Sundara Kaanda Parayana Guidelines

Reading 32 times

This consists of reading Chapter 1 to 38 on the first day and the rest the next day. This should be repeated 32 times in 64 days

Reading 24 times

This consists of reading Chapter 1-15 on the first day., 16-41 the next day and the rest of the chapters on the third day. This should be repeated 24 times in 72 days.

Reading 12 times

This consists of reading Chapter 1-15 on the first day., 16-32 on the second day., 33-51 on the third day and the rest of the chapters on the fourth day. This should be repeated 12 times in 48 days.

Reading 7 times

Read 7 chapters a day and complete reading on the fourteenth day and repeat it 7 times and complete the parayana in 68 days.

Reading 4 times

Read ten chapters per day for the first 27 days and read the remaining 2 chapters on the 28th day,

Reading two times

Read eight chapters per day and complete reading twice on the seventeenth day.

In all these cases on the last day, the last chapter of Yudha Kandam (131st chapter) should be read. On each day before and after the parayana boiled milk with Sugar should be offered as offering (Naivedya) to the God. On the day of completion it is desirable to give a feast to the Brahmins.

It is essential to offer Naivedya to God before and after the Parayana. It would be great if at the end of the Parayana, Lord Rama, Goddess Sita and Lord Hanuman are worshipped using Sahasra Nama (1000 names). If someone is not capable of doing it, he can worship using 108 names of the God. As Naivedya boiled milk added with Sugar is supposed to be best offering to Lord Rama and Lotus and Thulasi (Ocimum) flowers are the best to worship the Lord. If not available any flower can be used. However Karavira(Arali) should never be used. Offering to God Pomegranate would bring in immense benefits.It would be better to the devotee to Chant Rama Gayathri during the beginning, Avahana and end of the worship. This is given by

Dasarathaya Vidhmahe, Sita vallabhata Dheemahi, Thanno Rama Prachodayath. 

After pooja, meditation is done using Gayathri Mantra or the Shadakshari mantra of Rama viz "Ram Ramaya Nama.". Though it is desirable to represent Rama either by Dasavarana Yanthra or statue, it would be sufficient if worship is done to the Ramayana Book. Rama with Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman always is present wherever Ramayana book is there. It is also essential that whosoever does the Parayana for getting specific objectives should observe Brahmacharya during the parayana period."

Methods for reading once

Suppose some one is not able to follow any of the above desirable rules, he can read it any way according to his capacity. Several such methods are given below:

• Read the entire Sundara Kanda once in a full day.
• Read Chapter 1-35 on the first day and the rest of the chapters next day.
• Read Chapter 1-37 on the first day., 37-40 on the second day and the rest on the third day.
• Read chapter 1-15 on the first day., 16-37 on the second day., 38th chapter on the third day., 39-54 on the fourth day and the rest on the fifth day.
• Start on a Friday, daily read 9 chapters and complete reading on the next Friday.
• Read within 9 days stopping each day on 5th., 15th., 20th., 26th., 28th., 40th., 52nd., 80th and 68th chapters.
• Daily read 6 chapters and complete it on the 12 th day.
• Till 22 days read two chapters a day., 5 chapters on the 23rd day., 3 chapters on the 24th day., 6 chapters on the 25th day., 3 chapters on the 26th day., 4 chapters on the 27th day and the rest 3 chapters on the 28th day.

If some one is not able to follow any of the methods suggested above he can read it as per his capacity without following any rules.

Problems which can be resolved by doing Parayana

Some of the specific problems, which could be solved by doing Parayana of certain chapters, are given below:

• Salvation can be achieved by reading the first chapter daily for six months.
• Effect of attack of devils, ghosts, spirits can be warded off by reading 3rd chapter.
• To get rid of dullness of brain, read 13th chapter
• To get rid of the sin of having affair with some one else's wife, read chapters 7-11.
• To get permanent wealth and happiness read chapter 15.
• To get rid of bad dreams read Chapter 27.
• To get good behavior read chapter 20-21.
• To rejoin with lost relatives read chapters 33-40.
• To get rid of impending danger read chapter 36.
• To get pardon from god for insult done to him knowingly and unknowingly read chapter 38.
• Read chapters 42-47 to win over enemies
• To become just and charitable read chapter 51
• For improvement of assets like house, land etc read chapter 54.
• To get peace and happiness read Chapter 61
• To get perennial happiness and to attain God read chapter 67.
• To get what one wishes read chapter 41
• To realize God and to become one capable of sweet words read chapter 19.