The fifth book Sundara Kanda is opened in the last post and we learned the first few chapters in it as well. The most famed book of the epic is on its way and it is my fortune to spread awareness, shed light through this medium. The first three chapters have explained Hanuman's flight to Lanka, his encounters with demoness on the flight, winning over them, reaching the shores of Lanka inspite of hurdles, getting startled at the beautiful fortress, worries about the seemingly daunting mission of finding Sita amid powerful Rakshasas, encounter with gaurdian Lanka and entering the impregnable kingdom. We have already seen how powerful the obstacles are and how Hanuman overcame them all. This sets the tone for the book, the mammoth epic encounters which Hanuman is going to face and win them all with his peerless strength. The mission is impossible for none except Him whose prowess gets the light of the day and meets the requirement of the task. We can look at how Hanuman penetrates the kingdom, studies it in following chapters.
In chapter 4, Entering Lanka at night by placing His left foot desiring the destruction of enemies, Hanuman hears various musical instruments being played inside. He also observes enemy forces and moves towards the royal gynaeceum.
Remembering the convention that forbade entry into enemy country through its gates, Hanuman climbed over its ramparts. And as his intention was to benefit Sugriva and harm Ravana he set his left foot first into that kingdom of the rakshasas, an inauspicious act supposed to bring bad luck to its ruler. Served by the winds and girdled by the blue seas, the splendor of Lanka was breath taking.
Miles and miles of nature's incredible charms, manmade mansions, groves and gardens held Hanuman spellbound. Thoroughfares sprinkled with water scented with sandal had pearls scattered over them. In that city which rang with unceasing music and laughter, women roamed the streets filling them with the jingle of their jewelry and the swishing of their silks. Vying with those were voices that sang the chant of the vedas while some sang praise of Ravana. Pleased with himself for being in the domain of the demons, inviolable and inaccessible even to the gods, Hanuman looked forward to soon finding Sita. In that ambience of unsurpassed splendor walked men and women of peerless beauty who were pure, brilliant and intellectual. Women bright as the stars, with dark eyes, long lashes and skin that glowed like molten gold were ravishing. Some among them, the shy ones hid in the arms of their men companions, some sat on terraces with their mates while the brazen sang and danced with abandon and without restraint. All around, men were getting into drunken brawls as they insulted and abused each other in their intoxication. Lanka also had its share of good men, who were devout, intelligent and learned who commanded great respect. Hanuman saw the wicked, the ugly and the deformed whose evil minds matched their distorted bodies. Some wore skins while some wore nothing. Carrying clubs, maces, flashing blades and more, roamed the grisly legions. They came in all sizes, shapes and colours. There were the tall, the short, the dark and the fair. Some had matted hair, some were clean shaven while yet others had hair all over. There were one-eyed rakshasas, long eared rakshasas whose ears hung down to their knees, whose bellies and breasts were pendulous and whose fangs protruded fearfully. The hunch-backed, the ugly, the morbid and the handsome mingled with the beautiful, the intelligent and the vivacious to lend awe and diversity to the city of Lanka.
Beholding the many wonders of the rakshasa stronghold Hanuman quickly slipped though its gate way and into the opulence of the home of Ravana, the lord of the rakshasas surrounded by lofty ramparts and pristine white lotuses floating on the dark fathomless waters of its moat. Eluding the watchful eyes of ferocious guards he had at last come to where he hoped to find Sita.
In chapter 5, Hanuman sees the denizens of the city of Lanka rendered beautiful by the glorious moon. Hanuman also become anxious as he had not been able to find Sita.
High above the island kingdom of Lanka rose the moon, whose luminance dispelled the sorrows of creatures and lighted up the flesh eating barbaric hordes below. Sweet music filled the air as chaste women with their husbands were lulled to sleep. Every home had horses, elephants, palanquins, and chariots boasted of untold wealth. It was the time of day when intoxicated demons were getting into drunken brawls. Some indulged in vulgar expressions, some ridiculed each other and some embraced their dear ones. Lanka also had its share of good men, who were honourable, respected and among the most intelligent of beings. Devout, pious and virtuous they took pride in their conduct. In the city where the beautiful and the ugly were so common, Hanuman saw peerless beauties shining like the stars. He saw the demure hide in the arms of their mates, while the brazen vaunted their armour. Everywhere in Lanka its citizens were either asleep, making merry or indulging in every possible pleasure. Countless were the faces whose beauty was enchanting, but Hanuman knew that Sita had to be more beautiful than them. Hopes of finding her were dwindling and his heart grew heavy at the futility of his search, as Sita, consort of Rama and jewel among woman who in her incarnation as Vedavathi had sworn to destroy Ravana, remained elusive.
