Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:
The Beautiful Book
Countless books have been authored since creation, by countless worthies,
dealing with practically every subject under the Sun. And to each of these
books, its author, with parental pride, has given a name, which he or she
thought suited it best. To each author, his creation, however insignificant it
may appear to others, is indeed a magnum opus deserving of appreciation and
acclaim. However, none has considered his or her book fit enough to be called
"The Beautiful Book". You must have read any number of books-have you come
across one titled simply "The Beautiful Book"? There is indeed one, for which
the venerated author couldn't think of any other name than the beautiful one
mentioned above. Looked at from any angle, it appeared so fine and striking to
him, that try as he might, he couldn't come up with any other title, which
suited the work to a "T". Irrespective of what impressive names we might give
our children, it is their character, conduct and comportment that ultimately
give their names popular acceptance-if a dunce carries the name "VivEkAnandan",
in course of time, people would coin for him nickname which indicates his true
colours, rather than call him by the given name. So too is the case of any
name. That the author-given name of "The Beautiful Book" (for the work we
talked about) has gained popular acceptance too, is indicative of the book's
enchanting and enticing contents.
The "Sundara KANdam" of Srimad Ramayanam carries an extremely apt name. Sri
Valmiki himself was so impressed by its contents that he could think of no
other name for it than the aforesaid. While other KANdAs of the epic have been
named after the places where the events are enacted (AyOdhyA KANdam, AraNya
KAndam, KishkindhA KANdam) or after the nature of happenings (BAla KANdam,
Yuddha KANdam), this particular portion of the saga is simply named "Sundara
KANdam".
Does this mean that the other parts of the epic are not beautiful? Why should
this particular KANdam be celebrated as the Sundara KANdam?
Why does this specific KANdam command much greater popularity among Rama
bhaktAs than the other parts of the great saga? And if the recital of this
particular KANdam is traditionally held to be capable of fulfilling all of
one's wishes, what could be the special content that it has, which puts it head
and shoulders above the other portions of the epic?
While there are several reasons for this part of Valmiki's magnum opus getting
this "beautiful" sobriquet, the principal ones are the following:-
1. This part of the Epic really contains enthralling descriptions of
several beautiful objects, places and people. Be it the portrayal of Lanka, of
the exalted Pushpaka vimAnam, the AshOka vanikA, the Madhu vanam or of natural
phenomena like the Moonrise, Sri Valmiki excels himself in painting gripping
pen-portraits, with elaborate and enthralling accounts of flora, fauna, the
majesty of nature at its best, the lure and lustre of Lanka etc. Being a past
master at apt similes, the Maharshi's portrayals often appear to be more
glorious than the objects of their adoration, if such a thing were possible.
Here is a simple sample from the 5th Sarga of this KANda, devoted mainly to the
description of the rising Moon over the city of Lanka. Observe the lilting
metre, the thrilling portrayal, the extremely apt similes and the cumulative
effect of unparalleled prettiness and picturesqueness the entire scenario
presents-
"Tata: sa madhyam gatam amsumantam
JyOtsnA vitAnam mahat udvamantam
Dadarsa dheemAn divi BhAnumantam
GoshttE vrisham mattham iva bhramantam"
The huge Silver Orb in the sky, surrounded by a halo of pleasing luminance,
occupying the centre spot among an admiring audience of countless stars
exhibiting their adulation through constant twinkling, looked like a virile
Bull pacing majestically among admiring cows, says Sri Valmiki.
Here is a slew of more similes from the facile pen of the Adikavi, comparing
the resplendent Moon glowing in the bewitching night sky, to a graceful Swan in
a silver cage, to a majestic lion inhabiting a broad cave in the Mandara
mountain and to a victorious centurion ensconced on an imposing elephant-
"HamsO yathA rAjata panjarasttha: simhO yathA Mandara kandarasttha:
VeerO yathA garvita kunjarasttha: ChandrOpi babhrAja tathA ambarasttha:"
What beautiful metre, what incomparable similes, what inimitable portrayals! Is
it any wonder that this forms part of the "Sundara KANdam"? Though it is
extremely tempting to quote one lilting verse after another, which competes for
our attention and adulation, I leave readers to feast themselves on these gems
at their leisure.
However, is it merely due to the gloriously graphic descriptions that this
KANdam is known as the Sundara Kandam, for, equally facile portrayals are to be
found in other parts of the epic too, especially the accounts of Spring, Autumn
and the Monsoon seasons and innumerable other pen-portraits, of which only Sri
Valmiki is capable?
