SUNDARA KANDAM

Sundara Kandam is said to be the book of beauty. It has detailed accounts of Hanuman's adventures, including his meeting with Sita. The name is derived from the fond name given to Hanuman by his mother

The division of beauty is the literal meaning of this heading. Sita being imprisoned and being watched over by hideous creatures, her dragging on a wretched life, Ravana scheming to win her over to his wicked ways- these diabolical things do no saviour of beauty but of blemish alone. Beauty is admired and awkwardness is avoided. As Hanuman was darting southward through the space up above the sea, the celestials hailed his heroic actions. But he had no time to heed to them. A mountain shot up from the middle of the sea and presented itself before the hastening hero. Mistaking it for an intruder Maruti gave it a push with his chest. While whirling down like a cloud the mountain Mynaaka announced that it was a friend and not foe. Directed by the sea god it came from the bottom to provide Hanuman a wayside resting place and refreshments. But the hastening Hanuman said politely that Rama's commission could not be delayed. Now the celestials wanted to test the resourcefulness of Anjenaya. So they requested Surasa, the mother of the serpents to assume the form of a huge demoness and obstruct his progress. She acted accordingly and insisted on Anjenaya' s entering her mouth before proceeding further. Consequently there was a competition between the two in expanding the enormousness of their respective bodies. At an advanced stage Anjenaya suddenly became a tiny creature, flew into the monster's mouth and came out unhurt. Surasa resumed her normal form and blessed Anjenaya to be successful in his mission. The trouble was not yet over. Hanuman felt that some unknown force was arresting his flight. On scrutiny he found that a demoness had swayed over him by chasing his shadow. She was out to appease her prolonged hunger. When she opened her cave like mouth, the supposed prey assumed a tiny form, entered her belly, destroyed her bowels and emerged piercing the body. She fell dead into the sea. Hanuman landed unnoticed on the peak of the hill called Lanka, fertile with vegetation. Because of his fortitude, discernment, intelligence and prowess he could alight unimpeded in the inaccessible Lanka. An act of this kind has a beauty of its own.

Hanuman thought for a while the strategy he has to adopt to make his campaign successful. He has to move unknown and unnoticed and he was to contact Sita in secret. Otherwise the plan would be thoroughly quashed. So he diminished his size to that of a cat and moved out long after sunset. Still he could not escape the vigilance of Lankadevi the arch guardian of the capital for she interrogated him and enquired about him in detail. Hanuman replied that he had just come to see the place and will return as soon as he finishes. Lankadevi gave a resounding slap on the cheek of Hanuman. He in turn closed his fist and gave violent blows to the guardian woman. She fell flat on the ground and rose up with the statement, "I was appointed by Brahma to guard this empire. He told that if I was knocked down by a monkey, my function ended there and the fall of the empire commenced." So saying, she vanished. As a precursor of fall this allegorical incident happens in one form or another to every mighty empire that transgresses right living. Assuming an unnoticeably tiny form Anjenaya made a diligent search of every nook and corner of the capital at night when the city was partly in slumber. The stupendousness of the buildings and the enormity of wealth bore testimony to the prosperity of empire. The city planning indicated the engineering feat and the hygienic consciousness of the people. The parks and gardens revealed their aesthetic taste. Here and there the chanting of the Vedas could be heard. The classical music produced elsewhere marked their refinement. The physical structure of the people, was strong and elegant. Still these people were classified rakshasas or demons because of their voluptuos size and cruelty.


There were also ugly creatures among them as elsewhere. On the whole this stock was superior to that at Kishkindha both in the build of the body and in attainments. But in conduct the latter was superior. The abnormality in drink and the over- indulgence in sensuality, presaged the impending fall of the people. Maruthi gained access to the sleeping chamber of Ravana and had a close observation of that demon hero in deep repose. Unwillingy he had to enter the women's chambers hoping to find Sita in their midst. At first sight he mistook Mandodari the first queen of Ravana for Sita. Then he corrected himself, because it was impossible for the chaste and austere spouse of Rama to reconcile herself with that indulgent environment and with that vile abductor. The diligent for Sita was practically over. All possible places where women stayed or were likely to be kept hidden were probed into. But no trace of her could be found anywhere. The super attempt of Anjenaya was so far a failure. If he returned, defeated in purpose, the consequences would be grave if not tragic. The hero shuddered even to think of them. Could it be possible that the adamant Sita was eaten up by the demons out of vengeance? Or did she drop down into the sea and perish while being airborne by Ravana? Sampathi said he had a yogic view of Sita guarded by ugly demonesses. Anyway Anjenaya resolved to go on searching to the end of his life. Now Ashokavana or the garden of delight was the one important place that remained unexplored. Maruthi scaled the compound and got into it with ease. As the name indicated the garden was really the dispeller of distress. While the palace was the artificial seat of sense pleasure this garden was the natural inspirer of pleasure sensual to the sensuous and spiritual austere. The beauty and the bounty of nature were both concentrated here. The treasures of earth were lavishly spent to decorate this naturally charming place.

The flowering and the fruiting trees of all the seasons were intelligently cultured here. It was the heaven of joy to birds, bees and beasts. If Sita was alive she was bound to resort to this place either to delight or to decline in sorrow, because of her partiality for woods. So thought Hanuman and searched for a place of personal concealment on the branch of a tall tree. No sooner he secured such a foliage than he saw an arresting scene below. On a platform was seated a slim woman plunged in sorrow. Strangely enough that sorrow was not earthy. It was an ethereal languor adding lusture to her natural beauty. It was given to the spiritual genius of Maruthi to see this divine halo. He further scrutinized. The jewels described by Rama were hanging fastened to a branch. The yellow cloth worn by her was dirty because of no change and wash. A single plait hanging up to her waist had relieved no wash. The body was haggard due to fast and sleeplessness. Inspite of these odds it was a young woman of heavenly beauty that was seated there absorbed in the painful thought of Rama. "Indeed this is Sita!" was the thought that flashed in the mind of Maruthi. Mentally he paid his homage to Rama, the worthy spouse of this spiritual beauty.

It was a bright morning. In his diminutive form Anjenaya could remain hidden within the leaves on the top of the tree and observe the happenings below, himself being unobserved. Presently Ravan made his appearance accompanied by a bevy of wives paying homage to him in several customary ways. At the approach of this pageantry Sita's mind got more absorbed in the far away Rama. The hidden Hanuman could closely scan the classic physique of Ravana. He was all admiration for it, enemy though the owner of it was. Now Ravana affectionately addressed Sita and said, "I have won you in the wont of our race. Now there is no escape for you. But I shall not embrace you without your consent. The creator has come out with the best of his talents in giving you beauty. And you have conquered me the one who was conquered the three worlds. Please be not adamant. Become my own even as these celestial beauties have become. Think not of the fugitive Rama who may or may not be alive. Even if he alive he is no way superior to me. Let not your youthful beauty wither away in meaningless distress. Become the empress of Lanka. Sita threw a bit of straw in front and addressed it with calmness, composure and dignity. "Withdraw your mind from me and fix it on your own consorts. You incur sin by dotting on the chaste wife of another. Because of the wickedness of their King the people of Lanka are going to suffer. None can separate me from my Lord, Rama. If you want to escape from death practice self control and restore me reverently to Rama. You sneaked into the asrama as a thief and abducted me away in the absence of Rama and Lakshmana. In the open war you are going to be slain by them."