In chapter 6, Hanuman moves about the city of Lanka, going from one house to another in search of mother Sita. He finds amazing wealth and riches abounding in that city of Ravana. He finally enters the huge house of Ravana.
Disappointed and unhappy about not being able to find Sita, Hanuman decided to scour Lanka once again. The fabulous palace of Ravana with its unrivalled splendor was surrounded by the most dreaded of rakshasas, who like lions guarding a forest, evoked terror in the hearts of their beholders. Hanuman stared like one hypnotised not only at the palace, but at the many mansions whose golden glow in collusion with the riches of gold, silver and gems was stunning and where resided the rich, the powerful and the elite of Lanka. In those royal homes and gardens including those of Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana, Indrajit and other rakshasa stalwarts did Hanuman seek Sita. Fenced in by lofty golden ramparts, guarded by fierce demon bands, Lanka teemed with beautiful women whose silks rustled and whose jewels jingled. Bustling with men fulfilling their duties, the opulence of the inner city was resonant with the chants at the ongoing fire sacrifices, the booming of drums and the blowing of conches. Divine fragrances of incense, sandal, unguents and the burning of scented lamps pervaded the air and amidst all that glory rose the palace of Ravana like a jewel among jewels.
In chapter 7, Hanuman continues his search for mother Sita in Ravana's inner city. He sees the aerial plane Pushpaka in Ravana's building.
Towering above everything else that dazzled and reached for the sky was the Pushpaka. Worshipped by the devas and asuras, white as mount Kailas it shot out of its home on the Trikoota mountain soaring towards the clouds and beyond. It is an aerial chariot created by Visvakarma for Brahma, who had gifted it to Kubera for his austerities. It was now Ravana's by the right of his might and symbol of his power. Seemingly suspended in the sky, that marvel made of silver, gold and gems from the earth, had windows of gold, with trellises of ivory, which were festooned with pearls from the deep blue seas. Embellished with every conceivable gem, the Pushpaka radiated with an unabated brilliance, like that of the Sun and its master Ravana, lord of the Rakshasas. In that vast expanse of riches crystal floors were studded with gems while carved pillars and stairs leading up its many floors flashed their share of precious stones. The floor was covered by an exquisite carpet designed to resemble the surface of the earth and from the roof hung shapes of animals crafted out of gold silver and gem stones. Those crafted like birds seemed to flutter around as they swayed gently, touched by wafting winds. Hanuman wandered through the myriad chambers of the Pushpaka each richer and fairer than the other, filled with art galleries, sporting houses and paintings depicting the many splendors of nature. Hanuman inhaled the air redolent with the aromas of food and drink, which like an old friend seemed to beckon him to where Ravana was. Thoroughly fascinated by the creation known as Pushpaka, Hanuman thought, "This must be the home of the gods. If this can be so interminably big, how much more so will be the palace of Ravana?" But beyond all that awe and bewilderment was the lingering sadness of having not yet found that worshipful consort of Rama, who in turn worshipped her lord, captivated by his charm and his virtue.
Chapter 8 describes Pushpaka in glorious and amazing detail.
Hanuman kept looking at the Pushpaka, which had come into existence by the peerless skills of that master architect Visvakarma. Not only could it fly in the skies with the speed of the winds but could also travel to the desired destination of its master without being told. No power on earth could stop it, nor could any number of travellers daunt it. No matter how full it was, there was always place for one more. Tearing his gaze away from that mesmeric sight Hanuman went towards the palace of Ravana whose roof gleamed with myriad gems while its interiors slumbered in the still of the night.
This concludes chapters 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of Sundara Kanda where we had seen Hanuman studying Lanka in great detail surreptitiously. After entering the kingdom, the fear impossible for even gods, Hanuman examines its ways and means while also searching for Sita. The search is futile in many attempts and occasions. Men and women Rakshasas, their houses, their behaviour and the environment was described in some detail. Hanuman was hypnotized by the charm and riches on display. The wonder which is Pushpaka, an aerial chariot mesmerizes Hanuman which stands tall as a symbol of Ravana's might and power. While Hanuman gazes in awe and bewilderment, there is no end yet to his haunting sadness of mission left unfulfilled. The fortress that is Lanka, whose unassailable lord is Ravana, has been portrayed through the eyes of Hanuman and this will continue in subsequent chapters.
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