SUNDARA KANDAM (JAI VEER HANUMAN)

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From now on, Hanuman is the hero of the Ramayana.
•  The devotees of Vishnu lovingly call him the Junior Servant of Hari.
•  The Senior Servant is Garuda who is always with Vishnu in personal attendance.
•  How the Junior Servant of Hari ended the grief of Sita, destroyed by fire the city of Ravana and returned to the Lord and told him: "I found have Sita," we shall now proceed to relate.
•  Reminded of his might by Jambavan, Hanuman was now determined to fulfil Rama's purpose. And with fervor he uttered his faith:
• "May your words come true. 
• Flying through the sky and alighting in Lanka, I shall see Janaki. 
• I have no doubt. 
• I shall return and bring you good news. 
• To take the jump I must press my foot hard against the earth. This hill may stand it," he said and climbed up the Mahendra hill. 
• There for a while he threw his whole strength into his foot and walked a few steps. 
• The creatures in the hill could not endure it and came out.
• Standing on the hill, Hanuman looked at the sea and directed his yoga concentrated mind towards Lanka. 
• He said to himself: "I shall search and find Sita. 
• I shall fly in the sky and cross the sea."
•  With this resolve he offered worship and prayer to Surya, Indra, Vayu, Brahma, and all creation.
•  Then facing east, he made obeisance to his father Vayu and, magnifying his frame still further, turned towards the south. He pressed the hill with his feet and struck it with his hands. At this impact the flowers fell from the trees and covered the hill. 
• Squeezed irresistibly by the pressure of his feet the hill threw out springs of water, like the rut flowing down the cheeks of the elephant. 
• Many colored veins of ore burst out of the rock.
•  From the caves the beasts emerged with panic stricken outcries.
•  Hooded serpents emitting venom bit the rock and sparks flew out.
•  The hair of Hanuman's body stood on end and he roared and lashed his tail on the ground. 
• He contracted his hind parts, held his breath, pressed down his feet, folded his ears and stiffened his muscles.
•  Then with a roar of triumph he rose into the sky and like Garuda flew with the speed of Rama's arrow. With the momentum of his speed, many trees were uprooted and followed in his wake.
•  Like friends who speed a parting guest, they accompanied him a little way, showering down their flowers, and dropped. One by one the trees that followed Hanuman fell into the sea like the mountains which of old were pursued by Indra and denuded of their wings. 
• Covered with bright-colored flowers the sea shone like the sky with its stars.
•  Hanuman's arms with their outspread hands as he flew through the sky appeared like two five headed cobras.
•  He seemed to swallow the sky as he flew forward.
•  His eyes glistened like mountain forests on fire.
•  His red nose shone like the evening sun.
•  His huge frame spanned the sky like an enormous comet. 
• The air roared as he sped fast. 
• Beneath him his shadow travelled like a ship on the sea. 
• It looked as though a huge mountain with wings was flying in the sky. 
• Hidden at times by clouds and again emerging from them, he shone like the moon sailing across the sky. 
• The Gandharvas showered flowers. The Devarishis blessed him. 
• With courage equal to every occasion, with foresight, skill and resolution, Hanuman met and survived the trials on the way.
•  Shooting up suddenly from the sea, a mighty mountain rose and stood, in his way.
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•  Hanuman struck it with his chest and the Mynaka Mountain yielded, like a cloud struck by the wind. 
• The mountain said: "My son, I am Mount Mynaka.
•  My king Ocean bade me help Sri Rama, the descendant of the Sagara race.
•  The Ocean is an old friend of that race. 
• In honor of that ancient, association, stay here on me for a while. 
• You will fulfil Rama's purpose all the better for this rest. 
• When Indra struck with his thunder all the hills, I fled from his persecution and hid myself in the ocean and survived. 
• The Ocean who gave me shelter now bids me to help you. The sons of 
• Sagara dug and deepened the ocean. 
• Did not your father Vayu help me to escape from Indra's thunderbolt and find sanctuary in the sea? 
• Both the Ocean and myself will be pleased if you will accept my hospitality and rest here for a while."
•  But Hanuman could not yield to Mynaka's importunity and said politely: "I cannot stop, my friend. 
• I have no time to lose. 
• My vow to fulfil Rama's purpose permits no delay. 
• Your kind words are enough to please me."
• He stroked the mountain affectionately with his hand and took its leave.
•  Later, a huge form stood in his way and said: "Enter my mouth.
•  I have been without food for a long time and am eagerly waiting for you," and the monster opened its mouth wide like a cave.
•  Hanuman answered: "I am bent on doing Rama's purpose. Do not stop me."
•  "Impossible!" said the monster. 
• "You must enter my mouth." 
• Hanuman thought quickly and decided what to do. 
• Step by step he made his body grow bigger and bigger. 
• The Rakshasa form (which had been assumed by Surasa, the Naga maiden) opened its mouth correspondingly wider and wider. 
• When the mouth was thus enormously wide, all of a sudden Hanuman contracted his body into a speck and, darting through the demon's mouth and body, came out again and resumed his former normal shape.
•  He then laughed and said: "You have had your wish, mother. I have entered your mouth. 
• What more do you need?" 
• And the Naga goddess blessed him saying: "Your effort will be crowned with success. 
• I did this at the bidding of the gods who wanted to test you. Rama's purpose, which you seek to serve, will assuredly triumph." 
• This was not the last of his trials. 
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• As he was flying in the sky, for no reason which he could discover, he found his speed obstructed and he suffered like a ship against a contrary wind. 
• Some mighty force, he felt, was holding him and dragging him down. 
• He looked up and down and on all four sides.
•  Then he discovered the cause.
•  It was a huge she-demon in the sea holding him by his shadow below, arresting his speed, and dragging him down. 
• The demon, holding him by his shadow, said: "Come, come! Long have I been waiting for you. 
• No longer can I bear my hunger," and she opened her mouth like a cave.
•  At once Hanuman entered her mouth and ripped a way out through her entrails and emerged.
•  The demon died and sank down in the water. 
• Like the full moon emerging from an eclipse, Hanuman shone in the sky and resumed his journey. 
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• Thus surviving many trials with the help of his subtle wit, courage and strength, he flew across the ocean and approached the coast of Lanka covered with plantain and coconut trees.
•  On the shore of the island he saw groves and mountains and forests and the mouths of rivers.
•  Hanuman saw the wealth of Ravana's kingdom and the beauty of the fortified city.
•  "I have reached the destination," said Hanuman to himself. "Now without
• "I have reached the destination," said Hanuman to himself. "Now without letting the Rakshasas know who or what I am, I must search the place and find out where Sita is kept.
• " He reduced his huge form to the size of a normal monkey and alighted on a hilltop in Lanka. 
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• JAI SRI RAM/JAI SITA RAM/
• OM SRI RAM JAYA RAM JAYA JAYA RAM
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