Sundara Kanda

[1] The original Sundara Kanda is in Sanskrit, and was composed in popular tradition by Valmiki, who was the first to scripturally record the Ramayana.

[2] The Sundara Kanda forms the heart of Valmiki's Ramayana and consists of a detailed, vivid account of Hanuman's adventures.

After learning about Sita, Hanuman assumes a gargantuan form and makes a colossal leap across the ocean to Lanka after defeating Surasa, the mother of the nagas, and Simhika, who is sent by the devatas.

[4] This lesson is recited by Hindus, preferably on Tuesdays or Saturdays, these days having been earmarked for special prayers to Hanuman.

An earlier Tamil version, Ramavataram, by Kambar, is also a prevalent text among the Sri Vaishnava and Smarta Brahmins in South India.

Ranganatha Ramayanam, a Telugu version of Valmiki Ramayana written by Gona Budha Reddy, also describes this episode.

A Malayalam independent translation of Sundara Kandam can be found in 'Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilipattu', written by Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan.

Maruti returns from Lanka.