganesh Festivals - Ganesh
Chathurthi Chathurthi Chathurthi Chathurthi
Wk 7 Festival - Janmashtami- Lord Festival - Janmashtami- Lord Festival - Janmashtami- Lord Festival - Janmashtami- Lord
Krishna's story- colouring Krishna's story - colouring Krishna's story- colouring Krishna's story- colouring
picture picture picture-children can write the picture- Baby Krishna and
story half page Vasudeva- children can write
the story from the picture
Wk 8 Hindu worship - family altar, Hindu worship family altar, Hindu worship family altar, Hindu worship family altar,
rangoli, lamp, garland, puja rangoli, lamp, garland, puja rangoli, lamp, garland, puja rangoli, lamp, garland, puja
Wk 9 Tcmples -show the picture of Temples. Importance Temples. Request the Temples. Different country
temples -visual children to share the temple Temples. SriLanka,
they visited recently Malaysia, Fiji.
Wk 10 Temples. Temples. Temples. Temples.
sum up, party, trivia etc sum up, party, trivia etc sum up, party, trivia etc sum up, party, trivia etc
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7. Term IV Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
Wk 1 Values - healthy food, good Values - healthy food, good Values - healthy food, good Values - healthy food, good
habits bhojan habits, bhojan mantra, habits bhojan mantra, habits bhojan mantra,
mantra, (prayer before food) meditation etc meditation etc meditation etc
meditation etc
Wk 2 Goddesses - Lakshmi Goddesses - Lakshmi Many names of Lakshmi Many names of Lakshmi
Wk 3 Goddesses Saraswathi Goddesses Saraswathi Many names of Saraswathi Many names of Saraswathi
Wk 4 Goddesses Parvathi Goddesses Parvathi Many names of Parvathi Many names of Parvathi
Wk 5 Family, community - Unity in diversity - Variety of Traditions, custom of Bindhi, bangle, saree etc-common mother land
- Show the photos of saree, bangles, jewellery etc to the children
Wk 6 -do- -do- -do- -do-
Wk 7 Festivals - Navarathri Festivals - Navarathri Festivals - Navarathri Festivals - Navarathri
Wk 8 Deepavali Deepavali Deepavali Deepavali
Wk 9 Group discussion How the Group discussion How the Group discussion How the Group discussion How the
children celebrated children celebrated children celebrated children celebrated
Deepavali Deepavali Deepavali Deepavali
Wk 10 Celebration, party etc Celebration, party etc Celebration, party Celebration, party etc
Etc
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8. Primary School Hindu Scripture Syllabus - Year 5 & 6
Term I:
Concepts, truths and values
Week Year 5 Year 6
1 Temples. Temples.
sum up, party, trivia etc sum up, party, trivia etc
2 One God, many forms One God, many forms
3 The glory of Hindu Culture The glory of Hindu Culture
How Hindu culture promotes How Hindu culture promotes
peace and harmony in the peace and harmony in the
society Society
4 Hindu values - Dharma Hindu values - Dharma
5 Introduce Bhagavatha Purana - Introduce Bhagavatha Purana
6 Hindu symbols and temples. Hindu symbols and temples.
Revision and questions about Revision and questions about
Bhagavatha Purana Bhagavatha Purana
7 -do- -do-
8 Reincarnation, Avatar, Concept Reincarnation, Avatar, Concept
of soul (atman) of soul (atman)
9 Hindu symbols and temples. Hindu symbols and temples.
Revision and questions about Revision and questions about
Bhagavatha Purana Bhagavatha Purana
10 Hindu symbols and temples. Hindu symbols and temples.
Revision and questions about Revision and questions about
Bhagavatha Purana. Bhagavatha Purana.
