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PrefaceThe Sundarakāņda (The Beautiful Story) is a section ofthe Śrīmad Rāmāyaņa, considered to be the first great epicpoem in Sanskrit. Authored by Śri Vālmīki, the Sundarakāņdaprovides an outstanding characterization of Hanumān who,with his valor, dedication and other divine qualities, overcamemany obstacles to cross the ocean in his search of Sīta Devī(Goddess Sīta). Hanumān’s mission was to locate Sīta Devīand bring back information regarding her condition to ŚriRāma.The narrative includes how Hanumān planned the taskof searching for Sīta Devī, crossed hurdles as they arose,solved insurmountable problems using his own ingenuity,located her in Lańkā, and finally returned to report the detailsto Śri Rāma. His character exemplifies the noble qualities offocus, persistence, dedication and problem solving. Thesetraits are essential to achieve success in every project oneundertakes.This book is a revised version of the Sundarakāņda thatwas published on Śri Rāmanavami, April 13, 2002. Recently, Iwas narrating the story of Hanumān from the earlier versionto my grandson who was five years old at the time. Heenjoyed the episodes of Hanumān’s adventures, and asked,“Grandma, why don’t you keep this book in the public libraryso that everyone can read it?” The current version of the bookemerged from that conversation.The purpose of this book is to share the beautifuldescriptions and the exemplary character of Hanumān asgiven in the magnificent epic of the Rāmāyaņa. I chose towrite the book in English so that children not familiar withIndian Languages can enjoy and learn from the story. Thepurpose is to provide a role model in Hanumān, to encouragegrowing children to emulate his qualities. It is not a verbatimxi

translation of the Sundarakāņda. Some lengthy descriptionsand repetitions were summarized to be more appropriate andcomprehensible to children.My heartfelt thanks go to my husband, Dr. Sastri Kotafor his constant support and encouragement. I kindly thankDr. Srinivasacharyulu Garu for contributing the foreward. Isincerely appreciate Śri Sivaji Tumbali for providing excellentillustrations. I thank Smt. Prashanti and Sri Vinay Mamidi forthe preparation of the first edition of this book. Myappreciation also goes to Dr. Aparna Kota, Dr. Jean Herbert,and Smt. Padmaja Iyer for their reviews and valuablefeedback and to Smt. Ranjana Gobburu for her supportive rolein the first edition. I would like to appreciate Śri MalladiVidyaranyulu for publishing the first edition. My thanks arealso due to Sri Harbir Singh and Sri Prashant Padala for theirvaluable support of this edition.May Śri Hanumān and Śri Rāma bless everyone whoreads this book with peace and happiness.@kEkm]r àae pu sa mhapatknazn ekaikamakñaraà proktaà puàsäàmahäpätakanäçanaàEvery letter of Śrīmad Rāmāyaņa uttered or read will destroyall the bad omens and sins.This book is possible with the blessings of my MastersE.K. and C.V.V.Namaskarams Master E.K.Namaskarams Master C.V.V.--Krishna KotaSunnyvale, California, USA22 March 2012xii

About the Enclosed CDThis book is accompanied by a CD containing severalimportant slokas and hymns including the Nāma Rāmāyaņa,Hanumān Cālīsā and Mangalam on Hanumān. Since this bookis dedicated to children, the CD should enable them to learnand sing these beautiful hymns in praise of Hanumān and ŚrīRāma. Also enclosed is a CD Booklet containing the lyrics inSanskrit and transliterated in English so children can easilyfollow along. The eloquent voices on the CD are those ofyoung children ages 7-12; they are Soundarya Jayaram,Sahana Prasanna, Srividya Seetharam, Aarthi Venkat, andSandhya Vijapurapu. We are grateful to them for lending theirtime and voices and singing these prayers with such devotion.This CD was directed and produced by Smt. Prema Sriram.Her attention to detail, dedication, and devotion areunmatched. We are very thankful to her for seeing this projectthrough with such energy and commitment. We also thankRavindra Neelakant, Recording Studio Engineer, for his soundstudio and producing a quality recording. The young voiceswere ably accompanied by Shishir Neelakant on Harmonium,Ravi Gutala on tabla, and Ashwin Krishnakumar on flute,keyboard and manjira. We thank all the instrumentalists fortheir lovely accompaniment and commitment to this project.May Lord Hanumān Bless Them All.--Krishna Kotaxiii

