Prof. Dr. Satya Vrat Shastri's Thai Ramayana 20, A little side trip!

It was astonishing that Sundara Kanda was just one sentence in Thai Ramayana. Wonder why? In our tradition it is considered central to the whole epic. The description of the preparation and the actual flight of Hanuman in itself is thrilling. Imagine it was all before the rocket technology had made strides and we could send a man to the moon!

It is believed that reading Sundara kanda  removes obstacles. I remember my father gifting me a signed copy of Sundara Kanda in Kannada and asking me to read it every day! Even the number of chapters to be read each day are prescribed. I think it was the time I was not having fun working with my boss! I guess it worked, but that is another story.

A few quotes from Valmiki Ramayana:
'With a desire to cross the ocean, Hanuma grew his body immeasurably and pressed the mountain with his feet and hands. Thus tormented by Hanuma, that mountain shook for an instant and showered all flowers of trees on it.'

'Huge Rocks of Sulfur were also shot forth from that mountain, just as a fire burning with a medium flame would emit columns of smoke. Being pressed on all sides by the mountain which itself was being pressed by Hanuma, creatures living in the caves of that mountain shrieked in horrifying tones.'

'That loud noise from creatures which emanated because of stress caused to the mountain, filled the earth and all four directions and forests near that mountain. Great snakes with clear swastika signs on their hoods, spewed out frightening flames with their great heads and bit the rocks with their teeth.'

'About to fly, Hanuma jolted his tail, .... Receiving his vigor, the tail curled at his back was seen like a great serpent being stolen by Garuda. Hanuma firmly supported his arms (on the mountain surface) which resembled huge iron clubs, crouched the waist and contracted his feet.'

'Bending shoulders and neck, that mighty and glorious Hanuma, increased his energy, strength and courage. With his eyes raised up, seeing the way from a distance, viewing the sky, he held his breath in his heart. .... While he was flying up, due to that force, all trees on that mountain flew away in all directions, drawing together all their branches.'

While flying in the sky, he took along with him, because of the force of his thighs, trees shining with flowers and with fattened lapwing birds. The trees thus being held aloft by the speed of Hanuma's thighs, followed him for a while just as relatives would follow their loved ones embarking on a long journey.

I could go on, but then my focus is on Thai Ramayana.