“An alarming combination of words, isn’t it? Who would have thought that there are multiple mentions of suicide attempts in Sundarakanda? At least I didn’t know about it in detail until I heard an eminent scholar Samudrala Venkata Rangaramanujacharya ji talk about it in Houston, USA. Following which, Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji added that no one is exempt from feeling despair in the journey of life but the key is to know how to rise and shine!

I listened to the talks attentively because it was painful reading news about students committing suicide losing hope. This is dedicated to a friend of mine, a mother who lost her 15 year old son for the same reason. May Lord help to spread this message to the hearts of all those young ones who are feeling despair, depressed or unhappy with circumstances in life.”

The context…

Sundara means beautiful, Ka:nda means section. Sundaraka:nda is the section of Sri Ramayana filled with beautiful aspects. It not only depicts literary beauty, the divine beauty of Lord Ra:ma, mother Si:tha, the mighty Hanuma:n but also the beauty of life. There are two special personalities that come into light in Sundaraka:nda on the current topic. The mighty Hanuman and mother Sitha.

Both of them experienced despair and thought of ending their lives voluntarily. Instead, they tolerated that weak moment and passed through it. They worked. They rose high to a level of remaining eternally alive in the minds and hearts of millions of people for eons.

The mighty Hanuman’s weak moment

Hanuman crossed the sea, reached Lanka and was looking for mother Sitha. During that search, he saw Mondodari and mistook her for mother Sitha. He felt happy that his search concluded successfully. However, that did not last more than a moment as he realized she cannot be mother Sitha. He set out to look further but felt disappointed, despair and lost hope as the time passed by. He thought it would be better if he ended his life instead of going back with bad news.

However, he pulled himself up from that state of despair to the mode of action. He retrospected and concluded that his suicide will not only pull the rest of his team down, but also entire Ayo:dhya and Kishkinda, the kingdoms of Rama and Sugreeva respectively. He understood that his duty is to move forward in service of Rama, the ultimate driving energy and source of his strength.

Hanuman is not an ordinary being!

Despite that…

Remember, Hanuman is not an ordinary being. He was the only one who was praised by Sri Rama. In His first encounter with Hanuman, Sri Rama said to Lakshmana…

na:n rugve:da vini:thasya na: yajurve:da dha:rinaha
na: sa:mave:da vidushaha sakya e:vam prabha:shithum
nu:nam vya:karanam krutsnam ane:na bahudha:srutham
bahuvya:haratha:ne:na na kinchidapi apasabdithatham

Only one who mastered ve:das, grammar, all the literature and their essence can speak so fluently, flawlessly and with all humility as Hanuman

Despite that, he experienced a weak moment. Important to remember is that he didn’t give in to that weak moment. No one is exempt from the rough tides thrown at the boat of life. Yet, don’t get off it, hold on till you reach the shore. Or you might be eaten by the ‘sharks’. Getting off the boat of life is like falling onto the furnace from a pan.

Life is the journey of a soul (you) through a body. The body is given by choice of Lord. It’s given to you an opportunity to consume a portion of karma.  Law of life is to lead it with equanimity believing in the Lord. Sri Krushna in Bhagavad Gi:tha says…

mruthyu samsa:ra sa:gara:th |
bhava:mi nachira:th pa:rtha
mayyave:sitha che:thasa:m || BG. 12.7

Surrender to Me, and be Sincere, I will be your guide through the rough waters of the dreadful ocean of life. You must not get off the boat, or be scared of the tides.

a:gama:pa:yino::nithya:ha
tha:ms thithikshasva bha:ratha! || BG 2.14

The tides are always going to hit your boat. The boat will experience the highs and lows. Bear with them seeking My support.

mruthyu samsa:ra sa:gara:th |
bhava:mi nachira:th pa:rtha
mayyave:sitha che:thasa:m || BG. 12.7

Surrender to Me, and be Sincere, I will be your guide through the rough waters of the dreadful ocean of life. You must not get off the boat, or be scared of the tides.

a:gama:pa:yino::nithya:ha
tha:ms thithikshasva bha:ratha! || BG 2.14

The tides are always going to hit your boat. The boat will experience the highs and lows. Bear with them seeking My support.

Mother Sitha’s weak moment

Mother Sitha was losing hope as day after day passed waiting for Sri Rama. She felt that Rama forgot about her and thought He was happily enjoying his time. She decided to end her life by hanging herself to the tree.

It was then she heard a voice narrating the incidents of her life beginning with the name of the king Dasaratha. Hanuman was very careful with the mode, the choice of words and the pace he chose to ensure Sitha retracted from the thought of suicide. After rebuilding the hope in her, when Hanuman asked if she wanted to go along with him to Sri Rama. She refused.

Mother Sitha was determined to wait for Rama to come and complete the divine endeavor of putting an end to the greedy nature of Ravana for the greater good. Thus, she proved the nature of the soul is to believe in God, bear the tough times, don’t give up and continue to act.

Like the mighty Hanuman who made the union of mother Sitha and Rama possible, acharya’s guidance bridges the distance that the soul developed overtime with the Lord. Seeking the right guidance makes one strong, and keeps one moving forward despite any hardships.

If anyone is achieving something,
it’s because…

anirve:da sriyo:mu:lam anirve:dah param sukham
anirve:do:hi sathatham sarva:rtthe:shu pravarthakaha
Sundaraka:nda 12.10

karo:thi saphalam jantho: karmaya:ti thath karo:thi sa
thasma:th anirve:da krutham yathnam che:ste:ham utthamam
Sundaraka:nda 12.11

...by not giving into despair.

Absence of despondency is the root for all that is worthy and growth.

If there is anything that makes the work of any being successful, it starts with not giving into despair.

Don’t give up, bear with the rough tide and experience the ride for as long as you are on the boat.

– From the teachings of
Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji and
Samudrala Venkat Rangaramanujacharya Swami
– 5 th August 2023,
– Houston, USA

Hanuman on the way to Houston

A magnificent metallic 90 feet high statue of Hanuman called the Statue of Union is planned to be unveiled in Houston Ashtalakshmi temple campus. With a dancing musical lighted fountain and a theme park around the statue that depicts incidents that showcase Hanuman’s valor, strength, skill, wisdom etc is being planned. Take the opportunity to participate in the making of this wonderful project that will stand as inspiration to all communities for being united, for all seekers to come together and enjoy the bliss of union.

From today to at least until the statue is unveiled, HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji called out for a wonderful chant to meditate on Hanuman.

O:m sundara se:thave: namaha
for every count of the manthra chant, put aside anything you can to contribute for the making of the Statue of Union, SOU.

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