Ramayana 8

Sundarakand - 5

 

Hanuman who had watched enough, started singing softly about Rama. This was like honey to Sitadevi’s ears. Cleverly, Hanuman had aroused her curiosity without alarming her. He then met her and narrated all the events and how Rama spent every waking and sleeping minute in her thought. He also gave her the signet ring from Rama. She was overjoyed and thrilled to hear about Rama and wanted Hanuman to repeat the stories over and over again. 

 

Hanuman was so joyous on seeing her that he immediately offered to save her and take her away. When he told this to Sita, she smiled and wondered how a little monkey could achieve this. Hanuman then revealed his huge form and Sita was convinced of his power. She however told him that she would want her Lord to come and save her and only that would be creditable to his bravery. Hanuman was overawed and humbled by her chastity and devotion to Lord Rama. She then gave Hanuman her crest jewel, which was her wedding present, as a token of remembrance and to authenticate Hanuman’s meeting. She also narrated some incidents that only she and Rama knew about. 

Once, when Sita and Rama were resting together, Indra’s son came as a crow and pecked her again and again and hurt her. Rama was so incensed that he invoked the powerful Brahmasutra. The crow was followed by a ball of fire, wherever he went and finally, he fell at Rama’s feet and begged for mercy. Rama spared him, but since the Brahmasutra cannot go waste, he took his eye. Sita wanted to remind Rama, that when a mere crow had angered him so much, how much more punishment Ravana deserved for having imprisoned and persecuted her! Hanuman then left with tears in his eyes and determination in his heart.

Sundara Kanda-6 

Hanuman’s mission was to find Sita and this was accomplished. But due to his foresight, he did not stop with this. He wanted to survey the strength of their enemies, so that they could be prepared for the war. This is something many of us lack. When we are told to do a job, we stop there. We do not think beyond the immediate present and anticipate the future requirements. In fact such things are taught to students in management schools to help them in their jobs! Here was Hanuman with an inherent foresight which proved once again that he was the best person for the job!

In order to draw attention to himself, he set forth destroying Ravana’s prided AsokaVana. Should you teach a monkey to mess? Hanuman decided to let his monkey qualities take over and really wrecked the place - enjoying every moment of it and leaving only the Simshupa tree under which Sita devi was seated.

Ravana sent troops, sons of ministers, his army chiefs and even his favorite son Akshakumara. When all of them failed, Ravana was puzzled and grieved. Indrajit, Ravana’s son who had defeated Indra himself, then set forth to fight Hanuman. Indrajit used the Brahmaastra. Hanuman had Brahma’s boon and so, was unaffected. In order to meet Ravana, Hanuman pretended to be bound by the Astra and fell on the ground and remained motionless. The Rakshasas in their haste tied him with ropes. Indrajit regretted their hasty move since he knew that the Brahmaastra would become useless. When Hanuman remained tied and allowed himself to be dragged, Indrajit was extremely puzzled. 

Sundara Kanda- 7

In Ravana’s court, Ravana treated Hanuman rudely. There are stories that Ravana did not even offer him a seat and Hanuman made himself a seat with his tail, which was so high that Ravana was forced to look up to him! Hanuman warned Ravana that he should return Sita or be prepared to face the destruction of himself as well as his entire tribe. Ravana was so upset that he ordered the execution of Hanuman. Killing the messenger instead of the originator of the message is an unpardonable crime and Vibhishana reasoned with Ravana and mollified him. Finally Ravana decided to stop with setting fire to Hanuman’s tail.

The Rakshasas wrapped the tail with cloth and Hanuman grew in size. They then set fire to the tail. Hanuman let himself be dragged through the city. When Sita devi was informed of this, she invoked Agni and requested him that Hanuman should not feel the heat.

Hanuman was not one bit affected by the heat. He was however burning with anger and he leapt into the air and set fire to Lanka, house after house, mansion after mansion. He wanted to put fear in the minds of the people and hence did not spare any place. When he had completed destroying the city, he stood on top of the Trikuta hill and suddenly remembered that he had acted impulsively without thinking of Sitadevi’s welfare and was filled with remorse. He then consoled himself that when he, a mere messenger of the Lord had been untouched by fire, surely the very embodiment of virtues cannot be burnt. However, he went back and confirmed that Sita devi was OK and then set forth on his return flight.

Sundara Kanda - 8

 

The return flight seemed much easier, since his mission was accomplished and he reached the Mahendra mountain and roared with joy. His roar sounded like thunder and the vanaras realized that he had succeeded in his task. He then narrated the story to them and they hurried towards Kishkinda. Upon reaching Kishkinda, they set foot in Sugriva’s treasured Madhuvana. With Prince Angada’s permission they started feasting in the Madhuvana. This would normally have invoked Sugriva’s anger, but when Sugriva was informed, he was happy because he realized that the Vanaras would not have dared such a thing unless their mission was a success.

Hanuman then met Rama and informed him of all the news. He gave the crest jewel of Sita and narrated the incidents she had told Hanuman. After this Rama and the Vanara leaders planned their campaign to fight Ravana.

The SundaraKaanDam tells about two outstandingly brave people who are portrayed in totally opposite ways. Hanuman is vividly described as an embodiment of strength and physical valor. Sita is portrayed as a soft person who is unparalleled in courage, faith and heroism. She is passive and yet in defiance of Ravana and stands up to all persecution without a physical display of courage. She epitomizes feminine courage and both the characters have a common source of inspiration - Shri Rama.

The spiritual significance of SundaraKaanDam is the most important. The quest of Hanuman is the quest of an awakened spiritual aspirant to cross over the ocean of Samsara and seek the divine spirit. Hanuman is the awakened soul or intelligence endowed with Sattva. Jambhavan is his enlightened spiritual teacher - like our Guruji. The vast ocean is the Samsara sagara. The Rakshasis Surasa, Simhika etc. are the various obstacles. Even the fact that Hanuman searched in the night, illustrates the Sloka from Gita which says "That which is night for all people is when the self controlled sage is awake" Lanka with all its forts, gardens and palaces represents the various Koshas in a man’s mind which have to be penetrated. The search is difficult and disappointing, as was with Hanuman but will succeed if you have faith in Lord.