Sundara Kanda Upanyasam at Premika Bhavanam by my Guru My Guru was speaking on Ramayan when I entered Premika Bhavan. Luckily I was there when he started “ThathO Ravana Neethayaha” – the first verse in Sundara Kanda. I was thinking He might stop with the first chapter which explains Hanuman’s Jump to Lanka. However He went on to speak on entire Sundara Kandam. My Guru speaks only on select chapters in Ramayan. Even in Krishna Leelas, He may not ever touch on the war part of Mahabharatha. Here this is the first time I heard on His exposition of Hanuman’s exploits. In Tamil, I will find the same words. However since this might benefit many, it is in English. Hanuman by birth was a Shiva Amsa. My Guru gave several instances to prove this. The first being Ravana on seeing Hanuman in his court simply exclaims “Are you Nandhi? (Nandhi is also a name for Shiva)”. Tulsidas says “Sankara Suvana” in Hanuman chaleese. Also Nandhi had given a Shapha to Ravan that he will meet his end through monkeys only. My Guru said that a photographer will go to all jungles but a jungle where monkeys live in large numbers. Because they will attack from all sides. It will jump from top or give you the highest surprises. That is why Guerilla warfare is considered very dangerous even today. That is why Rama took all the monkeys to Lanka (kootindu ponaar) My Guru said that with lot of smiles. Hanuman jumped towards SUN when He was a child. Hence it was not a big thing that He crossed oceans. (My Guru added even now people cross the distance between lanka and India easily). Hanuman went along with SUN God for learning all the Shastras. He had enormous power with which He was playing with the World. My Guru said that if a person is Lethargic and has power, there may not be serious trouble. But if He is too powerful and Yet He is very active, it will be difficult to control Him. In Hanuman’s case it was the Latter. Maharishi’s seeing that Hanuman is born for Rama’s work, made Him forget His powers and blessed Him that He will retain memory of it at the right time. Hanuman gives life to Sugriva (who was terrified of Vali). Sugriva sends (My Guru incidentally referred to Saint Thiagaraja calling himself as Sugriva – Griva is throat ‘neck’ and Su is for Good. Thiagaraja has a sweet voice). Hanuman gives life to Rama giving info on Seetha and to Seetha by telling info on Rama. Seetha herself says that “if she dies all of her relatives including Rama and Her in-laws will die”. This means that Hanuman gives prana (life) to all who were associated with him. This also includes the Life he gives Rama and lakshmana in the Battle-field. He later gives Life to Bharatha at Nadhigram. Hanuman jumps into the fire lit by Bharatha directly without waiting to explain Bharatha that Rama is Back. (Eriyai Kariyaakkinan- Kambar) Before Leaving for Lanka all the monkeys were wondering how come they can cross the ocean. Jambhavan makes the highest claim but cites age as a negative reason. (To think that the same Jambhavan fought with Lord krishna for 28days nearly 17.5lakh years later, incredible!!). Hanuman all of a sudden regains all his memory and at once climbs Mahendra Parvatha and starts drilling into space. My Guru referred here Balaram regaining His true Nature when Krishna Reminds him of it during a demon’s attack. My Guru incidentally referred that Hanuman at Sundara Anjaneya Temple is much like in “Prana-kumbhak” fashion, a pose wherein stomach is sunk in and air is sucked in, paving the way for maximum power of ejection. As Hanuman left, He was happy on Himself and kissed His Tail a few times and made all sorts of noises with it including throwing all that pulled along with Him from the Hill. Monkeys down were astonished and were exclaiming in different words. He prays to Rama and Leaves. Minutes into His journey, hanuman meets Mainaka Parvatha (Hill with feathers which was protected by Vayu , father of Hanuman, from indra. The Hill came up from ocean to pay it’s debt to Hanuman’s Father). Hanuman touched the Hill , accepted it’s gratitude and left in a swift. He bypasses Nagamatha Surasa and then gently kills Simhika(the fish demon) by going inside her and coming out of Her lower stomach. Hanuman on entering Lanka used His left foot (He uses His left hand also first) as to enemies land, one should enter so. He took the form of a black small cat and entered. (He shows one of His siddhis here and by becoming Big before SITA shows that He has the