Sundarkand is the beautiful story of the popular Indian monkey god – Hanuman. It tells the amazing tale of Hanuman’s visit to Lanka and the ultimate raid on the city to burn it down.
ETYMOLOGY
In Sanskrit, ‘Sundar’ means beautiful or charming, and ‘Kand’ means an episode. There are multiple different opinions about the reason behind naming this Chapter of the Ramcharitmanas. Some scholars believe that Anjani devi – the mother of Hanuman, used to call him by this name. And as this chapter talks about the heroics of Hanuman, it was titled Sundarkand. Some researchers believe that the area where the Ashok Vatika was situated – was called Sundargiri; that’s why this chapter is called Sundarkand. Also, some believe that it is one of the most beautiful parts of the story, and it teaches great values; that’s why it is called Sundarkand.
HISTORY
Sundarkand is the title of the 5th Chapter of Ramcharitmans, which is a rendition of the epic Ramayan, originally written by Maharshi Valmiki. Ramcharitmanas was authored by one of the greatest poets and philosophers of India – Tulsidas. It is believed that he lived through the 15th to 16th century CE; there are different opinions about his exact date of birth. He created Ramcharitmanas in the Avadhi language while living in the holy cities of Varanasi and Ayodhya.
CONTENT
Sundarkand is – the story of Hanuman and his heroics. It is one of the most interesting and thrilling parts of Ramayan, in which Hanuman goes to Lanka for the first time. After getting the information on the whereabouts of Mata Sita in Lanka, Hanuman finally realizes his own power and abilities and crosses over the sea in just one leap. He wades through many difficulties and opponents very smartly and meets Sita Mata. Upon being spotted by Ravan’s army, he is captured and tortured in the royal court. This is when Hanuman sets the entire Lanka on fire and returns back to Bhagwan Ram with a message from Mata Sita. Meanwhile, in Lanka, Ravan’s brother Vibhishan gets into an argument with him, and he is eventually insulted and banished by Ravan. After allying with Vibhishan, Bhagwan Ram finally decides to attack Lanka.
LEARNINGS
The main hero of the story of Sundarkand is Hanuman. His life teaches us the unparalleled tale of devotion, courage, wisdom, and passion. He is oblivious of his capabilities, but when he starts believing in himself, he accomplishes the near-impossible achievements, which is one of the greatest motivational stories. Also, the conduct of Ram and Ravan in this chapter showcases the extremes of good and bad sides of humanity. There are numerous instances where Hanuman shows amazing patience, smartness, and magical powers to evade being spotted or caught – which talks about a calm mind yet agile body. Overall, it teaches you some important life skills.
CULTURAL INFLUENCE
Today, it is one of the greatest Indian literary works. It is recited at numerous public events, especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays. And every year, many Ramlila theatre plays are organized, where it is performed. Sundarkand has also been recorded by numerous artists across India in a musical format, and it can be heard being played at a lot of Hanuman temples as well.
It is pretty easy to listen to good-quality Sundarkand Path songs online. However, before that, you should definitely know more about the chapters before and after the Sundarkand, to understand its context in the broader story.
