Why the name Sundara Kanda

There have been several queries about naming the Chapter Sundara Kanda since the rest of the Kanda's were called Bala Kanda, Ayodhya Kanda,Aranya Kanda,Kishkindha Kanda ,Yuddha Kanda and Uttara Kanda which are self explanatory but Sundara Kanda is not very explanatory.

Here is my effort to cast light on Valmiki Mahamuni's naming choice.Introuduction:Hanuma has crossed the ocean into Lanka and has searched the entire length and finally reachesAsoka Vanam. He jumps onto a tree and can be pictured wearing white clothes,stretched across on the branches with his feet together and moves the leaves apart with his hands:

Tatho Malina saMveetham
Rakhasim bisamavrutam
upavasa krusham deeNam
NishvaSanteem Punah Punah!!

The vision was a women wearing soiled clothessurrounded by many demons in various scary forms.She seems to bekeeping her mind out of worldly things and in deep sorrowsince her savior and her beloved is not close by. Exhaling in despair this was what Hanuma saw over and over againin excitement and belief that his search for Mata Sita is overand he could find her just the way he had imagined.



[ It is said he who imagines the supreme in a particular form in mind is granted the same darshanam just as imagined ]Right after seeing Sita Hanuma feels:Asya Devya yatah

RupahAngam Pratyanga Soushtavam
Ramasya Yatha Roopam
Samseyam ati chekshana!!

This is when Hanuma gets the Atma Darsanam and attains Siddhi sincehe could see Rama in Sita. Hanuma thinks that Sita looks just like Rama with the same physical features.This is a strange comparison, but finding Rama in Sita who is a form of Prakruti this is the attainment ofAdvaita Siddhi and hence reaching the Yogi status.

[ "Samseyam ati chekshana" - however Hanuma felt that Sita's eyes were darker while Ramachandra's are in the shade of red]

Sundere Sundaro Ramah
Sundere Sunderi Katha
Sundere Sunderi Sita
Sundere Sunderam Vanam
Sundere Sundaram Kavyam
Sundere Sundaro Kapihi
Sundere Sundaram Mantram
Sundere Sundarm Kimnasundaram

Since everything is Sunderam from Rama , his story, Sita , the Asoka Vanam,the Monkey, the chant of Rama and everything that is surrounding ,since all thisis beatutiful this Kanda was named Sundara Kanda.Also called as Siddhi Sarga since he who has had the Atma Darshanam is the "Sundarudu" and the yogi who has attained Advaita Siddhi.

Telugu Sahiti Charcha - Ramadasu

Telugu Sahiti Charcha

This forum is for all those to share and exchange knowledge on scriptures,puranams,poems etc...Its like a quiz....A question would be asked and anyone can give a complete explanation on that in say, a week's time...We can do our homework anywhere...

Please note replies are separated by the -- line.

The following is the first question posted in this forum:

"Bhandana Bheemudaartajana Bhaandhavadujhwala Baanatuna Koodandakalaaprachanda bhujataandava keerthiki raamamurthikin....."

(1) Who wrote this poem ?

(2) The first line in the poem compares "Rama" with "Bheema"....What does it mean? Does it mean, Rama is as strong as Bheema...How is it that a person in Tretayuga being compared with the one in Dvaparayuga ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Suggested Answers: by RV
bhandana bheemudaarthajana bhaandavudujwalabaana toona kodanda kala prachanda bhujatandava keerthiki raamamurthikinrendavasaati deivamika ledanchu gadagatti bherika danda dadanda danda ninadambu lajandamu ninda maththavedandamu nekki saatedhan bhadragiri dasaradhi karunaa payonidhi bhandana bheemudu => Strong and Powerful in War/BattleAartha jana bhaandavudu => Relative (one who comes to the resuce) of needy/helpless ujwala baana toona kodanda => Shoots radiating arrows from his Kodanda (Rama's bow)kala prachanda => whose quality is Mightbhuja tAndava => dance of the handskeerthiki => to the famousRamamurthikin => Lord Ramarendava sAti deivamu ika ledu => none else equals him Divine groupanuchu => thus statinggada katti => establishing a polebherika danda dadanda danda ninadambula => sounding the drums ajAndamu ninda => whole of the Universe or all of the universemaththavedandamu nekki => riding atop an intoxicated elephantchAtedan => I'll proclaim He who is strong and poweful in a battle and the relative of the needyHe who shoots radiating arrows from his Kodandam And whose quality is might with the dance of his handsAnd none else equals him in this group and thus stating thisand establishing a pole and sounding the drums in all of the universeriding atop an intoxicated elephants Ill proclaim to the famous Lord Ramathe son of Dasaradha who resides on the sacred hill Bhadra.

