Fire(1)
Introduction:
Fire element represents light. Fire has been given the name of Fire-god or Agni deva. We worship fire, do ‘Homam’, we do Aarti to all gods with the flame of fire.
Attributes:
Fire has the attributes of sound, touch and form. Fire itself burns, but gives light to others. It transmits energy also. Sun is also a sort of fire-ball. It gives energy and light. Light is a symbol of knowledge. As light dispels darkness, knowledge removes the darkness of ignorance. Fire burns the impurities in anything and makes the same pure e.g. gold. As such it is a symbol of purity also. When the light of knowledge shines, bad qualities like hatred, jealousy, greed etc. go away and good qualities take their place. Flame of fire always goes up. Similarly, we should always have high and lofty ideals and thoughts.
Story:
One day a saint, saw a boy with a string-instrument singing a dirty film song. The saint stopped and started crying in a loud voice “Oh God, you are great. Not even a leaf can move without your wish”. The boy become angry and hit the saint on the head with his instrument and the same got broken. The saint just smiled and went ahead.
On reaching his hut, the saint told the whole incident to his disciple and asked him to go to that young man and give him the price of the instrument and also some sweets. He also asked to tell him that getting angry is very bad for health, and that he was sorry that he became angry only because of him. When the young man received all these things and nice advice from the saint, there were tears of repentance in his eyes; he went to the saint and apologized for being annoyed with him.
Quotation:
As fire burns strong and bright, let my thoughts always be upright.
Silent sitting:
Ask the children to sit straight with their eyes closed.
“Imagine that there is a lighted lamp in front of you. With closed eyes bring the light to your forehead and then in your head. Imagine and say that wherever there is light, darkness cannot remain. All bad thoughts are out and all good thoughts are in. I will always have good thoughts.”
Activity:
Prepare three sets of cards. These are given to three groups of children. They are told that the sets contain names of (a) professionals, (b) Work they do, and (c) The source of heat or fire. They have to match the cards.
| Profession | Work done | Source of fire – Heat |
| Blacksmith | Heat up/ Iron | Furnace |
| Baker | Bakes Bread | Oven |
| Goldsmith | Melts gold | Hearth |
| Chef in a hotel | Cooks food | Gas stove |
| Corn vendor | Roasts corn | Sigree/cold |
| Washer man | Irons Clothes | Electric/Iron |
Questions to discuss:
- Human body has fire within
(A thermometer will show temperature. When dead, the body becomes cold) - Sun has fire
(A lens can be used to concentrate rays on a dry paper) - Wood and stones have fire
(Two wood sticks are rubbed, or stones rubbed against each other to produce fire)