Valmiki named the sixth chapter of the Ramayana as the Sundara Kanda, bearing in mind the many beautiful and auspicious aspects inherent in it. It is devoted to Hanuman’s extraordinary prowess and devotion and his role in bringing about the mental union of the divine couple who are separated by circumstances, pointed out Damal Sri Ramakrishnan and Srimati Perundevi in a discourse.
Sage Vishwamitra is responsible for the wedding of Rama and Sita in the Bala Kanda. But in Aranya Kanda, they get separated. Their agony is compounded by the fact that they do not know their whereabouts. Hanuman successfully brings Rama and Sita together. After facing many hurdles, he sees Sita in Asoka Vana and, with his innate ingenuity, convinces Sita of his identity. Sita finds joy and hope when she comes into possession of Rama’s signet ring and Valmiki says she felt very close to her Lord in her inner being. Hanuman likewise takes back Sita’s Chudamani as a token to be given to Rama. This brings memories of their idyllic wedding and acts as a balm to His heart that is torn by pangs of separation. The fact that Rama’s heart is in Sita and Sita’s heart in Rama is the ‘manasika atma vivaha’ that Hanuman brings about.
From a philosophical angle, interpreters accord Hanuman the unique status of an acharya who bridges the distance between the jivatma and the Paramatma and without whose grace liberation from samsara is not possible. However much one is learned and has jnana, an acharya’s association is indispensible for the spiritual seeker. Sunlight is the cause for the lotus in the pond to bloom. But if the lotus does not have the association of the water in the pond, it wilts in spite of the presence of sunlight.
The acharya’s role is compared to the pond and as long as one seeks the feet of the acharya, one is sure of his grace and of gaining Paramatma Jnana. The acharya alone is capable of igniting the awareness of the truth of the Paramatma in the jivatma and confers the jnana that liberates.