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)


 

The various verses of Sunder-Kanda have exemplified the paths Jnana and Bhakti. These verses are discussed hereunder:

Wisdom (Jnana Yoga):

1. The three Attributes of Prakriti: Rishi Kapil around the 6th - 7th century BC founded Samkhya Darshan wherein he elaborated the three qualities of Prakriti viz. Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Sattva means truth, realty or goodness, gives light; Rajas means passion or foulness, does not give light or covering, leads to activity; Tamas means darkness, to restraint or inertness. Dissociation and dissolution of association of Jivatma and Prakriti is moksha.

(Note – Articles already published on this website on Samkhya Darshan under category of Philosophy – the wisdom & liberation – on 21.09.2018; under the category of The Bhagavad Gita – Path of Jnana Yoga (ज्ञान योग) – on 12.11.2018)
 
In Suder-kanda, Shri Hanuman encounters three forms of Prakriti as mentioned below:

1. Sursa as Sattva Form - “Sursa” the mother of snakes, met Hanuman ji on the way to Lanka to test his strength and mind-power. She asked Hanuman ji that she want to eat him. Hanumanji told her that only after he accomplished his job of meeting Ma Sita, she could devour him. But Sursa was not willing so Hanumanji told her that she could eat him. He made himself twice as big. Sursa made her mouth 16 times bigger & immediately Hanumanji became 32 times bigger. In this manner he became double her size each time & then eventually became so small in size that he entered her open mouth & flew out. He showed his intelligence and escaped without harming her as she was testing him only as sattva power.
2. जात पवनसुत देवन्ह देखा। जानैं कहुँ बल बुद्धि बिसेषा॥सुरसा नाम अहिन्ह कै माता। पठइन्हि आइ कही तेहिं बाता॥5/2/1॥आजु सुरन्ह मोहि दीन्ह अहारा। सुनत बचन कह पवनकुमारा॥राम काजु करि फिरि मैं आवौं। सीता कइ सुधि प्रभुहि सुनावौं॥5/2/2॥तब तव बदन पैठिहउँ आई। सत्य कहउँ मोहि जान दे माई॥कवनेहुँ जतन देइ नहिं जाना। ग्रससि न मोहि कहेउ हनुमाना॥5/2/3॥जोजन भरि तेहिं बदनु पसारा। कपि तनु कीन्ह दुगुन बिस्तारा ॥सोरह जोजन मुख तेहिं ठयऊ। तुरत पवनसुत बत्तिस भयऊ॥5/2/4॥जस जस सुरसा बदनु बढ़ावा। तासु दून कपि रूप देखावा॥सत जोजन तेहिं आनन कीन्हा। अति लघु रूप पवनसुत लीन्हा॥5/2/5॥बदन पइठि पुनि बाहेर आवा। मागा बिदा ताहि सिरु नावा॥मोहि सुरन्ह जेहि लागि पठावा। बुधि बल मरमु तोर मैं पावा॥5/2/6॥राम काजु सबु करिहहु तुम्ह बल बुद्धि निधान।आसिष देइ गई सो हरषि चलेउ हनुमान॥5/2॥)
3. Demoness as Tamas Form - A demoness used to stay in the ocean, which used to see the shadow of birds in the water & catch them by Maya. Thus they would be unable to fly & fall in the water. She did the same thing for Hanumanji, but he immediately recognised her and killed her.
4. निसिचरि एक सिंधु महुँ रहई। करि माया नभु के खग गहई॥जीव जंतु जे गगन उड़ाहीं। जल बिलोकि तिन्ह कै परिछाहीं॥5/3/1॥गहइ छाहँ सक सो न उड़ाई। एहि बिधि सदा गगनचर खाई॥ सोइ छल हनूमान्‌ कहँ कीन्हा। तासु कपटु कपि तुरतहिं चीन्हा॥5/3/2॥)
5. Lankini as Rajas Form - Hanuman ji saw from the top of Lanka, strong fighters & warriors were posted at various corners of the city to protect it from enemies. He decided to take the form of a very small insect to get into the city. Lankini, a demoness, used to stay near the gate to guard the city. She told Hanumanji that robbers were her food & no one could enter Lanka before taking her permission. Hearing this, Hanumanji gave her one blow, with which she fell down & vomited out blood. She then carefully got up & with folded hands, said that when Ravana received a boon from Brahma, he had told her about the end of the Rakshasa clan. He also told her that when she would get beaten by a monkey, she should realize that the end was near. Putting together all her strength, she then told Hanumanji that she was very happy that she met her end under the hands of Shri Ram’s messenger & that she could meet him. She also told him that all the comforts of heaven are nothing when compared to the teachings & wisdom received in the last minutes of one's life. Lankini then advises Hanumanji to keep Shri Ram in his heart & do all his duties.
6. मसक समान रूप कपि धरी। लंकहि चलेउ सुमिरि नरहरी॥ नाम लंकिनी एक निसिचरी। सो कह चलेसि मोहि निंदरी॥5/4/1॥जानेहि नहीं मरमु सठ मोरा। मोर अहार जहाँ लगि चोरा॥ मुठिका एक महा कपि हनी। रुधिर बमत धरनीं ढनमनी॥5/4/2॥पुनि संभारि उठी सो लंका। जोरि पानि कर बिनय ससंका॥ जब रावनहि ब्रह्म बर दीन्हा। चलत बिरंच कहा मोहि चीन्हा॥5/4/3॥बिकल होसि तैं कपि कें मारे। तब जानेसु निसिचर संघारे॥ तात मोर अति पुन्य बहूता। देखेउँ नयन राम कर दूता॥5/4/4॥तात स्वर्ग अपबर्ग सुख धरिअ तुला एक अंग। तूल न ताहि सकल मिलि जो सुख लव सतसंग॥5/4॥प्रबिसि नगर कीजे सब काजा। हृदयँ राखि कोसलपुर राजा॥ गरल सुधा रिपु करहिं मिताई। गोपद सिंधु अनल सितलाई॥5/5/1॥गरुड़ सुमेरु रेनु सम ताही। राम कृपा करि चितवा जाही॥ अति लघु रूप धरेउ हनुमाना। पैठा नगर सुमिरि भगवाना॥5/5/2॥)
   1. Hanuman ji after meeting Ma Sita in Ashok vatika, creates havoc by breaking all the flowers, uprooting trees & even killing a few of Ravan’s soldiers and Akshay Kumar, son of Ravana. Hearing about the death of his son Akshaykumar, Ravana sent his son Meghnath & told him not to kill Hanuman but to make him a prisoner, as he wanted to see him. Seeing him arrive, Hanumanji uprooted a big tree & crushed Meghnath’s chariot. When Meghnath & Hanuman ji were fighting each other it looked as though two elephants were at war. Eventually Meghnath tried the Brahmastra & seeing this Hanuman ji thought it would be disrespect towards Brahma if he would fight it back. Thus when it came towards him he fell down from the branch off the tree he was sitting on, killing many demons under him.

(   नाथ एक आवा कपि भारी। तेहिं असोक बाटिका उजारी॥ खाएसि फल अरु बिटप उपारे। रच्छक मर्दि मर्दि महि डारे॥5/18/2॥ सुनि रावन पठए भट नाना। तिन्हहि देखि गर्जेउ हनुमाना॥ सब रजनीचर कपि संघारे। गए पुकारत कछु अधमारे॥5/18/3॥ पुनि पठयउ तेहिं अच्छकुमारा। चला संग लै सुभट अपारा॥आवत देखि बिटप गहि तर्जा। ताहि निपाति महाधुनि गर्जा॥5/18/4॥ कछु मारेसि कछु मर्देसि कछु मिलएसि धरि धूरि। कछु पुनि जाइ पुकारे प्रभु मर्कट बल भूरि॥5/18॥ सुनि सुत बध लंकेस रिसाना। पठएसि मेघनाद बलवाना॥ मारसि जनि सुत बाँधेसु ताही। देखिअ कपिहि कहाँ कर आही॥5/19/1॥चला इंद्रजित अतुलित जोधा। बंधु निधन सुनि उपजा क्रोधा॥ कपि देखा दारुन भट आवा। कटकटाइ गर्जा अरु धावा॥5/19/2॥ अति बिसाल तरु एक उपारा। बिरथ कीन्ह लंकेस कुमारा॥ रहे महाभट ताके संगा। गहि गहि कपि मर्दई निज अंगा॥5/19/3॥ तिन्हहि निपाति ताहि सन बाजा। भिरे जुगल मानहुँ गजराजा॥ मुठिका मारि चढ़ा तरु जाई। ताहि एक छन मुरुछा आई॥5/19/4॥उठि बहोरि कीन्हिसि बहु माया। जीति न जाइ प्रभंजन जाया॥5/19/5॥ ह्म अस्त्र तेहि साँधा कपि मन कीन्ह बिचार। जौं न ब्रह्मसर मानउँ महिमा मिटइ अपार॥5/)

