Jai Sri Ram.
Search for Seetha begins :
Dividing his vanara force into group of four, Sugreeva ordered them to set out in all the four directions to search Seetha, assigning
Vinata to the East;
Angada to South;
SusheNa to West &
Sathabala to North.
Their task is to find whether Seetha is alive or not, and if so where and who held Her etc.
While appointing the leaders to the group, Sugreeva did explain them the geographical provinces comprising the lands and oceans, islands and people in these areas. This perhaps is the first ever recorded data available about the Geography of the jambuu dweepa or the present day 'Indian subcontinent'.
To the East the limit is the ''Eastern horizon'' or simply the ''Udaya Giri'', the land of the Rising Sun.
To the South, it extends perhaps up to the abode of Yama, the Death God.
To the West, is the PrAkjothisha Pura or the land of Narakasura and the Arabian Sea and
To the North, is Mt. Kailash, the edge where the road to heaven begins.
The troop which went southward includes Hanuman, Jambava, Neela and others, Angada being its leader. SusheNa, Tara's father headed the troops going west-ward covering the mountains that are situated in the northwest India, as also the Arabian sea down south to it.
The north comprising of the snowy regions of the Yavanas, Kurus and the MandEkars stretch up to the Uttara Kuru region, where the divine province of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva begins. All the troop are given one month's time to find the whereabouts of Seetha.
The legends say that MandEkars are demons, who every day obstruct the progress of the Chariot in which the Sun God patrols the Earth. Lord Brahma, by grant of a boon enabled all the Brahmins fight these demons by offering water oblation. This is the ritual called sandhya vandanam, performed thrice a day, will have the effect of Vajrayuda to finish these demons, such that the Sun God could cruise through the Day. Brahmins perform this ritual every day because the MandEkars survive beyond certain time to try and obstruct but fall once again at the repeat of the rituals by them.
Rama is surprised as to how Sugreeva knowns the many details of lands, countries, rivers, and mountains he explained a short while ago. Sugreeva then admittedly replied saying that during his flight from Vali he acquired all such direct and personal knowledge of earth and its contours.
While assigning the task to Hanuman and Co. Sugreeva gives a word of caution asking them not to visit Thiruvengadam, the abode of Lord Srinivasa, as their sins will end there, causing them to journey towards Paramapadam, instead of proceeding on Rama's work. Ravana obviously for the same reason could not have hidden Seetha there and thus no purpose will be served going over there. This interpolation of faith by Kambar is not part of Valmiki Ramayana.
Hanuman prodding over the happenings, as to why the whole of monkey race should suffer so much in finding the woman of Rama, kept aloof. What could be great about Seetha? he is yet to be convinced.
Re-union of Seetha with Rama is it in their interest? No, in essence it is to grace, we the humans, as revealed by the Azhvars. Their separation is our loss as We have our Sins causing the Lord deny salvation to us. But PirAtti, acting as recommending authority - PurushakAra bhootai helps the Lord ignore or over look the same. Just to make Hanuman realise this, Rama made Hanuman carry His ring to Seetha, as His memorially.
Hanuman then joins others in pursuit of Seetha. Sugreeva, to encourage all the vanara in their mission insisted that the search for Seetha should happen :
1. With all sincerity at every place where light and air could access;
2. Minding the excellence and honour involved in accomplishing the assignment;
3. Bearing in mind the gratitude owed to Rama &
4. To help Dharma re-establish once again.
The monkeys shouting slogans of victory over Ravana dispersed in the respective directions assigned to them.
AzhvargaL avathariththu thiryak jAthi veeRu petRathu. Chakravarthi Thirumagan avathariththu vAnara jAthi veeRu petRathu.
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