[Guruvayur/Guruvayoor] Hanuman's Journey

May 25, 2005

Om Namo Narayanaya!!

I happened to find a PDF file that has Tulsidas

Sundarkandam with English translations. I hope all of

us will find it useful.

Sunita

--- " PS, Vinod K (GE Energy) " <vinod.ps wrote:

>

> !! Sri Rama Jayam !!

> --------

> VaidEhi-Sahitham sura-dhruma-talE haimE MahAmaNDapE

> madhyE-pushpakamAsanE maNimayE veerAsanE SusTitham

> agrE vaachayathi prabhanjana-suthE tatthvam

> munibhya: param

> vykhyAntham BharathAdhibhi: parivrutham Ramam bhaje

> Shyamalam

> ----

> Adi Kavi Valmiki composed Srimad Ramayanam in the

> form of 24,000 verses (slokams). These slokams are

> housed in individual cantos (SargAs). The 7

> individual cantos (KaaNDams) house the sargAs.

> Sundara Kaandam is one of the 7 Kaandams and means

> the beautiful KaaNDam ( the book of Beauty ).

> Does this imply that other kandams are not of

> equivalent beauty ? This is an interesting aspect of

> spiritual study.

> In a nutshell, Sundarakandam is more of Ramabhaktha

> Lila, rather than Rama Lila. Being

> Maryadapurshothama, unlike Krishna, Rama did not

> exhibited his vaibhavam directly, instead he showed

> most of his prowess through his bhakthas especially

> through his dearmost servant Hanuman. Most of us ask

> a very vital question about Hanuman avataram - as to

> why Lord Siva took the form of just an ape to serve

> his ishtadeva Rama. Different saints answer this

> querry in different styles. Among some of the very

> renowned answers is the one that Siva explains to

> Sati - " When I stand with my master, even a blind

> man shud be able to identify who is Lord & who is

> servant. "

> But saint Sri Morari Bapu has a different view

> altogether. He adds, the ape form of Hanuman

> represents the naughtiness of mind (chanchala

> bhavam). Mind is never stable. It is like a monkey

> who jumps from one branch of a tree to another for

> absolutely no reason. Nothing pleases a monkey too

> long. Mind is also very similar. Therefore, in the

> Ramasabha, if you see Hanuman sitting on his knee,

> understand that it should be our mind which is to be

> fixed at the Lotus feet of our dear Lord, with

> folded hands & joyfilled tears. That shud be our way

> of understanding Hanumath charitham.

> Great Valmiki writes -

> Goshpadhee-kruthavArAsim masakeekrutha raakshasam

> RaamAyaNa-mahAmAlA-rathnam vandhE anilAthmajam---(1)

> Salutations to the son of Vaayu , AnjanEyaa , who

> made the ocean look in depth like the hoof print of

> a cow ;He pulverized the offending RaakshasAs of

> RaavaNA's camp! Our deep anjalis are to that supreme

> gem in the grand necklace of RaamAyaNam !

> Anjana nandanam veeram Jaanakee sOkanAsanam

> Kapeesam AkshahanthAram vandhE

> lankhA-bhayankaram---(2)

> Our salutations to that great hero , who banished

> the sorrows of Jaanakee Devi ! He is the generator

> of joy to His mother AnjanA dEvi and is the Lord of

> all monkeys . Our salutations to that terror of

> Lankaa , who killed AkshakumAran , the son of

> Ravana.

> -----------------

> In sundarakandam, lanka yatra of hanuman deserves

> ultimate importance. Saints quote this happening as

> the spiritual journey of a devotee in search of

> Bhakti (Sita) & not Bhagavan (Rama). Vanaras having

> attained the visual grace of Lord Rama, are still

> set to attain Bhakti. This may give an impression

> that Bhagavan always follow Bhakti & rarely it

> occurs the other way. Very good examples of this

> understanding are the Kauravas who always saw

> Krishna, but cud never feel the depth of Krishna

> Bhakthi.

> A big queue of apes & boares under the wise

> leadership of Jambavan, Angada & Hanuman, happens to

> reach the coast of the Ocean. The lifting mass of

> roaring ocean water seems to scare & absorb the

> entire valour of these vanaras. There is absolute

> calmness inside the camp. To their surprise,

> Sampathi, an old vulture (brother of Rama bhaktha

> Jatayu) confirms Sita's presence in Ashoka vatika

> under Ravana's prison. This gave a new hope to the

> vanaras. But the very next moment, the unchallenged

> ocean dissipated all the enthusiasm. Even, mighty

> Angada (Bali's son) pledged to reach Lanka in a

> single jump, but no assurance of coming back.

