Why chanting of Sunder-Kanda so popular

Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are the purposes of life defined in Hinduism. The Moksha is ultimate destination of life. Various Hindu scriptures, especially Shrimad Bhagavad Gita enlightened the four paths of Moksha or self-realisation or enlightenment viz. the path of wisdom (Jnana yoga), the path of devotion (Bhakti yoga), the path of action (Karma yoga), and the path of meditation (Raja yoga).
 
The prevalence of the different paths has been in four yugas. In Satya-yuga, the path of meditation and Yagas, in Treta-yuga, the path of worship by the rituals and asceticism, in Dvapara-yuga, by following the path of ritual worship as per prescriptions of both the Vedas and tantras and in the Kali-yuga, the paths of Jnana and the Bhakti are predominant.

Medieval India saw upsurge of Bhakti movement. Saint Tulsidas (born in Kashi now called as Varanasi, UP, year- 1478-1624 AD), one of proponent of bhakti movement, authored Ram-Charitr-Manas in seven chapters, detailing about life of Maryada Purushottam Bhagwan Shri Rama. In fifth chapter named as Sunder Kanda, he vividly explained about crossing of Indian Ocean by Shri Hanuman, entering into Lanka in search of Ma Sita, the meetings with Sursa, Demoness, Lankani, Vibhishan, Ma Sita, Meghnath & Ravana in Lanka, return to Kishkindha and other accounts about movement of army of Shri Rama near Ocean to cross it.

Sunder-Kanda means “beautiful-Chapter”. Sunder- Kanda is so called because it gives a detailed account of a devotee's journey on the path of a virtuous life and spiritual transformation. Shri Hanuman, the devotee is inspired by ‘Jamvant’, who symbolizes intelligence; motivates Hanuman to move ahead in spiritual journey. Sense control is the bridge through which one can cross the ocean of mundane attachments. If a seeker lives with discipline, he will not drown in the ocean of mundane attachments. On the way of spiritual journey, many people and situations create obstacles in the spiritual progress.

Both, the paths of Jnana and Bhakti are revealed in the Chanting of Sunder Kanda.

1. When Hanuman moves further in search Ma Sita, he encounters various forms of obstacles like Maynak Mount, Sursa, Demoness and Lankini. Maynak mount represent comforts. Sursa, Demoness and Lankini represent the three forms of Maya or Prakriti viz. Sattva, Tamas and Rajas.
2. When a devotee is able to overlook his physical needs of hunger, thirst and rest, Maya begins to attack him on more subtle levels. But when the nature identifies the devotee as a very sincere one, and knows that this devotee is not going to stop his journey, then the nature begins to surrender. When Hanuman ji was made a prisoner & taken to Ravana. Hanuman ji tells Ravana that ignorance creates attachment which gives pain. Hence, shed ego which is Tamsic.
3. Saint Tulsidas elaborated the devotion of Shri Hanuman who set him as an example of ideal devotee while performing tasks of Shri Rama. Various verses of Sunder-Kanda mention the guidelines of the ideal devotion as under:
4. Those who have no other desire in my mind other than to bestow complete devotion,
5. Those who eliminate all imperfections and demerits,
6. Those who do not run after the worldly pleasures,
7. One leaves pride, attachment, deceitfulness, wickedness etc., he would become saint.
8. Those who worship deity in form, always serve others, well-disciplined in ethics, morals and spiritual rules and have affection in feet of Brahmanas / divine persons, they are like life-energy.
9. Shiv ji says to Ma Uma! The person who knows the nature of Shri Ramji, he does not like anything except chanting names of Shri Rama. One, who understands the dialogue of Shri and Hanuman ji (Master and servent), he gets the devotion of the feet of Shri Raghunathji.
10. Those who surrender before him (Shri Rama), they get his love and affection. 

The Sunder-Kanda helps human beings in Kalyug to overcome problems. It has been sung by Tulsidas & anyone who says it, can go through life without pain & difficulty, as Shri Ram is an Ocean of Peace & happiness. (यह चरित कलि मल हर जथामति दास तुलसी गायऊ॥ सुख भवन संसय समन दवन बिषाद रघुपति गुन गना। तजि सकल आस भरोस गावहि सुनहि संतत सठ मना॥ 5/60)


 

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