Sundara Kanda

Hanuman's visit, in bazaar art with a Marathi caption, early 1900s

Sundar Kand (Hindi: सुंदरकाण्ड), literally "beautiful episode/book", is the fifth book in the Hindu epic the Ramayana. It depicts the adventures of Hanuman. The original Sundar Kand is in Sanskrit and was composed by Valmiki, who was the first to scripturally record the Ramayana. Sundar Kand is the only chapter of the Ramayana in which the hero is not Rama, but rather Hanuman. Hanuman's selflessness, strength, and devotion to Rama are emphasized in the text. Hanuman was fondly called Sundar by his mother Anjani and Sage Valmiki chose this name over others as this kand deals mainly with Hanuman's journey to Lanka

Plot

The Sundar Kand forms the heart of Valmiki's Ramayana and consists of a detailed, vivid account of Hanuman's adventures. After learning about Sita, Hanuman assumes a gargantuan form and makes a colossal leap across the ocean to Lanka. Here, Hanuman explores the demon's city and spies on Ravana. He locates Sita in Ashoka grove, who is wooed and threatened by Ravana and his rakshasis to marry Ravana. He reassures her, giving Rama's signet ring as a sign of good faith. He offers to carry Sita back to Rama, however she refuses, reluctant to allow herself to be touched by a male other than her husband. She says that Rama himself must come and avenge the insult of her abduction.

Hanuman then wreaks havoc in Lanka by destroying trees and buildings, and killing Ravana's warriors. He allows himself to be captured and produced before Ravana. He gives a bold lecture to Ravana to release Sita. He is condemned and his tail is set on fire, but he escapes his bonds and, leaping from roof to roof, sets fire to Ravana's citadel and makes the giant leap back from the island. The joyous search party returns to Kishkindha with the news.

The act of reading

It is traditional to begin the reading (pārāyaṇa) of the Ramayana with the Sundar Kand.[1]

This lesson is recited by religious Hindus, preferably on Tuesdays or Saturdays, these days having been earmarked for special prayers to Hanuman. It happens to be for nullification of the malefic effects of the crow mounted, the son of Surya and Chhaya (Shadow), Lord Shani. Ramayana reveals that Shani Dev, who was captive at Ravana's palace, was rescued by Lord Hanuman. As a token of thanks, Shani Dev offered reprieve to all devotees of Lord Hanuman. Alternately once Shani Dev was caught between Hanuman's shoulders and the ceiling when attempting to mount the latter to influence his stars. Unable to bear the pain, Shani Dev offered gratitude in return to an immediate release.

The religious faith suggests that its recital brings harmony to the household. Many Hindus believe that if you do not have time to read the whole Ramayana, you should read the Sundar Kand.

7 dohas of Sundar Kand

There are 7 dohas in Sundar Kand of Ramcharitmanas which contain the word sundar. It is said that a person who recites these earns the credit of a full Sundar Kand recital.

Other versions

Other versions of the Sundar Kand exist in other languages as well, for instance in Awadhi, the language in which the saint Tulsidas wrote the Ramacharitamanas. The Sri Ramacharitamanas was written much later than Valmiki's Ramayana, in the 16th century. An earlier Tamil version, Ramavataram, by Kambar is also a prevalent text among the Sri Vaishnava and Smartha Brahmins in South India.

Hanuman Chalisa is a different poetic contribution towards the heroics of Hanuman by the poet Tulasidas. Though it mentions his achievements during Ramayana, it goes beyond that as well, encompassing the complete life of Hanuman.

References

  1. ↑ Robert P. Goldman; Sally Sutherland Goldman, eds. (1996), The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India : Sundarkand, Princeton University Press, pp. 80–82, ISBN 978-0-691-06662-2

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