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Beginning PrayersïI g[ez àawRnÇré Ganeça Prärthana1. Prayer to Çré Ganeçazu a brxr iv:[u zizv[m! ctuÉuRjm!àsÚvdn Xyayet! svR iv¹aepzNtyeçuklämbaradharaà viñëuà çaçivarëaà caturbhujamprasannavadanaà dhyäyet sarva vighnopaçantayeWhen you think of the Lord who is pure and vast as theuniverse with the moon’s beaming light, all obstacles willdisappear and life will be peaceful.guéXyan Gurudhyänaà2. Prayer to Our Teachers guéäRüa guéivR:[uguédevae mheñr ,guésa]at pr äü tSmE ïIgurve nm .om gururbrahmä gururviñëugurudevo maheçvaraùguru säkñät paraà brahma tasmai çrégurave namaù2

To the noble teacher who is the creator (Brahma), to theteacher who is the sustainer (Visnu), and to the teacher whois the destroyer (Siva); I bow down to that teacher whom Iconsider to be the absolute and highest creator.ïI vaLmIik àawRnÇré Välméki Prärthana3. Prayer to Çré VälmékikªjNt ram rameit mxur mxura]r ,Aaéý kivta zaoa vNde vaLmIik kaeikl .küjantaà räma rämeti madhuram madhuräkñaraàäruhya kavitä çäkhäà vande välméki kokilaàWhile sitting in the branches of a poetic tree, Sage Vālmīkisings the sweet melodious songs about Śrī Rāma like theKokila (singing) bird. The Rāmāyaņa is the epic poem aboutŚrī Rāma. I bow down to the great Sage Vālmīki.y ipbn! stt ram cirtam&t sagr ,At&ÝSt muin vNde àacet smkLm; .yaù piban satataà räma caritämruta sägaraàatruptastaà munià vande präceta samakalmañaàSage Vālmīki who roamed freely in the sacred forest of pureknowledge, carried with him the auspicious characteristics of3

Śīta and Rāma. I bow down to Sage Vālmīki and Hanumānwho possess pure knowledge.sItaram gu[ am pu{yar{yay ivhair[aE ,vNde ivzuÏ iv}anaE kvIñr kpIñraE .sétäräma guëagräma puëyäraëyäya vihäriëauvande viçuddha vijnänau kavéçvara kapéçvarauRespects to poet Vālmīki and the great monkey Hanumān whoroamed the divine forest of Rāmāyaņa (filled with Śri Rāma’sexcellent characteristics) with enormous wisdom andknowledge.ïI ram àawRnÇré Räma Prärthana4. Prayer to Śrī RāmaAapdamphtaRr datar svRs pdam! ,laekaiÉram ïIram ÉUyaeÉyU ae nmaMyhm! .äpadämapahartäraà dätäraà sarvasampadämlokäbhirämaà çrérämaà bhüyobhüyo namämyahamTo Śri Rāma, who is the destroyer of difficulties, giver of allprosperities, and the Lord of the world, I bow down againand again.4

ïI ra"v dzrwaTmj màmeym!sItapit r"uvraNvy rÆdIpm! ,Aajanuba ArivNd d ayta]m!ram inzacr ivnazkr nmaim .çré räghavaà daçarathätmaja maprameyamsétäpatià raghuvaränvaya ratnadépamäjänubähum aravinda daøäyatäkñamrämaà niçäcara vinäçakaraà namämiTo Lord Śri Rāma or Raghava, who is King Dasaratha’s sonand Sīta Devī’s husband, who is the lustrous light of theRaghu dynasty, who has long arms and lotus petal-like eyes,and is the remover of darkness; I bow down.vEdehI siht surd&mtle hEme mhamNfpemXye pu:pkmasne mi[mye vIrasne suiSwt ,A evacyit àÉNjn sute tÅv muin y pr VyaOyaNt ÉrtaidiÉ pirv&t ram Éje Zyaml .vaidehé sahitaà suradrumatale haime mahämanòapemadhye puñpakamäsane maëimaye véräsane susthitaàagreväcayati prabhanjana sute tattvaà munibhyaù paraà5

vyäkhyäntaà bharatädibhiù parivrutaà rämaà bhajeçyämalaàI sing the glories of Śri Rāma, the dark-bodied Lord, who issitting on a gem studded puśpakavimāna in a golden mandapawith Sīta Devī by his side, Hanumān in front of him andaccompanied by sages and Bharata.ramay ramÉÔay ramcNÔay vexse ,r"unaway naway sItaya ptye nm .rämäya rämabhadräya rämacandräya vedhaseraghunäthäya näthäya sétäyäù pataye namaùWe constantly think about and salute Śri Rāma, as a brother(Ramabhadra), as bright as the moon (Ramacandra), as theleader of the Raghu dynasty (Raghunatha), and as thehusband of Sīta Devī.ïI hnumt! àawRnSré Hanumat Prärthana5. Prayer to Śri HanumānAtuiltblxam Sv[RzElaÉdeh dnujvnk&zanu }ainnam g{y sklgu[inxan vanra[amxIz 6

r"upitvrËt vatjat nmaim .atulitabaladhämaà svarëaçailäbhadehaàdanujavanakruçänuà jnäninämagragaëyaàsakalaguëanidhänaà vänaräëämadhéçaàraghupativaradütaà vätajätaà namämiI bow down to Hanumān, the son of Vāyu, who is of immensestrength, whose body is radiant like gold, who is to thedemons like fire is to forest, best among jnanis, bearer of allnoble qualities, leader of monkeys and the dearest messengerof Śri Rāma.gae:pdIk«tvaraiz mzkIk&tra]s ,ramay[mhamala rÆ vNde nIlaTmjm!.goñpadékåtaväräçià maçakékrutaräkñasaàrämäyaëamahämälä ratnaà vande nīlätmajamI bow down to Hanumān, the son of Vāyu, who crossed theocean as easily as if it were a puddle made by the hoof of acow. Hanumān killed demons as effortlessly as one killsmosquitoes, and is the precious gem in the middle of thegreat garland of Rāmāyaņa.7

A jnanNdn vIr jankIzaeknazn ,kpIzm]hNtar vNde l'kaÉyNkr .anjanänandanaà véraà jänakéçokanäçanaàkapéçamakñahantäraà vande lankäbhayankaraàI bow down to that Hanumān; courageous son of Anjana Devī,remover of Sīta Devī’s distress, Kapisvara, leader of themonkeys, killer of Rāvaņa’s son Akshaya, and who createdfear in the City of Lanka.mnaejv maéttuLyveg ijteiNÔy buiÏmta viró ,vataTmj vanryUwmuOy ïIramËt izrsa nmaim .manojavaà märutatulyavegaàjitendriyaà buddhimatäà variñöhaàvätätmajaà vänarayüthamukhyaàçrérämadütaà çirasä namämiI bow my head down to Hanumān, who wins the hearts ofeveryone, who is as fast as the wind, who conquered hissenses, who has a strong mind, is the son of the wind Godand who is prominent among monkeys. I bow down to themessenger of Śri Rāma8

yÇ yÇ r"unawkItRn tÇ tÇ k&tmStka jil ,Éa:pvairpirpU[Rlaecn maéit nmt ra]saNtk .yatra yatra raghunäthakértanaàtatra tatra aàmärutià namata räkñasäntakaàWherever Śri Rāma’s stories are sung, Hanumān folds Hishands and bows down with joyous tears. I bow down to LordHanumān who is the destroyer of demons.9