(1) Who wrote this poem ? - Dasaradhi
(2) The first line in the poem compares "Rama" with "Bheema"....What does it mean? Does it mean, Rama is as strong as Bheema...How is it that a person in Tretayuga being compared with the one in Dvaparayuga ? -- Refer to the meaning above- It is merely a comparing note but not direct reference.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That was a good attempt..You have given entire peom's "artha" and "tatparya"...thanks...

But,my both questions still remain unanswered...The first answer "Dasaradhi" is wrong..

Second question, you meant "a mere comparing note"...That's just fine...But in what context...Why compare with "bheema" ?? Why not with "Arjuna" or "Bheeshma" or "Parasurama" or "Narasimha"...etc...They are also equally powerful and fierceful at battle field...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you say, since the word "Bhadana" is the first word of the line and that was why "bheema" was used synomymously...Fine, why not use "Bheeshma", "bheebhatsa" or some else which starts with "B"..?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First question: It is a satakam called Dasaradhi satakam written by Bhadrachala Rama dasu.
Second: Bhandana means bhayamkara meaning one who is ferocious in war( bhanana). So, there is no comparison with Bheema or having different yuga's in the context of this poem. Your baamma could have told just like that since she knows whole satakam by memory and what ever I know is from that treasure of knowledge.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think we had some reasonable participation from some of you...Now, let me tell you what I know on this..

First question : Yes, it is our very own "Gopanna", who wrote this...

Second Question : Some of you have been saying that the word "Bheema" is not related to the Pandava family, but it means "bhayankara","terrific"...etc..

You are all right to some extent..I dont deny...But, please note that, whenever great devotees like - Gopanna,Potana and Tyagaiah write something, there would be some more great meaning to it, than just a straight meaning / derivative of the sanskrit word...

They all lived during those times, when "Shaivas" and "Vaishnavas" would not stand to each other and believe that "Their God" was greater than other...But, these great men have always observed and preached that whether it is "Shiva" or "Vishnu" or "Rama" etc, they are all manisfestation of one source itself..

Now, coming to the question...

"Bheema" shabda is related to "Shiva"...In Shiva's "Ashtamurthi Tatva" , "Bheemasvarupa" is one among his eight forms..You also would have heard "Bharga" ..Yes, "Bharga" is also one among those eight forms of Shiva..That is why, in "Bheemeswaram" , Shiva is called as "Bheemashankara"..
Shiva in powerful / terrific / bhayankara form...

So, then why did Gopanna did this usage in his poem ??

In Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda...On one day, Rama does a fierceful battle with Ravana like never before..That day, all the Vaanaras have stopped fighting and were just witnessing the spectacular show of Rama..Nobody knows when he is pulling the arrow and releasing it..He alone kills some lakhs of Raakshasas..

That day, Sugreeva comes to Rama and says "All this while we thought we were helping you in your battle to win back Sita...How stupid are we ? It is not we who are helping you..but, it is you, who have given us an oppurtunity to be with you in your path to glory and fame"

Then, Rama says with pride and confidence " Sugreeva, this kind of battle only I can do and Lord Shiva alone can do..."

In this context, Rama had hinted in a subtle manner about their "oneness", which is a very rare kind of statement in Ramayana, where Rama always behaved and carried himself like a "man" and never like God..

Gopanna would have witnessed those "scenes" before using that word in the poem...

-FINAL