This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki”

Seventeenth Chapter

Seeing of Rakshasis

(Graphic description of the Rakshasis surrounding Sita is given in this chapter. It also describes the sorry state of Sita and ends with the mention of happiness of Hanuman on seeing Sita)

Then in the clear sky the cream coloured moon , which is normally clear, rose like a swan appearing in blue water. 1

Shining with clarity that moon appeared to help by its light and by its cool moonlight served the son of wind God. 2

Because of that He saw the full moon faced Sita similar to the ship in ocean weighed down and about to sink by her sorrow.  3

Trying to see Sita (daughter of Videha) clearly ,that son of wind god saw near her ugly and terrible looking Rakshasis among whom some were one eyed, some one eared, some with closed ears, some without ears, some with stick like ears, some breathing through the nose in the head, some with very large head and body, some thin with elongated neck, some with brush like hair, some with no hair at all, some wearing her hairs  like a woolen rug, some with hanging ears and forehead, some with hanging breasts and belly, some with hanging lips, some with chin itself as lips, some with hanging faces, some with hanging knees, some hunch backed, some obese, similarly some who were dwarf, some handicapped, some with slanted mouth and some with yellow eyes.  4-9

(This description in these stanzas and the following one, by the poet of a group of grotesque looking figures, indicates to us the common perception of those times of the look of Rakshasis. There is a story that when Lord Brahma was reciting Vedas , due to excessive hunger, he became very angry and from his anger , the first two Rakshasas Hethi and Prahethi were born. They became a part of the Asuras and by their prowess became the pre dominant among them)

He also saw other Rakshasis, among whom some were very ugly, some yellow coloured, some with jet black colour, some who were very angry, some who were interested in fighting, some who were armed with big spear, swords and rods, some with faces of pig, deer, tiger, bison, sheep and fox, some with legs of elephant, camel and horse, some with heads fixed just over the body, some with one hand and one leg, some with ears of a donkey, some with ears of a dog, some with ears of a cow, some with ears of an elephant, some with ears of a lion, similarly some without nose, some with very big nose, some with nose like an elephant, some with ears on their forehead, some with legs of an elephant, some with very big legs, some with legs of a cow, some with profuse hairs on the legs, some with big neck and heads, some with big breasts and belly, some with big mouth and eye, some with long nails and tongue, some with face of a sheep, some with face of an elephant, some with face of a cow, some with face of a pig, some with faces of horse, camel and donkey, some holding spears and thorn sticks, some with ire, some interested in fighting, some with projected teeth., some with blond hairs, some with terrible looking mien, some always interested in alcohol and meat, some drinking spirits often, some with ugly faces, some who had rubbed meat and blood all over their body, some whose food was only meat and blood, some  who had a terrible stare which would make hairs stand upright, and all of them surrounding on all four sides  a huge forest tree with umpteen branches. 10-18

That Hanuman blessed by Goddess Lakshmi saw below that tree which was in the center of Asoka forest, that Lady Sita, who was a princess, who was innocent, who was the daughter of Janaka, who had lost her glitter, who had faded because of her sorrow, who was having flying dirty hair, who was like a star pushed down to earth when its good deeds are over, who was great because of her virtue, who was not knowing ways to see her husband, who was not wearing costly ornaments, who was wearing the ornament of her devotion to her husband, who was abducted by the king of rakshasas, who was separated from her relatives, who was like the she elephant who was in the custody of a lion after loosing her way, who was like the autumn crescent hidden by the clouds of the late rainy season, who was dirty looking because she had not washed herself, who was like a veena without strings, who was sunk in the sea of sorrow, who was earlier in the custody of her husband and who did not like  to be in the custody of Rakshasis. 19-24

Seeing the lady who was like a tender plant in flowering, surrounded by the Rakshasis, he felt that she was like the Rohini star surrounded by the nine planets. 25

(The Moon God has 27 wives , all of them daughters of Daksha. The moon God , it seems was very partial to Rohini, one of his wives. She is supposed to be the bright star traveling along with the moon)

Though by her natural beauty itself she was well made up, due to the dirt that she was having on her faded body , she was like the slush coated lotus plant which was shining as well as not shining, he thought. 26

The monkey chief Hanuman saw Sita who was only wearing a dirty and ruffled single cloth, who was having an eye similar to the young deer, who was not wilting away because she was remembering the greatness of her husband, who was being protected by her virtue, who was having black eyes and who was blessed by her youth. 27-28

Understanding her as Sita, that son of wind god ,looking at the princess of Mithila who was having eyes similar to an young deer, who was seeing in all directions like a fear struck deer, who was breathing heavily as if her breath will burn the well grown tress surrounding her, who was like a tidal wave of sorrow which always comes as a group, who was shining without any ornaments, who was having very perfect limbs and who was having great patience, attained limitless happiness for having completed his task. 29-31

Hanuman shed tears of happiness seeing her who was having eyes like wine and immediately Saluted Sri Rama.  32

That heroic Hanuman becoming happy because he saw Sita, saluted both Sri Rama and Lakshmana and continued to he in hiding.  33

Thus ends the Seventeenth chapter of Sundara Kanda which is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written by Valmiki.