1. Attachments and Ego as hindrances –

When Hanuman ji reaches in courtroom of Ravana as prisoner, Hanuman ji tells Ravana that

1. With the strength of whom, Maya or Prakriti creates entire universe. With whose force, Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh creates, maintains and destroys respectively the creation.
2. Attachment is root cause of tamsic arrogance which originates from ignorance. Abandon the arrogance and worship Bhagwan Ramchandraji, he is the sea of ​​grace.
3. सुनु रावन ब्रह्मांड निकाया। पाइ जासु बल बिरचति माया॥5/21/2॥ जाकें बल बिरंचि हरि ईसा। पालत सृजत हरत दससीसा॥5/21/3॥ मोहमूल बहु सूल प्रद त्यागहु तम अभिमान। भजहु राम रघुनायक कृपा सिंधु भगवान॥5/23॥)

 
Devotion and Devotee (Bhakti & Bhakt):
Saint Tulsidas elaborated the devotions 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:

1. नान्या स्पृहा रघुपते हृदयेऽस्मदीये सत्यं वदामि च भवानखिलान्तरात्मा। भक्तिं प्रयच्छ रघुपुंगव निर्भरां मे कामादिदोषरहितं कुरु मानसं च॥2॥

Saint Tulsidas says, Shri Rama, I am truly speaking; I have no other desire in my mind except that you bestow me complete devotion and eliminate all my imperfections and demerits.

1. जलनिधि रघुपति दूत बिचारी। तैं मैनाक होहि श्रम हारी॥5/1/5॥ हनूमान तेहि परसा कर पुनि कीन्ह प्रनाम। राम काजु कीन्हें बिनु मोहि कहाँ बिश्राम॥5/1॥

When Hanuman ji takes the leap to cross Indian Ocean in search of Ma Sita, Mainak mount praises him and request for taking rest. But Hanuman ji says, he cannot take rest without completing the task of Shree Ram ji.

1. सुनहु बिभीषन प्रभु कै रीती। करहिं सदा सेवक पर प्रीति॥5/7/3॥ कहहु कवन मैं परम कुलीना। कपि चंचल सबहीं बिधि हीना॥ प्रात लेइ जो नाम हमारा। तेहि दिन ताहि न मिलै अहारा॥5/7/4॥ अस मैं अधम सखा सुनु मोहू पर रघुबीर। कीन्हीं कृपा सुमिरि गुन भरे बिलोचन नीर॥5/7॥ जानतहूँ अस स्वामि बिसारी। फिरहिं ते काहे न होहिं दुखारी॥ एहि बिधि कहत राम गुन ग्रामा। पावा अनिर्बाच्य बिश्रामा॥5/8/1॥

Hanuman ji tells Vibhishan on meeting him in Lanka that it is Shri Ram’s nature to always love his devotees. Hanuman ji further says, although he is a monkey who is considered to be low in caste & any person who took their name early morning, would not get food the whole day, yet Shri Ram has bestowed his blessings. Anybody who does not realise this & runs after the worldly pleasures will always be unhappy.

1. मोरें हृदय परम संदेहा। सुनि कपि प्रगट कीन्हि निज देहा॥ कनक भूधराकार सरीरा। समर भयंकर अतिबल बीरा॥5/16/4॥ सीता मन भरोस तब भयऊ। पुनि लघु रूप पवनसुत लयऊ॥5/16/5॥ सुनु माता साखामृग नहिं बल बुद्धि बिसाल। प्रभु प्रताप तें गरुड़हि खाइ परम लघु ब्याल॥16॥

When Ma Sita gets worried as to how a monkey could fight the powerful demons. Hanumanji then reveals her his actual form as big & as strong as the golden mountain, & then again transformed himself into his tiny form. Seeing this, Ma Sita feels at peace.  He then tells her that a monkey may not have strength but when he has the blessings of Shri Ram even a small snake can kill an eagle.

