Sundara Kandam 3

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

Sri Hanuman was not one bit affected by the heat. He was however burning with anger and leapt into the air and set fire to Lanka, house after house, mansion after mansion. 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 Sita Devi’s welfare and was filled with remorse. He then consoled 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 safe and then set forth on his return flight.

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 mission. He then narrated the story to them and they hurried towards Kishkindha. Upon reaching Kishkindha, they set foot in Sugriva’s treasured Madhuvan. With Prince Angada’s permission they started feasting in the Madhuvan. 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.

Sri Hanuman then met Sri Rama and debriefed Him on His visit to Lanka. He gave the crest jewel of Sita Devi and narrated the incidents she had told Sri Hanuman. After this Sri Rama and the vanara leaders planned their campaign to fight Ravana.

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

Hanuman's leap across the ocean to Lanka is an archetypal journey into darkness. This leap, His first remembrance of suppressed superhuman abilities, is a crucial turning point in the development of His character.

The spiritual significance of Sundara Kandam is the most important. The quest of Sri Hanuman is the quest of an awakened spiritual aspirant to cross over the ocean of Samsara (transmigratory existence) and seek the divine spirit. Sri Hanuman is the awakened soul or intelligence endowed with Sattva. Jambhavan is His enlightened spiritual teacher. The vast ocean is the Samsara sagara. The ogresses Surasa, Simhika, and Lankini represent the various obstacles. Even the fact that Sri Hanuman searched in the night, illustrates the Sloka from the Bhagavad 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, sheaths, in a man’s mind which have to be penetrated. The search is difficult as was with Sri Hanuman but will succeed with faith in Lord.

Sundara Kandam is a tresure trove of power, reading which devotees can gain mental strength and spiritual support in difficult worldly situations. Its recital with faith is believed to give courage to face and overcome obstacles in life.