Chapter 18: Coming of Ravana

Seeing of good omens (Chapter 29)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Twenty-ninth (29th) Chapter  Seeing of good omens  (Good omens occurred to Sita who was consoled by those omens and gained more confidence) Good omens approached her who is faultless; who does forever good, who was mentally perturbed and who because of lack of happiness was terribly…

Keep reading

Crashing of hopes of Hanuman (Chapter 13)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Thirteenth (13th) Chapter Crashing of hopes of Hanuman (The worries of the very disappointed Hanuman are described graphically. At the end he sees a glimmer of hope when he sees the Asoka forest) After jumping from the Vimana on to the wall he was restless like…

Keep reading

Searching inside the Asoka forest (Chapter 14)

Fourteenth Chapter Searching inside the Asoka forest (Graphic description of the Asoka forest as seen by Hanuman is given. Seeing the forest Hanuman decides that Sita should definitely visit there because she likes the forest and also needs to do her morning ablations) The very powerful Hanuman after thinking for some more time and after…

Keep reading

The arrival of Ravana (18th Chapter)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Eighteenth (18th) Chapter Arrival of Ravana (Here the description of the passionate Ravana who woke up and came to Asoka forest along with his wives to see Sita , is given. Ravana is described as valorous but spoiled by his passion and his women are…

Keep reading

Sundara Kandam-An introduction

AN INTRODUCTION TO SUNDER KAND. Sundara Kandam: An introduction INTRODUCTION TO SUNDARA KANDA P.R.Ramachander Sundara Kandam is the fifth section of Ramayana (the story of Lord Rama) written by Sage Valmiki and comprises 2885 verses spread in 68 chapters. Sundara, as we all know in the literary sense means ‘beautiful’ and ‘Kandam’, means ‘section’. The…

Keep reading

Further news about the consolation of Sita (Chapter 68)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty-eighth Chapter Further news about consolation of Sita (Hanuman further relates about the doubts in Sita’s mind and how he gave a pep talk and encouraged her.) Hey lion among men, I who was in a haste to return , because of the love and nearness…

Keep reading

Seeking clarifications of the message of Sita (Chapter 66)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty-sixth Chapter Seeking clarifications of the message of Sita ( Rama is upset to know about Sita and asks Hanuman to tell in detail what has been told by her. The pearl brooch brings to him memories of her, his father and father in law.) Rama…

Keep reading

Informing the message of Sita (Chapter 67)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty-seventh Chapter Informing the message of Sita. (Hanuman again details the pitiable state of affairs of Sita. He also indicates the several doubts arising in her mind due to her not seeing any action from the part of Rama and Lakshmana.) Having been told by Rama…

Keep reading

Hurting of the security staff of the forest (Chapter 62)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty second Chapter Hurting of the security staff of the forest (The guard of the garden, Dadhimuka who was the uncle of Sugreeva tried his best to stop the destruction of the honey forest. Angadha became very angry and hit him. Then Dadhimukha reached the presence…

Keep reading

Return of Hanuman and other monkeys (Chapter 64)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty- fourth Chapter Return of Hanuman and other monkeys (Hanuman and other monkeys return back to Kishkinda and inform the good news of having found Sita and her being virtuous.) Thus told by Sugreeva, at that time the well pleased Dadhimuka saluted Raghava, Lakshmana and Sugreeva.…

Keep reading

Informing about the destruction of the honey forest (Chapter 63)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty -third Chapter Informing about destruction of the honey forest (Dadhimuka along with his other security staff is not able to succeed and are ill treated by Angadha and other monkeys. So he reaches Sugreeva’s presence and complaints to him about the behavior of the monkeys.…

Keep reading

Words of Angadha (Chapter 60)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixtieth Chapter Words of Angadha (Angadha who is the crown prince and leader of the team tells his opinion as to what needs to be done. He feels that they should wage a war, destroy the Rakshasas  and take Sita along with them. The wise Jambhavan…

Keep reading

Destruction of Honey forest (Chapter 61)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty -first Chapter Destruction of Honey forest (The monkeys start their return journey and reached the honey forest of Sugreeva. Being given permission to drink the honey, they destroy the forest , insult and hurt Dadhimuka who was the uncle of Sugreeva and in charge of…

Keep reading

Telling the happenings of Lanka

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty-eighth Chapte Telling the happenings of Lanka (In this chapter Hanuman informs his monkey friends all that happened after he took off and till he returned. This chapter is the summary of all the previous 57 chapters of Sundara Kanda.) anuman and other very strong…

Keep reading

Thinking about future action (Chapter 59)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty-ninth Chapter Thinking about the future action (Hanuman then narrates the problems of Sita in Lanka in a graphical manner. He tells the other monkeys that as a virtuous woman she herself could kill Ravana but is not doing so, because it would bring bad fame…

Keep reading

The crossing of the sea from Lanka (Chapter 56)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty- sixth Chapter Crossing of sea from Lanka (Hanuman took leave of Janaki and climbed to the top of Lamba Mountain, preparing himself to cross the ocean. He assumed his very big form and rose from the mountain to the north) Hanuman saluted Janaki who was…

Keep reading

Fear of the monkey (Chapter 55)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty- fifth Chapter Fear of the monkey (After seeing the entire city burning, suddenly Hanuman feels that Sita also might have been destroyed. He curses himself for causing such an eventuality because of his anger .Rethinking about the several immortal happenings and overhearing Charanas who told…

Keep reading

Reaching the northern shore of the sea (Chapter 57)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty- seventh Chapter Reaching the northern shore of the sea, (Hanuman crossed the ocean and was received by the monkeys with happiness. He informed them that he has seen Sita. He also told them about the pitiable but virtuous condition she was in.) Hanuman like a…

Keep reading

Sunderkand: Burning of the city of Lanka (Chapter 54)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty- fourth Chapter of Sunderkand Burning of the city of Lanka (Hanuman decided to inflict more misery to the city of Lanka by setting fire to it. He systematically set fire to all the houses, places and forests. He was praised by all Gods for such…

Keep reading

Browse Temples in India

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply