Parayana Vidhana Of Sundara Kandam

Sundara Kandam:

Sundara Kandam is a highly revered sacred text, which forms part of the Ramayana epic. It narrates the exploits of the mighty Hanuman, the great devotee of Rama, who goes in search of Rama’s consort Sita as his messenger, flies over, crosses the ocean, and lands in demon Ravana’s capital Lanka, locates Sita, assures her with Rama’s message, then counsels Ravana to return Sita to Rama, and when rebuffed and provoked, destroys the demons, sets fire to Lanka, then returns to Rama, and appraises him of Sita’s whereabouts and wellbeing. Thus Hanuman, the hero of Sundara Kandam, contributes to the ultimate uniting of the divine couple Rama and Sita and their triumphant return to their capital Ayodhya, as the king and queen. 

Sundara Kandam is a very sacred text whose reading can bestow immense benefits on the devotees. None other than Lord Shiva has spoken highly about the greatness of this work and the benefits that can accrue by its reading.

Here, let us learn about some of the guidelines of Sundara Kandam Parayanam, the reading or recitation of Sundara Kandam.

Guidelines for Sundara Kandam Parayanam:

There are 68 chapters in Sundara Kandam, and guidelines have been prescribed for the reading of this sacred text in its entirety, in different ways, depending on the devotees’ needs, conveniences, and other aspects. It is generally suggested that this should be read not once but many times for immense beneficial effects.

Here, let us learn about some of these processes. 

Sundara Kandam can be read repeatedly for as many as 32 times. Devotees can read its chapters from 1 to 38 on the day of starting the reading, and the balance 30 chapters on the next day. The sacred reading can be done a total of 32 times, following the same pattern, and completed in 64 days.   
   
Instead, the reading can be done 24 times, too, with one reading done in 3 days – chapters 1 to 15, then 16 to 41, and then 42 to 68- and completed in 72 days.     

Devotees can also read Sundara Kandam once, in 4 days – Chapters 1-15, 16-32, 33-51, and then 52-68 – and continue reading it 12 times, in a total period of 48 days.      

The recitation can also be done 7 times by reading 7 chapters a day and completing the whole reading in 68 days.

4 readings of Sundara Kandam can be done by the devotees by reading 10 chapters a day for 27 days and completing it by reading the balance 2 chapters on the 28th day. The text can also be recited twice, with the reading of 8 chapters per day and completing on the 17th day.        

Those who are unable to follow any of these patterns of reading for any reason can read Sundara Kandam once, and that too, in many different ways, as under: 

The entire Sundara Kandam can be read on a single day. Alternatively, devotees can read it in 2 days- chapters 1-35 on the first day and the rest on the next day; in 3 days with the reading of chapters 1-37, 38-40, and 41-68; in 5 days in the pattern 1-15, 16-37, 38, 39-54, and 55-68; reading chapters 1-5, 6-15, 16-20, 21-26, 27-28, 29-40, 41-52, 53-58, and 59-68 and completing in 9 days; start on a Friday, read 9 chapters a day, and complete the subsequent Friday; reading 6 chapters a day and completing on the 12th day; OR complete the recitation in 28 days, by reading 2 chapters a day for 22 days, and then 5, 3, 6, 3, and 4 chapters on days 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 respectively, and the last 3 chapters on the 28th day.    

But anyone unable to follow any of these patterns of reading due to whatever constraint can read Sundara Kandam with sincerity and faith, in any manner possible.        

Whatever is the number of times or the manner of recitation, Sundara Kandam reading should be completed with the reading of the last chapter of Ramayana’s Yudha Kandam, the chapter covering Rama’s battle with Ravana. Devotees should also make an offering of boiled milk with sugar on all the days of its reading.  

Benefits of Sundara Kandam Parayanam:

By reading Sundara Kandam or even listening to it, people can receive the divine blessings of Rama, Sita, and Lord Hanuman. It can also ward off dangers, cure even serious or chronic diseases, bestow wealth, prosperity, and welfare, and fulfill the wishes of the devotees.    

Hanuman Jayanti 2021, Lord Hanuman’s birthday falls on January 12, 2021 Tuesday. Devotees can read Sundara Kandam, particularly on this sacred occasion of Hanuman Jayanti 2021, and receive remarkable blessings of this mighty God, Hanuman.