> Jambavan remembers his past when he made 8

> revolutions around dwarf form of Vishnu (Vamana)

> when Lord measured the 3 worlds together during the

> yagya of Mahabali. But that was not his time now, he

> consoled himself.

> Away from all this rush scene, Hanuman stood still

> observing the ocean gently. The golden complexion of

> Hanuman attracted Jambavan's concern. Not too late

> to understand, Jambavan realized that real hero is

> yet to assume all his disabled strength. Jambavan

> put his entire wisdom & word power to make Hanuman

> aware of his actual strength & capacity,which shud

> now be generated. Entire vanara clan joined Jambavan

> in praising Hanuman. It was not less than any big

> vibrating tremor which raised the might & valour of

> a born superman which the world is about to

> witness. In no time Hanuman assumed a himalayan form

> with broad-stretched muscle bands & fire-filled

> eyes. The mace in his hand appeared not different

> than the Pinaka of Siva himself. Hanuman in the

> highest state of excitement & prowess, asked

> Jambavan - " Hey Jambavan, the best soul, tell me

> what is avoiding us of finding mother Sita. I am

> born to serve my Lord & it's a misfortune that the

> job is so much delayed now. " Terrified Jambavan

> consoles Hanuman - " Lord has only ordered us to find

> the place were Mother Sita is captivated now. So we

> need not to do any thing extra. Be careful, now you

> are alone to fulfill Lord's job. "

> Respecting the words of Old Jambavan, Hanuman set

> off from a nearby hill. Unable to bear the impact of

> Hanuman's leap, the hill penetrated deep into the

> womb of earth. The journey had begun. Hanuman placed

> the " RAMA " nama inscribed ring on his tongue (as

> given by Rama to console Sita). Valmiki describes

> the speed of Hanuman equivalent to Ramabanam

> executed from Kodandam with roaring vibrant air

> scattering the clouds all the way round. It appeared

> as if father (VAYU deva) & his dear son is set for

> an open competition.

> Valmiki describes 3 major obstacles in the Hanuman's

> Lanka Yatra representing three modes of Maya.

> 1] Nagamata Surasa - Understanding that surasa is

> being sent to test his wisdom, Hanuman settled

> Surasa's concern by entering into her mouth &

> getting out quickly. Another IMP aspect is that

> Hanuman assumed a very small size (insect like)

> while entering into her mouth. That shows the

> Nobility of a devotee when he has decided to

> accomplish Lord's service. Never shud a devotee

> raise his/her pride as a barrier in fulfilling the

> mission of lord. Therefore, " Surasa " represents

> SATWIK obstacle (i.e. - designed by Devas), which

> works on a higher level of consciousness. A devotee

> shud very carefully tackle this type of obstacles.

> Hanuman avoided suppressing this obstacle, instead

> he respected it by fulfilling her wish. Surasa's

> happiness implies that she will never ever disturb

> Hanuman again in his journey & blessed Hanuman with

> all might & success.

> 2] Next comes Simhika - A demoness living in deep

> ocean water & very much keen to pull any flying

> entity merely by catching it's shadow. " Simhika "

> represents Tamasik obstacle (greed & envy). She does

> not prefer any body to rise higher & fly faster, as

> she herself finds it impossible to do the same. So,

> Hanuman had no other option rather than to kill her.

> 3] Finally, it's Lankini, the personified form of

> Lanka protecting her territory. She is a Rajasik

> obstacle, perfectly designed in capturing every type

> of entities passing her way expected/unexpected.

> Hanuman put his maximum effort in avoiding meeting

> her. But cud not escape her sight. Finding it

> difficult to penetrate her territory, Hanuman

> finally knocks her (but not with any intention to

> kill) down. That one shot was enough & more to make

> Lankini understand the real purport of Hanuman's

> visit to Lanka. Never the less, she also revealed

> the internal secrets of Lanka's military &

> geography. This is a real indicator of how Rajasik

> obstacle can also be helpful, if wisely handled.

> There are still more interpretations to be quoted

> ahead.

> Will try to continue this in future.

> Hare Krishna

> Hare Rama

>

May 25, 2005

Om Namo Narayanaya,

I found a pdf file that has Tulsidas Sundarkand

with english translation. I have uploaded the same for

the benefit of all of us.