1. प्रनतपाल रघुनायक करुना सिंधु खरारि। गएँ सरन प्रभु राखिहैं तव अपराध बिसारि॥5/22॥राम नाम बिनु गिरा न सोहा। देखु बिचारि त्यागि मद मोहा॥ 5/23/2| राम बिमुख संपति प्रभुताई। जाइ रही पाई बिनु पाई॥5/23/3| Shri Ram would forgive him as he is an ocean of pity & never refuses his devotees or those who take refuge in him. He tells Ravana that without name of Shri Ram, speech does not glorify. Those who are disinclined of chanting name of Shri Ram, loose their wealth and glory. 
2. सो सब तव प्रताप रघुराई। नाथ न कछू मोरि प्रभुताई॥5/33/5॥ ता कहुँ प्रभु कछु अगम नहिं जा पर तुम्ह अनुकूल। तव प्रभावँ बड़वानलहि जारि सकइ खलु तूल॥5/33॥

After returning from Lanka, Shri Hanuman meets Bhagwan Rama who praises him. Then Hanumanji tells him that it is not his glory. It is only your grace. If you are happy with one, nothing is difficult for him. With your influence cotton (which is itself a very quick burning thing) can definitely burn Badanal (i.e., impossible can also be possible).

1. उमा राम सुभाउ जेहिं जाना। ताहि भजनु तजि भाव न आना॥ यह संबाद जासु उर आवा। रघुपति चरन भगति सोइ पावा॥5/34/2॥

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.

1. काम क्रोध मद लोभ सब नाथ नरक के पंथ। सब परिहरि रघुबीरहि भजहु भजहिं जेहि संत॥5/38॥

Vibhishan ji tells Ravana that desire (including sexual desire), anger, pride and greed take one to hell. Leave them immediately and chant the name Shri Rama whose name is chanted by saints. 

1. तजि मद मोह कपट छल नाना। करउँ सद्य तेहि साधु समाना॥ 5/48/2॥

Shri Ram ji tells, if one leaves pride, attachment, deceitfulness, wickedness etc., I would make him as saint.

1. सगुन उपासक परहित निरत नीति दृढ़ नेम। ते नर प्रान समान मम जिन्ह कें द्विज पद प्रेम॥5/48॥)

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 to me.
 
Importance of Surrender (Samarpan)
 
Bhagwan Shri Rama has quoted as under:

1. सब कै ममता ताग बटोरी। मम पद मनहि बाँध बरि डोरी॥ समदरसी इच्छा कछु नाहीं। हरष सोक भय नहिं मन माहीं॥5/48/3॥ अस सज्जन मम उर बस कैसें। लोभी हृदयँ बसइ धनु जैसें॥ 5/48/4||

Those who gather all their attachments and put them in my feet (who put me in centre of all worldly relations), one who has no desires & considers fear, happiness & pain all equal, such a man is always dear to him. Such persons reside in my heart, like money in the heart of greedy persons.

1. प्रभु गुन हृदयँ सराहहिं सरनागत पर नेह॥5/51॥

​Those who surrender before him (Shri Rama), they get his love and affection.  
 
There are three instances where Shri Rama has showered his love and affection on those who came under his protection as under:

1. When Ravana had sent Vibhishan out of Lanka not liking his noble advices, Vibhishan surrendered himself before Shri Rama and sought his devotion. Shri Rama crowns Vibhishan as “King of Lanka”. (जदपि सखा तव इच्छा नहीं। मोर दरसु अमोघ जग माहीं॥अस कहि राम तिलक तेहि सारा। सुमन बृष्टि नभ भई अपारा॥5/49/5॥)
2. After returning from Shri Rama Camp, the messenger of Ravana asks him to return Janaki ji to Shri Ramaa. But Ravana kicks him. He also went to meet Shri Ramaa (like Vibhishan) and with the grace of Shri Raghunathji, he regains the form of a muni. (जनकसुता रघुनाथहि दीजे। एतना कहा मोर प्रभु कीजे॥जब तेहिं कहा देन बैदेही। चरन प्रहार कीन्ह सठ तेही॥5/57/4॥नाइ चरन सिरु चला सो तहाँ। कृपासिंधु रघुनायक जहाँ॥ करि प्रनामु निज कथा सुनाई। राम कृपाँ आपनि गति पाई॥5/57/5॥)
3. When Ocean God pleads that it is against Nature for him to dry up but since it was the wish & command of his Lord, he would make way for the army. The Ocean then tells them about the boon received by Nal & Neel & any stone or rock thrown in by them in the water, will always float & never sink. He request Shri Rama to destroy wicked people. Shri Rama heard the pain of the sea and immediately took it away (i.e., killing those wicked people with arrows).

Reference:

• Sunder-kanda, Gita press, Gorakhpur:
• https://www.speakingtree.in/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundara_Kanda

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