Chanting, revision Chanting, revision
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9. Term II
Family, Community, tradition and worship
Week Year 5 Year 6
1 Family+ Friends + community= Family+ Friends + community=
VHP's motto = Vasudeva VHP's motto = Vasudeva
Kudumbakam = The whole Kudumbakam = The whole
Universe is one family Universe is one family
2 -do-class discussion + encourage - do-class discussion + encourage
children to talk or write about the children to talk or write about the
above + how to develop up this above
3 Community+ Environment- Community + Environment
Service to Humanity is service to Service to Humanity is service to
God God
4 Meaning of Hinduism- Means Meaning of Hinduism- Means
Service to Humanity. Many Service to Humanity. Many
Hindu Practices – discuss Hindu Practices - discuss
5 Hindu ancient Tradition = discuss Hindu ancient Tradition = discuss
different family tradition different family tradition
6 -do- -do-
chanting before food, before bed, chanting before food, before bed,
early in the morning early in the morning
7 The greatness of Veda Vyaasa + Worship- The greatness of Veda
his work + (mention his work Vyaasa + his work + (mention his
Mahabharata. epic is the longest work Mahabharata _ epic is the
poem in the world- Guinneess longest poem in the world-
book record Guinneess book record
8 -do-children write a page -do- children write a page
about Sage Veda Vyaasa about Sage Veda Vyaasa +
Bhagavatha purana
9 -do- -do-
10 Sum up, quiz, trivia Sum up, quiz, trivia
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10. Term III
Music, art, yoga, meditation
Bhagavatha Puranam -at least two avatar in one term - compete all the slokas
Discuss important values learnt from Bhagavatha Puranam
Hindu Practices - Why do we do
Namaskarams and Namasthe - meaning and significance
Term IV
Glory of Hinduism - Hindu art, tradition and culture, different food, costumes , (refer the
photos), Hindu Rishis
Importance of Tulasi Plant-Scientific benefits
Introduction of Vedas. Four vedas. Complete at least two avatar from Bhagavatha Puranam.
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11. Hindu Scripture for Primary classes Term 1
In year 1 and 2 we introduce the concept and in year 3 and 4 we build it strongly with more activities.
Term I Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6
Wk 2 One God - Many One God - Many One God - Many One God, many Hindu concepts - God is one, known by
forms of God forms of God forms of God forms of God many names Karma, atman, rebirth
Wk 3 Many forms of Many forms of God Many forms of Many forms of God -do-
God God
Wk 4 Hindu values Hindu values Hindu values Hindu values Hindu values - hows and whys of many
values
Wk 5 Respect for Respect for father, Respect for father, Respect for father, -do-
father, mother, mother, elders, mother, elders, mother, elders,
elders,
Wk 6 - do- Stories - do- - do- - do- Hindu worship, personal worship, Public
Stories Stories Stories worship, Puja, Festivals, Pilgrimage,
Havan yagna
Wk 7 Festivals - Festivals - pongal, Festivals - Festivals - introduce -do-
pongal, ugadi ugadhi introduce art and art and music
music
Wk 8 Religious Religious symbols - Religious symbols Religious symbols - Religious symbols - more meaning and
symbols - Aum, Aum, Swastika - Aum, Swastika Aum, Swastika significance
Swastika
Wk 9
11

12. GOD IS ONE BUT FORMS ARE MANY
God is one but He has many forms.
When He does the job of creating He is called Brahma
When He does the job of preserving He is called Vishnu
When He does the job of destroying evils He is Shiva
called
When He does the job of destroying obstacles He Vinayaka
is called
When God (Goddess) gives knowledge She is Saraswathi
called
When She gives us wealth She is Lakshmi
When She took the form to kill asuras Durga
When Lord Shiva took the dancing posture He is Nataraja
called
When he was born to bill Kamsa and help Krishna
Pandavas
When He was born to kill Ravana Rama
When He was born as a son of Shiva and Parvathi Karthikeya
When He took the form to help Rama Hanuman
Write in the space the other forms of God that you may know.
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13. When God takes up different forms to do different jobs He is known by different names. Can
you identify the names of the following forms of God?
Name: Name:
Other names: Other names:
Festivals for this God: Festivals for this God:
Name: Name:
Other names: Other names:
Festivals for this God: Festivals for this God:
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14. Name: Name:
Other names: Other names:
Festivals for this God: Festivals for this God:
Name: Name:
Other names: Other names:
Festivals for this God: Festivals for this God:
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15. Name: Name:
Other names: Other names:
Festivals for this God: Festivals for this God:
Name: Name:
Other names: Other names:
Festivals for this God: Festivals for this God:
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16. Write down the name of this God ………………………………………….(GASHANE)
Other names of this God are:
(1) …………………………………………………………………… (GAPANATHI)
(2) ……………………………………………………………………..(PIYARLLAI)
(3) ………………………………………………………………………(VIYANAKA)
(4) ………………………………………………………………………(VIGSHNE)
(5) ……………………………………………………………………....(MASHHE)
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17. What is this God doing?
