In the last post, we had seen Hanuman flying back to the legion of vanaras after completing a highly successful task to find Sita in the south. He entered Lanka alone and not only found her but also gave her assurance of a certain victory and did several other impossible operations annihilating Lanka to an extent before the final battle. This entire period is detailed in this Kanda and as mentioned many times, Hanuman takes the center stage in the journey of Rama, Sita and to re-unite them. Hanuman is the foremost, ardent and sacrosanct devotee of Rama. This Kanda is going to cement that stature for eternity for the task rendered is immensely valuable to Rama. Remember, Rama has been in dire straits for many months after the abduction of Sita and with no clue of her presence. Once Hanuman comes back with the news of her whereabouts, he naturally becomes ecstatic after a prolonged period of grief in exile. He was robbed of his Kingdom, sent to exile right before the coronation, lost his father, lived in uninhabitable forests for many years facing demons, lost his spouse who came along with him sacrificing royal comforts and there can be no greater pain to endure even for a most level-headed and calm person. Sometimes, even the strongest of men can be unnerved and become lost due to the terrible circumstances and needs someone to come to the rescue. It is at this moment, Hanuman entered into his world and spread cheer, light and hope. The last few chapters of the Sundara Kanda will convey this very essence which will elevate the state of many a people from doom, gloom to hope, happiness. The vanaras, who cannot show their faces to Sugriva have already excperienced this and reveled in Madhuvana by drinking aplenty for discovering Sita. We can look at the succession to this episode as Hanuman come to the presence of Rama to inform about this triumph in the task.
In chapter 63, Dadhimukha comes to Sugreeva and reports that Madhuvana, the grove abounding in honey, has been damaged by monkeys headed by Angada and Hanuman. When Lakshmana in the vicinity enquires Sugriva about the matter, Sugriva says that by hearing about the jubilation of the monkeys, it can be concluded that Sita has been traced out. Assuaging Dadhimukha, Sugriva asks him to send without delay, Hanuman, Angada and others to him, so as to hear about their efforts in tracing out Sita.
Sugriva, full of concern for Dadhimukha, the guardian to Maduvana when he comes to him and was at his feet said, "Why do you do this Dadhimukha? Tell me what troubles you, I promise you safety from all your fears. When Dadhimukha said, "Lord of the Vanaras, the inviolable Madhuvan, which, none had dared to enter neither during the reign of your father Riksharaja nor that of yours has now been invaded by Angada and his Vanara bands. My orders have been defied and the grove defiled". When Lakshmana who was watching wanted to know what ailed Dadhimukha, Sugriva said that the Vanaras who had gone southward in search of Sita must be the ones now in the grove and the audacity with which they had entered it meant victory. "Sita must have been found and none but Hanuman would have achieved it. Any mission led by Jambavan and Angada and aided by Hanuman can never suffer defeat" Sugriva was certain that unless the vanaras had knowledge of Sita they would not have ever dared to step into the mystic woodland gifted to his father by Brahma." Sugriva's words brought great joy to Rama and Lakshmana and the equally happy vanara king told his uncle Dadhimukha, that he would forgive the vanaras, who deserved the revelry that they were indulging in. "I wish to see them and Hanuman who have come back victorious." Even as he said that Sugriva grew ecstatic at the many auspicious signs. He was becoming aware of omens, which heralded the triumph of his mission and of happier times to come.
In chapter 64, Coming back to Madhuvana as instructed by Sugriva, and craving forgiveness of Angada, Dadhimukha submits to him that he along with the other monkeys is urgently required by Sugreeva. Angada and other monkeys including Hanuman spring forward into the air towards Kishkindha. Even before the arrival of those monkeys, Sugreeva explains to Rama the valid reasons for concluding that Sita has since been found. Angada, Hanuman and other monkeys approach Sugriva. Then, Hanuma apprises Rama of the discovery of Sita. Hearing the news, Rama and Lakshmana were thrilled with joy and looked at Hanuman with a high esteem.
