Sundar kand story outline, its importance and benefits

• AAP tweets Sundar Kand will be recited in the capital city on every first Tuesday of the month.
  
  
• Sundar Kand, the most interesting segment of Epic Ramayan deals with the heroic adventures of Hanuman in Lanka while he went there in search of Sita
  
  
• Tradition says Sundar Kand recitation carries immense benefits to the reciters and listeners and it is all the more beneficial to recite it on Tuedays.
  

Just before the Delhi elections, Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP Supremo claimed he was a devotee of Hanuman and visited Hanuman temples to say his prayers. After the unprecedented victory of the party fetching it 62 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly Elections February 2020, AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj tweets Sundar Kand will be recited on first Tuesdays of all months in Chirag Delhi’s ancient Shiv Mandir. As per the announcement, this will become a regular feature from now onwards scheduled at 4:30 pm at this temple once a month.

Mythology says Hanuman’s mother called him Sundara meaning a charming one. Sundara Kand (Chapter) is the fifth Kand in the Ramayan composed by Valmiki. The seven Kands of Valmiki’s Ramayan include Bala Kanda, Ayodhya Kanda, Aranya Kanda, Kishkindha Kanda, Sundara Kanda, Yuddha Kanda and Uttara Kanda.

Ramayan translating as the ‘Movement or journey of Rama’ is the story of Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu on this earth. Hanuman appears for the first time in Kishkinda Kanda and then continues to accompany Ram thereon playing a very important role in Rama’s search of Sita and the battle against the demon Ravan.

Sundar Kand story outline

The Sundar Kand of Ramayan presents an exciting and inspiring account of the adventures of Hanuman. Sundar Kand also gives adorable pictures of Hanuman’s physical prowess and superior intelligence. Chanting the name of Rama, Hanuman assumes a huge form to leap over the sea to reach Lanka. He fights a number of demons on the way and no power could stop him reaching Lanka on the sky route.

Upon reaching Lanka, Hanuman finds the whereabouts of Sita and pacifies the agony stricken Sita. Hanuman instills confidence in Sita that her beloved husband Rama will arrive at Lanka to rescue her from Ravan’s captivity.

Hanuman creates a hell like scene in Lanka destroying demons and buildings and creating a terror in the minds of the residents including Ravan. He is captured and taken to the court of Ravan where he has a dialogue with the demon requesting him to release Sita. Ravan was far from giving heed to his advice. He would rather express his anger and order for setting fire to Hanuman’s tail. Hanuman happily jumps and wanders hither and thither in Lanka setting the whole city of Lanka ablaze. Hanuman then returns to Kishkinta to intimate Rama about the good news of finding Sita.

The specialty of reciting Sunderkand on Tuesdays

It is said Hanuman found Sita in Lanka on a Tuesday. Hence Mother Sita gave a boon that whoever worships Hanuman on Tuesdays will get her blessings too in addition to Hanuman’s own blessings. Hence reciting Sunderkand on Tuesdays is considered a highly auspicious and beneficial practice.

Benefits of reciting Sunderkand

In terms of its benefits to the reciters and listeners, Sundar Kand is believed to confer great benefits like nothing else. Sundar Kand removes afflictions, worries and mental agony. It enhances hope, courage and confidence. Sundar Kand is said to confer prosperity, luck, health and wealth to the chanters and listeners.