Introduction to Sundarakāṇḍa (सुन्दरकाण्ड)

 

श्री रामायणम् – Śrī Rāmāyaṇam

Introduction to Sundarakāṇḍa (सुन्दरकाण्ड)

Sundarakāṇḍa covers the following incidents.

·       Shri Hanuman leaps over the ocean towards Lanka.  The ocean god asks Mainaka, a mountain hidden due to fear of Indra in the ocean, to come up and provide hospitality to Shri Hanuman, who is going on the work of Shri Rama, a descendant of King Sagara.

·       Shri Hanuman encounters Mainaka, but rejects his hospitality, as he is on a mission.  Then, while flying, Surasa challenges him to enter her mouth, which he accomplishes and comes out.  Finally, he kills Simhika, a demon living in the waters and captures any flying being with its shadow.

·       Shri Hanuman subdues Lankhini, the soul of Lanka and enters Lanka

·       Shri Hanuman enters Ravana’s palace and searches for Sita, sees sleeping Ravana, and finally reaches Ashoka Garden, where Seeta has been kept by Ravana.

·       Shri Hanuman listens, from the top of the tree under which Seeta was sitting, and Ravana’s pleas to accept him as husband, and Seeta’s rejection of the same

·       Shri Hanuman meets Seeta and delivers Shri Rama’s ring to her and takes a head jewel from her for showing to Shri Rama

·       Shri Hanuman challenges the demons and fights with them and eliminates some important warriors from Ravana’s side.  Indrajit, the eldest son of Ravana, captures him by employing Brahmastra

·       Shri Hanuman meets Ravana and advises him to restore Sita to Shri Rama

·       Ravana orders Shri Hanuman tail to be ignited. 

·       Shri Hanuman torches Lanka with the fire at his tail

·       Shri Hanuman rejoins the vanaras at the Northern tip of the ocean

·       The vanaras finally reach Kishkinda and conveys the good news of meeting Seeta to Shri Rama.

 

 

 

Kiṣkindhākāṇḍa Part-20

Sundarakāṇḍa Part-1