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.