othersiddhi too!). Lankini (this word is so popular in all over Tamilnadu that I believe that there must have been a time when ramayanam must have been spoken about greatly), the demon which was guarding Lanka stops Hanuman. Hanuman toys with her before giving her a smack with His left hand. She recalls lord Brahma had told her that the moment she gets attcked by a monkey, Lanka and Ravana’s end are nearing. (Brahma is no means an ordinary God. Puranas do not give Him the equal status of Shiva or Vishnu. Neither he gives Moksha. However He is well worshipped by Saints and Demons alike). Hanuman as He enters Lanka is stunned by it’s beauty. My Guru said a few words on Pushpaka Viman which I do not remember. Hanuman as soon as he saw mandothari (wife of Ravan) is delighted to feel that He has seen Sita (wrongly). My Guru said that “Valmiki says that Hanuman did acts of monkey like went up the tree , came down, kissed His tail again & again etc – These expressions in Tamil is simply of the highest order!!) By the depth of information in Ramayan, many more kirtans on Ramayan will continue to come in all languages). Ramayan gives you something of a feeling of fullness & satisfaction which is unmatched by any other Puran. Which can? Greatest epic on earth is Ramayan. Who can dispute that. While Mahabharatha is equally great on Justice delivered , it has many characters. Here is Ramayan which has few characters each one having capacities matching their roles. Lord Krishna can be compared to Lord Rama. Radha can match Sita. Who will be equal to Hanuman? Arjun cannot be. Can Duryodha match Ravan? Cannot. Hanuman for a moment is worried that He cannot see SITA and is also slightly perturbed on seeing women sleeping. Later consoles Himself by saying where else he can search for SITA. As Hanuman prayed to Lord and mentally prayed to both SITA & RAMA, He got the sniff of Ashoka Van. (ASOKA GHAT). It is by the strength of Hanuman’s thought that Rama and Sita will be united that their reunion happened, many Mahans reckon. The tree Simshupa under which SITA was held is still in Tamilnadu and Sri Kanchi Mahaswami used to ask people to go and see this tree. Hanuman jumps in front of SITA as she was about to kill herself (She herself cannot stand the violent tortures of Ravan – It is highly lamentable that today people glorify Ravan – Perhaps such men are Ravan in nature). Hanuman chooses the choicest ways to impress SITA. SITA initially is worried whether she is seeing dream and it is not good seeing a moneky in dream. Later gets consoled saying to herself “I never sleep. So I do not have a dream ever. Whatever it may be, this monkey has told good things. Now just I had some good indications. Similar indications occurred when I first met RAMA. So it must be a good sign. This monkey had given me second Life”. Hanuman gives her the Anguleeyam. Sita simply plucks it from His hand. Hanuman did not give it. But was worried that SITA will be fearing and hence just opened His hand to show it. SITA enquired and Hanuman speaks in details of all incidents. SITA specially enquires of Lakshman. Hanuman removes the greivance She has on Herself for having spoken on Lakshman by giving the Highest regards Lakshman has on Her. Before this happens, ravan comes and asks SITA to marry Him. Seeing SITA as such a great Soul, one of Ravan’s wives gently chides him and pulls away at the sametime signing to SITA that she need not be worried. Hanuman later explains Rama swaroopa to SITA in full detail and SITA is stunned by Hanuman’s grasp of it in detail. Convinced She gives Her choodamani. Later Rama becomes joyful on seeing this. Perhaps the first time, after a long time, Rama becomes happy and infact declares “this is equal to seeing SITA” and gives Hanuman the hug that He reserves for just SITA. SITA gives permission for Hanuman to do as He wishes in Asoka Van. Hanuman goes on a rampage and the details of each fight is deeply inspiring. Hanuman just uses what is available and fights. He fights with utmost accuracy. After killing many great men and Akshakumara (Ravan’s son), hanuman is tied by Indrajith and brought to court where Ravan insults Hanuman. Here Ravan does not speak to Hanuman but though a attendant. Rama too does this on His first meeting with Hanuman. When Ravan wanted to kill Hanuman, Vibeeshan restrains and says “messengers should not be killed”. Rakshasas used all the oil and lit Hanuman’s Tail with Fire and Hanuman burnt Lanka.