Importance of Sundarakāņda for ChildrenThis is a wonderful story for children to learn as it helpsbuild confidence. It also fosters courage, fearlessness, logic,strategic thinking, diplomacy and other such qualities requiredfor achieving success. Many parents often mistakenly teachtheir children that Hanumān is a monkey God. Rather, we canthink of Hanumān as guiding our monkey brains. A monkeybrain is one with thoughts that swing in every direction.Hanumān’s story can help us focus our thoughts and harnessour mental and physical powers to reach our goals. AsHanumān mentally prepares and starts to cross the ocean, heis not daunted by the immensity of the task at hand. While onhis quest, he does not take a break, nor is his attentiondiverted when he starts at the request of Maināka. There wereobstacles in his course, such as Surasa and Simhini, but he didnot turn back. Instead, he faced them head on and overcamethem. He planned his entrance into Lańkā without muchdisturbance. This emphasizes the importance of planning anycourse of action.When Hanumān enters Lańkā, he starts looking for SītaDevī immediately. Although impressed by the beauty of thecity, he does not get distracted. Initially, he sees Mandodariand mistakenly assumes she is Sīta Devī. Once he realizes heis on the wrong track, he checks himself and resumes hissearch. He is not discouraged, and this too is an importantlesson for all of us: that when we make mistakes, we shouldlearn from them and continue to work harder to achieve ourgoals.Hanumān continues to search for Sīta Devī and finallylocates her under the Asoka tree. After observing her,Hanumān thinks about how he should approach her and howhe should identify himself. He is sensitive to the fact that sheis vulnerable. He is aware that he’s an unknown factor to Sīta10

Devī and that she may not respond to him favorably unless heplans ahead what he is going to say. He had nobody toconsult with, nor did he expect help from anyone in handlinghis job. He did not ignore the smallest detail, and showed usall how to manage our time and skills to the best of ourability.Next, Hanumān wants to assess the strength of theenemy. He knows it is hard to get past the demon guards. Infact, our mental disturbances are our real enemies. He devisesa strategy to see Rāvaņa without the aid of money or force,since he had neither. He realizes that negotiations and talkingof peace might work best. However, to get into the court ofRāvaņa, he must get the attention of the guards. As amonkey, he would ordinarily never get an audience with theemperor. He attracts attention by destroying the gardens anddoes his best not to harm anyone. Only when challenged bythe demons does he put up a fight and kill them in theencounters. His job is done most thoroughly, leaving no roomfor doubt.In an age when there were no pictures, phones,internet or any form of communication other than personal,Hanumān was given the task of looking for a person he hadnever seen, and reporting back to Rāma about what he hadfound. He took with him a little known story about Śri Rāmaand Sīta Devī so that she could be convinced that he wasindeed a bona fide person. To prove that he had indeed seenand met Sīta Devī, he took back her Chūdamaņi (jewel fromher hair). In the course of the exercise, he always thought ofŚri Rāma, and reminded himself that he was doing His work.Planning and the execution of any task with focus, dedicationand will power in the name of ‘god’s work’ will always bringthe best results.Hanumān proves all along that work is worship, andworking towards the goal is prayer in its highest form. These11

are valuable lessons children can emulate in their own lives;as essential life pointers, they are important for everyone.In Śrīmad Rāmāyaņa only Hanumān is called medhāviMārutātmaja the real intellect who exhibited in every step ofthe way to do God’s work. We have lot to lear

complemented her inherent free-spirit, intuition and serving attitude. Mrs. Kota has been a Sadhaka of Bhrukta Rahita Taraka Raja Yoga founded by Master CVV, since 1969. During her four decades in the USA, she has held on to Hindu traditions, and also enco