How do you know what God is this?
What is the name of this God:
Write what are same in these two pictures.
What are the differences in these two
pictures.
Write the name of this God. What is this God doing?
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18. Many forms of God
Every person is known by different names by different people.
A man called Ramachandra Kulkarni may be called as Mr Kulkarni at work, Ramu by his
siblings, Rama by his friends,Chandra by neighbors, Darling or sweetie pie by his parents,
dad by his kids etc
Similarly God is one but known by many names when He does different job.
Write down as many different names of God as you can.
Share a story on any form of God that you may know with your friends.
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19. Draw a line to match the meaning given in the first column to the word in the second column.
God creates everything, he is a Friend
God helps us in our need, he is a Merciful
God looks after all of us, he is a Perfect
God is kind, he is Creator
God does not make mistakes, he is Preserver
Write a short story to explain why there are many forms of God.
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20. Forms of God
God is one but He has many forms.
When he does the job of creating he is called Brahma
When he does the job of preserving he is called Vishnu
When he does the job of destroying evils he is called Shiva
When he does the job of destroying obstacles he is called Vinayaka
When God (Goddess) imparts knowledge she is called Saraswathi
When she gives us wealth she is Lakshmi
As God does so many jobs he cannot be fully defined. Total knowledge of God is
beyond human understanding. So for this reason Hinduism allows use of various terms,
names, symbols and images to allow people to discover God in whichever way they
want to. This freedom of thought and form of worship is unique to Hinduism.
A man called Ramachandra Kulkarni may be called as Mr Kulkarni at work, Ramu by his
siblings, Rama by his friends, Chandra by neighbors, Darling or sweetie pie by his parents,
dad by his kids etc. He exhibits different qualities as he plays different role.
Name Responsibilities / Qualities
Jobs
Mr Kulkarni
Ramu
Dad
Chandra
Sweetie pie
Darling
Ramachandra
Kulkarni
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21. In the following table in the first column write the different forms of God. For each form of
God, write what duty does He fulfill and the qualities needed to fulfill His duties.
Forms of God Duties Qualities
-
21

22. Color this picture of Ganapathy
22

23. Name of this God is
KRI__N_
This God has a F _ _ T _ in his hand.
He has a peacock F_ A _ H_R on his head.
He likes to eat
__________
Who is this God?
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24. M ORE IDEAS
You can start every lesson with few payers and few minutes of meditation. Asking the
children to sit down on the floor, fold their legs, close their eyes and think of their favourite
God is an easy start of the lesson.
Depending on the day, if the children are alert and eager to learn or restless, you can teach
appropriate bhajan songs, dance etc
Children usually like to do things rather than listening long lectures / information dumping.
So try to incorporate as many activities as possible in every lesson planning.
Story telling by the teachers or the children can also be made interesting if you show pictures
and involve the children.
Teachers can go in Indian traditional clothes when teaching about festivals.
M AKE A G ANESHA MASK
MAKE A K RISHNA MOBILE
M AKE A ICON OF GANESHA USING A MOULD .
M AKE A SWEET FOR LORD G ANESHA
C ELEBRATE ANY FESTIVAL IN THE SCHOOL.
(you probably can involve the whole school, ask permission before doing so.)
TEACH SLOKAS
TEACH ANY YOGA
C ROSS WORD PUZZLES
WORD SEARCH
CRAFT WORK
COLOURING IN
GAMES BASED ON HINDU THEME .
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25. 25

26. Respect for Mother - Mathru Devo Bhava
In Hindu culture mother is worshipped and respected. Our respects are first due to our
mother, then to father, afterwards to our teachers and finally to God.
Your mother loves you and all of us love our mother.
Year 1 and Year 2
What does your mother do for you?
Write or draw pictures to show how does a mother takes care of her children from childhood.
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27. Year 3 and 4
Instead of the previous activity talk about Mathru devo bhava and respect for mothers. Tell
the story of Shravanakumar and discuss the following.
In Indian culture we treat anything that protect and feed us as mother.
Mother nature
Vedas are worshipped as Veda Mata – Mother Veda.
Vedas are called Shruti in Sanskrit.
Cow is worshipped as mother. It
provides milk and is the source for
all milk products such as cheese,
yoghurt.
We respect the laws of the adapted country
and worship it as mother country.
