For a Mother, her son is the most handsome one in the entire world! The last mentioned name is attributed to Anjana, Hanuman’s mother affectionately calling him ‘Sundara’ meaning good-looking. He is also called by other names like Vaayu Puthra, Maruthi, Aanjaneya, Vyakarna Panditha and Sundara. Well, the reason generally put forward is since this Kaandam’s main character or hero here is Hanuman…. Why is it called Sundara Kaandam and not ‘Crossing the Ocean’ or ‘Destruction of Lanka’ or any other? My bringing this issue of Sundara Kaandam is for a different purpose. I don’t want to go into the merits or otherwise of this practice. Most of them say that this brought them out of the crisis they were facing. Even in our present times, I have come across families resorting to this practice. It is widely believed that chanting or reading Sundara Kaandam helps bring peace and prosperity to a family in distress. There is a seventh Kaandam called ‘Uththara Kaandam.’ The following are the six main Kaandams of Kamba Ramayana:
