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

Hanuman silently admired the valiant attitude of Sita even while in agony of imprisonment. There was ethical beauty in it. Maruthi begged Sita for a token of his having met her. On the presentation of that token Rama should feel assured of the meeting. Sita narrated the incident of her being teased by a crow at Chitrakutam and of Rama's stern action against an asura that came in the form of that crow. He who was so earnest in guarding her then seemed to have become now indifferent to her loss. That was her repeated lamentation presented before the parting Anjenaya. But the messenger consoled her depicting the poignancy of Rama's sorrow on the other side. Sita had kept her crest jewel concealed in her clothing. She took it out and gave it to Hanuman stating that a greater evidence than that was not available to prove to Rama the genuineness of the meeting. He prostrated with devotion and took leave. Sita bade him farewell reluctant as she was to part. Now Hanuman felt satisfied that the first and the foremost purpose of his adventure into Lanka was achieved. He sat alone and cogitated upon three more ventures which were not prejudicial to the main object. The power that be in Lanka should be given a foretaste of the punishment that would be inflicted on them if they transgressed their bounds in their dealings with Sita in captivity.

Secondly the strength of the enemy warriors must be tested. It is an important factor for the invader. Last of all Ravana's frame of mind should be studied. And that is the overall point in the campaign that has been made. Ashokavanam was the favourite resort of Ravana both for the enjoyment of the company of his wives and for planning serious projects. Hanuman decided the line of action and devasted this charming grove as quickly as his father the wind god would have done. Then he pulled down the huge dome of the temple of Lanka and sat majestically on its terrace expecting arrest and drastic action. The alarmed rakshasis ran to Ravana and reported the havoc created by a huge monkey which was perhaps in secret contact with Sita. But the demon king gave no serious thought to this incident. He directed his bodyguards to go and hunt the monkey to death. A big battalion rushed out to enjoy the fun of killing a monkey. But strangely the whole battalion of the bodyguards was done to death by that sighted creature. Then Anjenaya made a big proclamation that he was an envoy of Sugreeva. Mighty monkeys of his type were going to destroy Lanka very soon. Jambumali a mighty rakshasa was ordered by the king to kill the insolent monkey. A combat ensued between that skilled archer and Anjenaya. It was not long before the archer succumbed. Seven sons of the ministers were then commissioned to vanquish the intruding monster. Backed by a huge army the seven sons of the ministers marched in pageantry and provoked the nonchalant Hanuman into action. There was an aerial engagement in which all the seven sons were squeezed to death and dropped down on the earth. Concealing his anxiety, Ravana called five of his generals and put it to them, " On many an occasion I have harassed the celestials and the holy people. Out of spite they might have set this strange creature to tease me. You please see to it that this being is done to death." The officers took detachment with them, went well equipped and made strategic attacks on Anjenaya seated firmly on the terrace. All the five generals were defeated and killed. The army was completely destroyed.


Aksha, the young prince was present when information was brought to Ravana of the utter annihilation of all the five generals by the mysterious monkey. But the prince did not give time to his father to get enraged by tragedy. Promptly he offered to hasten and avenge the humiliation and the loss of life and property caused to Lanka. The father felt relieved and approved of the proposed action. The fully equipped Aksha gallantly drove his impressive chariot drawn by eight spirit horses and gave battle to the intruder. The valiant Maruthi responded the challenge. The magic chariot rose in the air. The son of the wind god also flew up in the air. The air battle that ensued was terrible to behold. The Gods stood aghast and witnessed it. Maruthi admired the valour and strategic skill of the young prince. But becaue ot the heinous offence of Ravana, his son also had to be dealt with severity. After affording him scope to display his war talents, Hanuman landed death blows on the horses, smashing bows on the lovely chariot and bone powdering blows on the handsome rakshasa prince. A mass of blood soaked splinters, bones, skin and flesh crashed on the earth. The army that accompanied the prince ran in dismay in all directions. The bereavement of the son did not disturb the mind of Ravana so much as the gravity of the situation. It occurred to him now that a crisis was likely to develop. But he kept the concern hidden in the heart. He sent for Indrajit his first son and put the case before him, "things are going from bad to worse. It behoves you to arrest further deterioration. You can wield weapons with ease. You have conquered the Gods and demons. Pleased with your austerity Brahma the creator has bestowed several boons upon you. Use of the brahmastram is the greatest of them. Therefore none in the three worlds can oppose you. By the practice of tapasya you have acquired immense strength. Fatigue will never overtake you. In wisdom and strategy you are superb. It is not prudent to call you to action now. But the emergency demands it. Go and do the needful. Do not underrate the offender. Vanquish him and return victorious."

Ravana's first son vanquished Indra, the king of the gods. He was therefore distinguished as Indrajit, the conquerer of Indra. This Indrajit readily obeyed his father, received his blessings and drove in a chariot towards the terrace on which his foe Anjenaya was seated expectant of further engagements. This chariot drawn by four terrible tigers made a tremendous noise. The twang of the bow string added to that sound. Taking note of this array, Anjaneya increased in size. Indrajit commented the conflict by discharing many arrows of mystic powers. Hanuman rose in the air and displayed dexterity in dodging them. There was a volley of shafts darting round him; but he smartly escaped being pierced by them. It seemed as Hanuman was sporting with the arrows directed against him. All the deadly weapons discharged against him proved themselves ineffective. And that was the beauty in the make up of Hanuman. The statement that weapons would not cleave him flashed in the mind of Indrajit. So he chanted and sent forth the brahmastram. It had the desired effect. The monkey Mahavira laid bound and passive. He knew what was done to him. He also knew that according to Brahmas's boon to himself that supernatural weapon would not long have its effect on him. In the meanwhile he hoped to be produced before Ravana. The ignorant rakshasas committed a blunder. They tied Hanuman fast with strong hopes and thereby made brahmastram ineffective. Both the victor and the victim knew this, but they kept quite each for his own reason. Hanuman was beaten up, jeered and dragged before Ravana boiling with anger.

Hanuman saw the sleeping Ravana first in his bed chamber. He saw the lust laden Ravana, next when he wooed Sita in the Ashoka grove. Then Anjenaya kept himself concealed. His third and face to face open observation of the Lord of Lanka was at his pageant at the kingly court where this accused was dragged for display, derision and enquiry. Ravana's attractive personality, prowess, pomp, culture, decorum, administrative genius, Lordship over able and intelligent ministers, over a mighty army- all these were quickly taken note of by seeing the captive. "If this rakshasa king had not been tainted by lust, he would have excelled Devendra" and this was the observation made by him. Ravana angrily gazed at Hanuman and gave royal orders to the ministers Prahasta, "Whence is this being? What is his intention? Why did he frighten the demonesses and destroy the Ashoka party? What was the purpose in his penetrating into the impregnable Lanka? Why did this wicked fellow resort to murder?" Prahasta interrogated Anjenaya, "Monkey do not be afraid. You are given protection. Has Indra instigated you to probe into this city of Ravana? He also asked if at all they have come as a spy of Kubera or Yama or Varuna in this guise? Or, do you represent Vishnu who hankers for victory over our king? You do not seem a monkey. Tell the truth so that you may be spared, he enquired. "