Dadhimukha raced back to Madhuvana where he apologized to Angada saying "Bound by my orders and my duty, I tried to restrain you, do forgive me. Your destructive cavorting only made Sugriva happy and not angry. He now wishes to see you". As the vanaras soared back into the sky on their homeward journey, Angada said, "Though I am heir to the throne I have not the freedom to command you, for you are the achievers who have seen Sita". His gracious remarks evoked the admiration of all the vanara hordes, who praised his unassuming grace and humility. Commanded by Angada, roaring with joy and driven by the winds, the Vanara bands sped towards their destination. In the meantime, Sugriva who was with Rama saw the sorrow in his and said, "Do not grieve Rama, Sita has been found and it is the truth. The vanaras would not have ever come back otherwise". He tried to convince Rama that Angada in his joy at Sita's discovery must have permitted the wrecking of the ancestral grove, protected and cherished for centuries. Also, that it must have been Hanuman to whom wisdom and valor were as natural as radiance is to the sun, who must have found Sita. Even as Sugriva was consoling Rama, he heard the distant bluster of the approaching vanara armies. Hanuman prostrated to Rama and told him of Sita who was effulgent in her purity and chastity and in it was her safety and her protection and the Ikshvaku brothers quivered with great joy as they heard Hanuman's nectarine words.
In chapter 65, Angada, Hanuman and other monkeys approach Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva at Mount Prasravana. When monkeys start narrating the news of Sita, Rama asks further details of her. Then, the monkeys request Hanuman to explain the occurrences to Rama in detail. Hanuman appraises Rama of Sita's presence at the foot of a Simsapa tree in the midst of female-demons. After narrating the incidents related to her and delivering to Rama the jewel from her head, earlier handed-over by Sita as a token, Hanuman conveys her message to Rama.
The vanaras gathered on mount Prasravana prostrated to Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva. They spoke excitedly about Sita, of her being held captive in the palace of Ravana, of her torment by her demon guard and how through it all she clung to her unwavering love for Rama. Hanuman turned towards the south where lay Lanka and prostrated to Sita. He told Rama that a hundred Yojanas across the ocean on the southern shores of the southern sea was the city of Lanka. There in the palace of Ravana he had seen Sita, the beautiful princess who meditated upon Rama and was ever watched by formidable rakshasa women. "She grieves" said Hanuman, "who should never be grieving, living in fear and sorrow she pines for you. When I quietly made her believe who I was, she gave me Choodamani to be given to you. Emaciated, ever rigid in her purity and truth, Sita is a captive who like a frightened doe lives in wide-eyed fear. She sends you the Choodamani and wants you to know that the time given to her by Ravana to yield to him ends in one month and begs you to rescue her soon."
In chapter 66, Rama, presses the jewel of the head, dispatched by Sita on his bosom and speaks to Sugreeva, telling him that by seeing that excellent jewel he obtains the sight of Sita, her father and father-in-law. Rama urges Hanuman, to repeat the words spoken by Sita.
Holding the Choodamani to his heart, Rama wept and with him wept Lakshmana. Rama said that it was gifted by Indra to Janaka, who had later given it to his daughter Janaki, at the time of her marriage. Looking at it born of the ocean and worshipped by the elders, Rama felt as if he was beholding his beloved Sita, and that he could no longer live without her. "Take me to Sita, Lakshmana," he cried out, "How is she even alive surrounded by those fiends? Tell me more of her Hanuman. Just as medicine is to the sick, so is news of Sita to me. I shall survive listening to you talk of her, for it will quench my grief, as water quenches thirst." Rama could not believe that he was only seeing the Choodamani which bejeweled Sita and not Sita herself. "Can there be anything more tragic" he wondered aloud "will Sita live another month without me? What else did Sita tell you Hanuman?"
In chapter 67, Hanuman narrates at length an incident connected with a crow that occured during the sojourn of Sita with Rama at Chitrakuta, which was related by Sita by way of a token of remembrance. Sita then describes her miserable state to Hanuman and requests him to ask Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva to come to Lanka to destroy Ravana together with his army. Hanuman consoles Sita, saying that Rama and Lakshmana would reduce Lanka to ashes and take her back to Ayodhya.
