Sunderkand, believed to be the most beautiful (Sunder) part of the Ramayana, describes Lord Hanuman journey to Lanka. This book elucidates his pristine lifestyle, following which brings karmic and spiritual knowledge and bhakti (devotion) in one’s life. It is even believed that when one reads the sunderkand, Lord Hanuman himself graces the reader with his presence. Carrying the entire text and explanation of the sunderkand, Shri Hanuman Chalisa and sankatmochan hanumanashtak, this edition also contains a art is of Lord Ganesha, Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman.
About the Author
Goswami Tulsidas was one of the greatest bhakti poets of all time. Born in the early sixteenth century, the exact place and time of his birth is unknown. A lot of conjecture has been made about his early life—he had a full set of teeth when he was born, his mother died a day after his birth so his father abandoned him and he even met the god Hanuman. Tulsidas is also believed to be the avatar of Maharishi Valmiki, the writer of the epic, Ramayana. Allegedly, after a fight with his wife, Tulsidas decided to embark on a pilgrimage and began immersing himself in his devotion to god. His epic, Ramcharitamanas, is a work that has had an immense influence on Indian culture and society.
Tulsidas was a realized soul and saint, poet, often called reformer and philosopher from Ramanandi Sampradaya, in the lineage of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya renowned for his devotion to the Lord Shri Rama.
मूलतः अवधी और अंशतः भोजपुरी में लिखा यह महाकाव्य आज घर घर में धर्म ग्रंथ बन चुका है। साहित्यिक दृष्टि से भी यह अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण है। रामायण का यह काण्ड हनुमान जी की वजह से सर्वाधिक लोकप्रिय है।
Got a chance to read and recite the complete Sunderkand with my friends and colleagues from the office in a social gathering, and it was eclectic. Something I will try and do at least once a year.
As I finish reading Sundar Kand (Hindi translation) by Goswami Tulsidas, my head is bowed in reverence to Lord Ram, Goddess Sita and their greatest servitor of all - Lord Hanuman. Despite my ill health, an unusual calmness & joy envelopes me. I find myself humming the couplets from this beautiful poem (which finds place in the fifth canto of the classical epic story of the Ramayana known as Sri Ram Charit Manas by Tulsidas).
The inquisitiveness to know Lord Hanuman and worship Him is a legacy left behind by my mother, who was an ardent devotee of Lord Hanuman. It was from her that I had received my first copy of Sundar Kand written in Awadhi language (primarily spoken in the Awadh region of present-day Uttar Pradesh, India).
Having read Sundar Kand a few times before, and hearing of it’s acclaimed spiritual significance, a strong desire to know and understand it’s meaning & true essence lead me to order this Hindi translation.
The Sundar Kand symbolizes the dawn of hope after a dark night of hopelessness and despair, because it is in this Canto that Sita is traced by Hanuman after Lord Ram had lost all hopes of finding her, thus instilling hope in the heart of both Lord Ram and Goddess Sita that they would now be united once again. It is also here that Vibhishan, the brother of Ravana, too finds a way to his freedom and redemption from the evil of being called a demon by the virtue of his birth in this race, because he goes to surrender before Lord Ram and is warmly welcomed by him.
It is often used independently for the purpose of recitation on auspicious occasions during religious functions and festivals as it recounts the glories of Lord Hanuman, the hope of Goddess Sita that she'll soon attain deliverance from her profound miseries, and the redemption of Vibhishan, the brother of the demon king Ravana, who was warmly welcomed by Lord Ram when he came to surrender and seek the Lord's refuge.
Sundar Kand evokes the virtues of auspiciousness, hope and salvation amid an environment of hopelessness, gloom and despair.
SundarKand, is a spiritual masterpiece that beautifully encapsulates the timeless teachings of the Ramayana. The translation preserves the poetic brilliance of Valmiki, making the verses both accessible and profound. The narrative, centered around Hanuman's quest to find Sita, resonates with unwavering devotion and moral depth. The translator's skill and inclusion of insightful commentary enhance the overall reading experience, providing clarity on the spiritual nuances.