2. This Kandam is almost exclusively about the exploits of an extremely
beautiful person ("Sundara:")-none other than Sri Hanuman. It is beyond dispute
that Sri AnjanEya is extremely handsome, virile and strikingly attractive.
"KAnchanAdri kamanIya vigraham" says the PArAyaNa slOka, telling us that the
VAnara veera possessed glorious good looks and shone like a veritable Golden
Mountain, with his gigantic physique and commanding personality. When we go
through Sundara KANdam, we find it to be one long and continuous saga of Sri
Hanuman's adventures and exploits, in the service of His Lord and Master, Sri
Rama. The KANda begins with a vivid account of Hanuman's launch into the long,
difficult and hurdle-filled flight across the ocean to Lanka, a feat none else
would even contemplate, leave alone attempt. What follow are enthralling
accounts of the MahAkapi's rigorous search for Sri Sita, his timely arrival on
the scene to prevent Sri Mythily from taking Her life and to extend assurances
of imminent rescue by Sri Raghava, his vanquishing the minions, ministers and
sons of Ravana in a patently unequal battle, his challenge to the demoniac king
and departure to Kishkindha to convey the good news to the Prince of Ayodhya,
leaving Lanka engulfed in flames.
Thus, from commencement to conclusion, this KANda is verily monopolised by the
"Sundara", Sri Hanuman, who is on centre stage, throughout.
3. What could be more beautiful than tales of the Lord and accounts of His
handsomeness, valour, majesty, generosity and boundless compassion? Anything
incorporating such a narrative definitely deserves the name "Beautiful Book".
The Sundara Kanda contains several such descriptions of Sri Raghava's glorious
physical and psychological traits. The 31st Sarga contains a detailed account
of the IkshvAku Vamsam and Sri Rama's glorious guNAs, the 35th a mouth-watering
description of His matchless physical beauty, the 51st again a narrative of the
Prince's valour, prowess and compassion. With the recurring theme of Bhagavat
divya mangaLa vigaraha varNanam and Bhagavat guNa anubhavam, there is little
wonder that this portion of the epic is known as the Sundara Kanda.
4. Whether it be in physique or in character, could anyone hope to equal
Sri Mythily, the epitome of womanly virtue and seemliness?
She is thus a real "Sundari", beautiful beyond imagination and looking as if
She was put together by the Divine Architect, using up all the stock of beauty
on hand-"DEva mAyEva nirmitA". It was a divine beauty, such as only the Divine
Consort could possess. If we come to think of it, this Kandam devotes a major
portion of its content to this "Sundari", Her travails amidst the rAkshasIs of
AshOka vanikA, Her encounters with the dastardly Ravana, Her compassionate
advice even to Her abductor to perform Sharanagati at the Lord's lotus feet,
Her oscillation between hope and despair, Her meeting with Maruti and the
consequent reassurance gained about imminent rescue by Her beloved and Her
prayers for the safe return of Sri Hanuman to KishkindhA. Though the entire
Srimad Ramayana is but a saga of Sita ("SItAyA's charitam mahat"), yet the
Sundara Kanda brings out the depth of Piratti's character in all its glory, the
glory of gold, which glitters all the more, when
Passed through fire.
To conclude, we can't do better than to enjoy a verse of one of the erudite
commentators on Srimad Ramayana, viz., Tilaka, who, instead of enumerating the
beautiful things in this Kandam, queries us as to what is there in the Sundara
Kanda, which is not Sundaram (beautiful). Everything about this Kanda is indeed
beautiful-
1)the city of Lanka, which forms the picturesque backdrop for the momentous
events of this Kanda,
2)the magnificent story narrated in the Kanda, with its numerous twists and
turns, affording full scope for display of the nava rasAs, 3) the incredible
beauty of Sri Janaki Devi, who forms the focal point of the narrative-
indeed everything about the Sundara Kandam is beautiful beyond depiction. Here
is the beautiful verse from the "Tilakam", a commentary on the great epic-
"SundarE sundarI LankA, sundarE SundarI kathA
SundarE sundarI SitA sundarE kim na sundaram?
SundarE SundarIm SitAm akshatAm MarutE: mukhAt
ShrutvA hrishta: tathaivAstu sa Rama: satatam hridi".
Srimate Sri LakshmINrismha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana
Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:
dasan, sadagopan
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia |
srirangasri-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To subscribe to the list |