Exploring the value of teamwork through a Hindu story telling how Lord Brahma determines who is best between the The Asuras and the Devas.
The video
JONAH: Hello, I'm Jonah and this is the amazing story of the two armies who fought to see who was best.
In the mountains of the universe, a great battle was taking place between two heavenly families - the Asuras and the Devas.
TEAMS: [GROWL]
JONAH: They fought for so long, that they were exhausted. Both sides were tired of fighting. So, they each prayed to the great creator Lord Brahma. "Lord Brahma," they said, "please, end this terrible war. Please tell us which side is the strongest and the best."
The Lord Brahma heard their prayers and saw how tired they were. So, he invited them all to a feast.
KIDS: Wow!
JONAH: But Brahma said, "Before you can eat, you must have straight arms, so I will make sure they can't bend."
I've got just the thing. Here we have a way for you to not move your arms.
But with their arms out straight, they couldn't get the food into their mouths. The Asuras struggled and struggled. The Devas were also unable to put food into their mouths, but they noticed that their friends couldn't either.
They said, "I can't feed myself, but I can feed you." And so, the Devas used their straightened arms to feed each other until everyone was full.
But the Asuras were still tired and hungry.
STORY NARRATOR: The Lord Brahma said, "I'll tell you who the best army is…"
JONAH: "…The Devas are the best and the strongest because they are united. They looked after each other as a team, instead of just thinking about themselves. Their strength is in their togetherness, in their teamwork, in their unity."
Thanks for helping me tell this treasure story. It was an old Hindu tale. I'll see you again next time.
ALL: Bye!
This story is from the Hindu tradition, from the Puranas linked with avatars of Vishnu.
The Asuras and Devas were all born from the Creator, Brahma, but have been in endless battles with each other. One day they approach Brahma to find out who is the best. Brahma invites them for a meal the next day, when he will give them his answer. One side dined on the Eastern Side and the other on the Western Side, so they couldn’t actually see each other. Just before the food was served, Brahma made it so that their hands couldn’t reach their mouths (shown in the video with cardboard tubes). Eventually the Devas worked out that they could feed each other, so they worked together as a team. Meanwhile the Asuras went tired and hungry.
Brahma explained that those who think about themselves will never be happy but those who care for others will find peace and are the best. This can help us to reflect on the value of teamwork.
Video questions
- What does it mean to show togetherness? (Working together; thinking of others before yourself; completing a task together; being part of the same team)
- Why do you think it was better to be part of a united team? (Devas helped each other and in doing so they succeeded, rather than acting as individuals like the Asuras)
- Why did Brahma say that the Devas were the better army? (They thought of others; worked together; showed compassion; and shared a joint aim)
- How are the children in the video showing that they are in a great team? (Taking it in turns; feeding each other; being patient)
Teacher Notes
Look at an artefact/picture which shows the Trimurti. Show it to half of the class at a time, who then describe it to the other half to develop closer observational skills and memory recall.
Explore the idea of three as part of one. These deities are the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. Describe what those mean and create a hand sign (or use British Sign Language) to remember each of them. Introduce the names Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (Preserver) and Shiva (Destroyer). Look at examples of them in art.
Explain that there are lots of different sacred texts and how the tradition of oral storytelling is important in Hindu beliefs. Set up storytelling circles of approximately four children. Can they retell the story a sentence at a time, taking it in turn to show teamwork?
Work on a task together, where children need to show how they are developing their teamwork skills - perhaps some gardening linking to caring for the world, where each person in the group has a role to play.
Curriculum Notes
This short film will be relevant for teaching KS1 Religious Education in England and Northern Ireland, the Curriculum for Wales (particularly RVE as part of Humanities), and Early and 1st Level Religious and Moral Education in Scotland.
