Week beginning 8th February

Many Hindu scriptures started as oral traditions and hearing them being read or recited is still popular. Telling stories of the child Krishna, from the PURANAS, is very common and many children know them well. Hindus choose the way they think of God and some find it easier to love God in the form of a child, even one, like Krishna, portrayed as strong, charming and infuriatingly wilful. 

Traditionally many Hindu children hear religious stories from their parents or grandparents, rather than reading holy books. They may see stories in puppet plays, in dances, in comics or brightly coloured pictures. From the stories they learn a lot about God and about life. Stories of Krishna as a child are especially popular. I wonder why? What do you think?

A brief clip from ‘Life of Pi’ shows a Hindu child hearing the story below from his mum, and reading it in a comic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeHbD2v-LS4

And here is a clip of a young Hindu child learning - what different ways is he learning here?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y5PGIRTmtw

What might this story be about?

What do Hindus learn from the story of Krishna eating dirt?

The story is told here for you to read:

http://ompage.net/ChristKrishna/krishna.htm

Or you can watch it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib4esEEiSKA

Think about these questions: 

Why is Krishna’s mother so overwhelmed?

Why does she feel fear and confusion?

What does this tell us about Krishna and his power?

How is Krishna viewed by Hindus?

Does this story make them feel more or less devoted to Krishna? Why? 

What ways are there to pass on this story?

Task: Choose one of these ways or a way of your own and retell the story of Krishna eating dirt.

.• Tell the stories using stick puppets and with your own simple scripts.

• Look at the style of Hindu representations of your story and paint your own in a limited colour palette, possibly shades of blue.

• Tell the story using drama or mime, maybe with a narrator.

• Use a card mask and work out how to picture the universe behind the mask’s mouth.

Do you think this story helps Hindus feel more or less devoted to God?

Reflection:

Who are you devoted to (parents, siblings, friends etc). What would you include in a shrine to that person? What stories would you tell about them? Can you think of any rituals to celebrate your devotion to them? If you could pick one object to represent your person, what would it be and why?