Sundara Kanda is one of the seven episodes of Ramayana which starts at the end of the Kishkindha Kanda. After the alliance of Rama with the monkey chief Sugriva, Rama overcame Bali and put Sugriva to the throne of Kishkindha. Then Sugriva send the army of his monkeys in groups being headed by a leader to search for Sita. He however depended mainly on Hanuman and relied on him heavily to find out Sita. Rama also put his faith in Hanuman, and handed over him his signet-ring to Hanuman to show for a sign to Sita when he should discover her. The monkeys moved in all directions to search for Sita but could not find her any where. But those who went to the southern direction searched all the caves and woods and hidden places, and at last they came to the mighty ocean which was the home of Varuna, resounding with boundless dreadful waves. There the monkeys got to know from Sampati, the brother of Jatayu that Ravana took away Sita to his kingdom in Lanka.

Sita Found in Lanka
After knowing that Sita was carried away by Ravana and that Ravana dwelt in Lanka, a hundred leagues across the sea, the monkeys grew more hopeful, but when they marched to the shore and sat beside the heaving sea they were again downcast, and talked to each other sadly enough. One of the monkeys told that he could bound over twenty leagues, and another fifty, and one eighty, and one ninety, while Angada, son of Bali , could cross over a hundred leagues, but he would not be able to return. Then Jambavan, the king of bears, addressed Hanuman, and reminded him of his origin and birth, how the wind-god had begotten him and his mother Anjana had borne him in the mountains, and while a child he once thought the sun to be a fruit growing in the sky, and sprang three thousand leagues toward it and how Indra had cast a bolt at him, breaking his jaw; how the wind-god in anger began to destroy the heavens and earth, till Lord Brahma pacified him and granted him the boon that his son should be invulnerable, and Indra gave him the boon of choosing his own death.

Hearing the praises from Jambavan, Hanuman roused himself, and the monkey host rejoiced. Swelling with might and pride, he boasted of the deed he would accomplish. Then he rushed up the mountain Mahendra, shaking it in his wrath and those living in its caves and woods. Intent upon achieving a hard task, where no friend could help and no foe hindered, Hanuman stood with head uplifted like a bull, and praying to the sun, to the mountain wind, to the Self-create and to all beings, he set his heart in the work to be accomplished. He hurtled through the air like a mountain, his flashing eyes like forest fires, his lifted tail looked like Sakra`s banner. Ultimately, after many obstacles in the way, Hanuman reached Lanka and found Sita sitting in the Ashoka Vatika.

Hanuman Meets Sita
Hanuman, after breaking many trees and branches found an Ashoka tree and stayed hidden on it and looked for Sita. While moving his eyes everywhere he found weak and thin lady, as if with fasting, sighing for heavy grief, clad in soiled robes, and guarded by horrid rakshasis, like a deer among the dogs or a shining flame obscured by smoke. He understood that she was Sita for she was fair and spotless, like a moon overcast by clouds, and she wore such jewels as described by Rama. Hanuman shed tears of joy and thought of Rama and Lakshmana. But now, while he yet sat hidden on the tree, Ravana had waked, and that lordly rakshasa came with a great train of women to the Ashoka wood. They followed their heroic husband like lightning following a cloud, and Hanuman heard the sound of their tinkling anklets as they passed across the golden pavements where Sita was imprisoned.

Hanuman sat hidden in the branches of the tree and recited Rama`s virtues and deeds, speaking in gentle tones, till Sita heard him. She caught her breath with fear and looked up into the tree, and saw the monkey who was eloquent and humble, and his eyes glowed like golden fire. Then he came down out of the tree, ruddy-faced and humbly attired, and with joined palms spoke to Sita. Sita first thought Hanuman as Ravana in disguise but when she beheld the signet-ring, it seemed to her as if she was already saved, and she was glad and sorry at once. She was glad to know that Rama was alive and well, and sorry for his grief. Hanuman insisted Sita to come along with her to meet Rama but she refused and told Hanuman that she should be rescued by Rama only and asked him to hurry back and prepare for the arrival of Rama in Lanka.

Hanuman Burns Lanka
But Hanuman was not satisfied after finding Sita in Lanka and thus he dashed about the Ashoka grove and broke several trees and spoiled the pavilions. The rakshasis informed about it to Ravana and sought for help. Hearing that a mighty monkey was destroying his servants, Ravana sent Jambumali to slay Hanuman and, indeed, he wounded him with a sharp arrow but Hanuman hurled a bolt at him and crushed him utterly. Then several heroic rakshasas, led by Prince Aksha, proceeded against Hanuman and met their death. Then Indrajit was sent against him, and he loosed a Brahma shaft at him. Hanuman fell to earth and was taken to Ravana. Questioned by the ministers of Ravana, Hanuman answered that he was indeed a monkey who came to Lanka, as an envoy of Rama and he told the story of Rama and gave Ravana sound advice to save his life by surrendering Sita.

Ravana became furious after hearing the words of Hanuman and ordered to set the tail of Hanuman on fire. His tail was bound with cotton soaked in oil and set it all ablaze by the rakshasas. But the heroic monkey cherished a secret plan; he suffered the rakshasas to lead him about Lanka that he might the better learn its ways and strength. He burnt the half Lanka to the ground and slaughtered many a rakshasas and then he quenched his tail in the sea.

Hanuman Returns to Rama from Lanka With the Message of Sita After burning almost the half of Lanka, Hanuman at once repented of his rash deed, for he thought that Sita must have died in the fire. But he was consoled by the thought that when his tail was saved from any burns then fire must have surely never hurt that noble lady. He thus hurried back to the Ashoka tree and found Site seated there, and he greeted her, and she him, and once more they spoke of Rama, and Hanuman foretold that he would speedily rescue Sita and slay the rakshasas.

Hanuman then sprang up like a winged mountain and fared across the sea, now clearly seen, now hidden by the clouds, till he came to Mahendra, flourishing his tail and roaring like the wind in a mighty cavern. Seeing Hanuman return from Lanka all the monkey host rejoiced exceedingly to see and hear him, knowing that he must have found Sita. They danced, and ran from peak to peak, and waved the branches of trees and their clean white cloths, and brought fruits and roots for Hanuman to eat. Then Hanuman reported all that he had done to Angada and Jambavan, while the monkey host sat round about the three there on the summit of Mahendra.

Angada spoke first to the heavy-hearted Rama, and gave him tidings of Sita and praised the work of Hanuman. Then Rama talked to Hanuman and asked him several question as to the welfare of his beloved Sita. Hanuman told him everything and gave her message regarding the matter of the crow and of the painted brow-spot, and showed to Rama the jewel from Sita`s hair entrusted to him as a token.

Then Rama praised Hanuman as the best of servants, who had done more even than was required of him, since a servant, merely good, does what is commanded and no more, and a bad servant is one who does not even that which his master orders. But Hanuman did his work and more. Rama embraced the self-controlled and great-hearted Hanuman like a brother. The monkey army went on its way, led by Rama and Sugriva, and the monkeys skipped for joy and bounded gleefully and sported one with another. With them went several friendly bears, ruled by Jambavan, guarding the rear. After passing over a number of delightful forests and mountains, the army came at length to Mahendra, and beheld the sea before them. Then they marched to the very shore, beside the wave-washed rocks, and made their camp. They covered all the shore, like a second sea beside the tossing waves. Then Rama called upon a council to find a means to cross the ocean, and a guard was set, and orders were issued that none should wander, for he feared the magic of the rakshasas.