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28. By worshipping the earth as mother, Hindus are
aware of our environment and earth’s resources.
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29. Mother Means Love
T E L L S T O R I E S C A R E
E G I V E R C H D K K O A W D
A O U L Q X H A W M K M M C G
C A P B H T A C H A F F L U Q
H E L O B Z M O A T E O C O R
U G O L T E M O T H E R Y Y A
G X V A B E A K S A D T Y L K
K V E Y G H K I S S I N G C S
I J K I W H X B T W N I Y N F
M R D F G D T D R B U E T U Y
Word Bank
AMMA HELP MOTHER
CARE HUG PLAY
COMFORT KIND SING
COOK KISS TEACH
FEED LOVE TELL STORIES
GIVE MATHA
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30. FORMS ARE MANY BUT GOD IS ONE
We as Hindus beliieve in God. We believe that He is present everywhere. Like the air which is
everywhere yet we cannot see it, god is present everywhere.
Creator God is the creator of everything: universe, living
and non living things, animals and plants
Preserver He looks after his creation - preserves the plants,
animals and all living things.
Destroyer Destroys evil
Eternal God is eternal. He has always been there and
will always be there.
Perfect God is perfect and pure.
Forgiving: God forgives our mistakes
Merciful: God is kind, merciful and loving
Friend: God is our friend, he is the best and true friend and
He helps us in need and protects us.
All knowing God knows everything
Omnipotent All powerful
Omnipresent He is everywhere and is present in all things
at all times
Loveable and all bliss God loves his creation. Whoever truly loves
him and have faith in him can attain him.
30

31. Write in each bubble, what you think God is.
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32. One God. Many Forms.
God is one, he performs different jobs and hence has many different names. The forms of
God can be male, female, child or even nature.
WE as Hindus believe God. We believe that he is present everywhere. Like the air which is
everywhere yet we cannot see it, god is present everywhere.
One can use the following words to describe God.
Creator: God is the creator of everything: universe. Living and non living things, animals
and plants
Preserver: he looks after his creation - preserves the plants, animals and all living things.
Destroyer: Destroys evil. Omnipotent, all powerful
Omnipresent: He is everywhere and is present in all things at all times.
All knowing: God knows everything, he knows the universe.
Eternal: God is eternal, He has always been there and will always be there. He has no
beginning and no end.
Perfect: God is perfect and pure,
Lovable and all bliss: God loves his creation. Whoever truly loves him and has faith in him
gets his love and mercy.
Forgiving: god forgives our mistakes
Merciful: god is kind, merciful and loving
Friend: God is our friend, he is the best and true friend, he helps us in need and protects us.
You can visualize God any form you like and should pray with complete dedication.
What is your favorite form of God and Why?
32

33. Try matching the following two columns. Draw a line that matches the
Description Name
God creates eveiything, he is a Friend
God helps us in our need, he is a Omnipresent
God looks after all of us, he is a Perfect
God is kind, he is Omnipotent
God does not make mistakes, he is Eternal
God is everywhere, he is Creator
God is al powerful, he is Destroyer
God knows everything, he is Merciful
God has no beginning or end, he is All knowing
God dissolves evil, he is a Preserver
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34. Prayer before eating food
Bhoajana Mantra
brahmaarpanam brahma havir
brahmaagnau brahmanaa hutam
brahmaiva tena gantavyam
brahma karma samaadhinaha
Sanskrit to English Word Meaning
brahma - Brahman; arpanam - the means of offering; brahma - Brahman; havih - oblation;
brahmagnau - unto the fire that is Brahman; brahmana - by Brahman; hutam - is offered;
brahma - Brahman; eva - indeed; tena - by him; gantavyam - to be reached; brahma-karma-
samadhina - by the one who is abiding in Brahman
Translation
Any means of offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, the fire in which the offering is
made is Brahman, the one who offers is also Brahman. Indeed Brahman is gained by such a
person who abides in Brahman.
Brief Explanation
This verse from the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 4, verse 24) is commonly chanted before meals.
Brahman is the name for the Lord, the cause of the whole creation. Looking at the whole
creation as an effect, Brahman is seen as the cause of everything. The effect does not exist
separate from its cause. For example, a golden chain (effect) does not exist separate from
gold (its cause). In fact, from the standpoint of its reality, the 'chain' is only a name given to a
particular form of gold; what is, is only gold.
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