Sundara Kandam

Among the seven cantos, Sage Valmiki has gone to the extent of naming a canto after Him, the Sundara Kandam, a tribute he does not give to any other person. The Sundara Kandam, the fifth canto in the Ramayana, which narrates the exploits and valour of Sri Hanuman is considered to be the most prominent chapter. A regular rendering of this chapter is believed to bestow immense peace to the reader.

As the name suggests, this canto is simply beautiful and it has been described as the piece de resistance of the Ramayana. There are many interpretations to the name of this canto. Many scholars feel that the word Sundara refers to Sri Hanuman. Sundara means a vanara or a messenger or an intermediary between the hero and heroine. In all these aspects this refers to Sri Hanuman. It is also said that Sage Valmiki considered that this canto was his best effort in terms of literary excellence and hence decided to call it Sundara Kandam. It is also Sundara because this canto lightens the heart of the readers because Sita Devi and Sri Rama had relief to some extent. Sundara also means the recovery of something lost. The rediscovery of Sita Devi finds narration in this canto and hence the name.

Sundara Kandam deals almost entirely about the achievements of Sri Hanuman in one night, as He searched for Sita Devi. Roused by Jambhavan, Hanuman assumes a gigantic size. Sri Hanuman prayed to Lord Rama and the Gods of all quarters before embarking on His flight. In spite of being very powerful, He is the embodiment of humility which was revealed in all his actions. Sage Valmiki has provided a detailed description of His leap to Lanka. Hanuman swelled His body, shook His bodily hairs, roared loudly, whirled His tail, contracted His waist, and just before leaping off the mountain He sank down, drew in His arms and neck, flattened his ears, and filled Himself with concentrated power and energy focused on the lower part of the body. He scanned the sky in order to see a clear path for Himself, arrested the vital air (prana) in His heart, and leapt. The mountain at this moment shook, its rocks and trees shot forth, and the animals residing there leapt off in terror. Water and minerals were released, and snakes sprang from the ground! It was a unique sight and only a unique person could have achieved it.

The lord of the oceans wanted to help Sri Hanuman, the messenger of Sri Rama, the scion of the Ikshvaku race. He summoned the submerged mountain Mainaka, the offspring of Mena. Mainaka which had the power to become big or small immediately grew as tall as the sky and came in the path of Sri Hanuman. Sri Hanuman mistook it as an obstacle and pushed it away with his chest. The mountain then took a form and told Him that it was not an obstacle, but had come in the way only to offer Him a place to rest. Sri Hanuman replied that He would not rest till His mission was accomplished. Such was His commitment to duty!

As He continued his journey, the demigods wanted to test His commitment. They urged the serpent Surasa to take up the form of a big ogress and obstruct Hanuman. She told Hanuman that she had been granted a boon by Brahma that no one could pass her without entering her mouth. Hanuman pleaded with her but it was of no avail. He then assumed a gigantic form and asked her to open her mouth wide enough to accommodate Him. When her mouth was wide open, He made himself as small as a fly and entered her mouth and came out in a split second. He then spoke to her humbly that He had not denied Brahma’s boon and requested her permission to leave. Surasa was pleased and blessed Him.

Hanuman continued His flight. As He was passing by, Simhika, another ogress who desired to eat Him grabbed His shadow. He killed her with a single blow.

He then continued His flight and as He neared Lanka, having covered hundred yojanas, He decided to contract himself so as not to draw attention. He looked at the beautiful city of Lanka, which seemed heavenly in appearance. He decided to wait till it was night time and then entered the city. As He attempted to enter, the guardian goddess of Lanka, Lanka Lakshmi or Lankini confronted Him. He spoke humbly to her, but she was aggressive and asked Him to fight her and defeat her, thinking He was only a monkey. Hanuman hit her on her face and she fell down. This was in spite of the fact that He did not use power since He did not want to use power against a female. She was immediately subdued and informed Him about a boon by Brahma that she would be invincible until she was conquered by a monkey, which would signify the end of the demons. Saying thus, she let Him enter the city and vanished from the city forever.