Hanuman began by telling Rama of all that had once transpired at Chitrakoota as if Sita herself was narrating it. "Remind Rama of the day when, as he lay asleep a crow had attacked me. Refusing to be shooed away, it had scratched and torn at my chest until I bled. The falling drops of blood woke up Rama, who was furious. Hissing like an angry serpent he had sent the most powerful of weapons after that hapless bird. Ask him why he who was then so outraged, not do anything now about Ravana, who causes me so much more torment. Though invincible to every god and creature, why does Rama hesitate to rescue me? Why does Lakshmana at least, not free me with Rama's permission? Have I sinned so much, that all have forsaken me Hanuman?" Hanuman said that he had consoled Sita, telling her of the imminent arrival of the Ikshvaku brothers, for the destruction of Ravana. It was then that Sita had given Hanuman the Choodamani to be given Rama and also the time when Hanuman had offered to carry her out of Lanka. But Sita had refused saying that it was not right to do so and that she did not have the freedom to touch any man other than Rama. Sita said, "you may ask, has it never happened before? The only time it happened was when I was abducted by Ravana and I had neither the choice nor the help to prevent such humiliation."
In chapter 68, Hanuman informs Rama how Sita expressed her grave doubt as to how monkeys and bears can leap across a vast sea, as well as her appeal to Rama to destroy Ravana along with his entire army in Lanka and take her back to Ayodhya. Hanuman further informs Rama, how he resolved her doubt by explaining the prowess of the troops of monkeys and bears, commanded by Sugreeva as also how he brought solace and peace to her from her worries.
Hanuman trying to appease Rama's insatiable craving for more and more news of Sita, sat telling him of the many events that had led to her discovery. He told Rama of how Sita had wanted him to rest for a day, before he started back home, as she also felt that it would give her that much respite from her fear and sorrow. She wanted to know of what possible plans Rama had to achieve the impossible? Sita felt that it would not befit Rama to steal her out of Lanka, just as Ravana had stolen her out of the forest. She wanted Rama to fill Lanka with his arrows and take her away honorably. Hanuman went on to say that he had assured Sita that Sugriva who had sworn to free her would soon descend upon Lanka. He told Rama that to instill courage and confidence in Sita, he had said that Rama and Lakshmana would arrive into Lanka like the Sun and the Moon, on his shoulders.
This concludes chapters 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 and 68 of Sundara Kanda and with this, the beautiful book has come to a close. The 68 chapters of this Kanda details the heroic actions of Hanuman who becomes the main protagonist, even above the master in the crucial time of Rama’s exile. In the last few chapters, Hanuman delivers the discovery of Sita, handing over choodamani or jewel of her head to Rama, remembering a story narrated by her and everything spoken out by her to Rama. Hanuman brings out a lively depiction of his conversation even if he couldn’t bring the person in physical form to Rama. This is going to treat Rama like a medicine and also enrage him to free her from Ravana’s captive which will initiate the next Kanda where the battle between dharma and adharma will take place. With the divine grace of Lord Rama and Mother Sita, we have now covered the first five books in Ramayana, providing a brief summary of each chapter and a brief commentary. Of particular significance is the fifth and most important book in the epic – Sundara Kanda, which we are able to learn and get the divine grace of Lord Hanuman, who is the gatekeeper to reach the hearts of Rama and Sita. We had seen him alleviating the individual pains of the noble couple with the heroic actions in the Kanda and the mere common men will certainly get elevated with his grace and prayer onto him. The symbol of strength, Hanuman is to the world what he is to the ideals among men and women – Rama and Sita. Hanuman scaling up in size to resemble a huge figure is a symbol of protection, valour and might to give immense strength to all living forms. His presence is also vital in the next Kanda or the book on battle or the Yuddha Kanda which we can see from the subsequent posts.
