Jatayu

Birth and family

When Rama first met him, Jatayu told the story of his family, going back to the beginning of creation. The sage Kashyapa married the daughters of Daksha, and from them came all kinds of beings. Kashyapa’s wife Vinata had two sons, Garuda and Aruna. Aruna married Shyeni, and their sons were Sampati, the elder, and Jatayu.

So Jatayu was the nephew of Garuda, the mighty bird who carries Lord Vishnu. He had ruled the kingdom of his forefathers for a very long time; he later told Ravana that sixty thousand years had passed since his birth. Though old, he was still strong, brave and wise.

Friend of Dasharatha

On the way to Panchavati, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana saw a huge bird sitting in a tree. At first they thought he might be a rakshasa in disguise. But he spoke gently: “Child, know me as a friend of your father.” Hearing this, Rama honoured him and asked about his family, and Jatayu told them his story.

Then Jatayu made an offer: “If you wish, I will stay with you. When you and Lakshmana go out into the forest, I will guard Sita.” Rama was very glad. Knowing of Jatayu’s friendship with his father, he embraced the old bird, bowed to him with respect, and they all went on to Panchavati together.

The battle with Ravana

One day Ravana drew Rama and Lakshmana away by a trick, seized Sita and rose into the sky in his chariot. Sita cried out to everything she passed. Seeing Jatayu in a tree, she called, “Noble Jatayu, look, this sinful rakshasa is carrying me away. Please tell Rama and Lakshmana everything.” Jatayu woke from sleep and saw Ravana.

Jatayu first spoke to him with good advice. “I am Jatayu, king of the vultures. Rama is the lord of the world. How can you carry off another man’s wife? A wise king protects the wives of others as he protects his own. I am old, and you are young, armed and in a chariot, yet you will not take her away while I live.”

Ravana would not listen, and the two fought fiercely in the sky. Jatayu broke Ravana’s jewelled bow, struck down the animals that pulled his chariot, killed his charioteer and smashed the chariot itself, so that Ravana fell to the ground with Sita in his arms. But Jatayu was tired from age and the long fight. Ravana drew his sword and cut off his wings and feet, and the great bird fell to the earth. Sita ran to him, weeping, but Ravana seized her again and flew away.

Last words to Rama

Rama and Lakshmana came back to find the ashram empty. Searching the forest, they came upon Jatayu lying badly wounded. At first Rama, wild with grief, thought this was a rakshasa in the form of a bird who had harmed Sita, and he raised his bow. But Jatayu spoke in a weak voice: “The one you are searching for in this great forest, like a precious healing herb, has been taken away by Ravana, and so has my life.”

He told Rama how he had fought, how he had broken Ravana’s chariot and fallen when his wings were cut, and that Ravana had gone south with Sita. He also comforted Rama: Ravana had taken her at the hour called Vinda, and whatever is stolen at that hour is soon returned to its owner. So Rama would surely find Sita again.

Rama asked him more about Ravana: where he lived, how strong he was and why he had done this. Jatayu began to answer, saying that Ravana was the son of Vishrava and the brother of Kubera, but his strength ran out. While still speaking, the brave king of the vultures breathed his last in front of Rama.

A son’s rites

Rama wept for him as he had wept for his own father. He told Lakshmana, “The loss of Sita does not grieve me as much as the death of this bird, who died for my sake. Like my father Dasharatha, this king of birds is worthy of my worship and honour.” He asked Lakshmana to bring wood, and he himself placed Jatayu on the funeral fire.

Rama performed every rite for him as a son does for a father, offering food and water at the river Godavari and reciting holy mantras. He blessed Jatayu: “Go to the highest worlds, the worlds of those who perform sacrifices and of heroes who never turn back.” Then the brothers went on with their search for Sita.

Later, when the vanaras searching for Sita met Jatayu’s elder brother Sampati on the shore of the southern sea, it was from them that Sampati first heard of his brother’s death. The old bird, who could no longer fly, grieved deeply. He told them how, when they were young, the two brothers had raced towards the sun, and he had shielded Jatayu with his own wings until they were burnt. Then, to help Rama, he told the vanaras that Sita was in Lanka.

Character and qualities

Jatayu knew he could not easily defeat a young, armed Ravana, yet he did not hesitate. He first tried to turn Ravana from wrong with good words, and when that failed he fought with everything he had. He gave his life to protect a woman in danger and to keep his promise to Rama.

Valmiki honours him as a great hero. Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, gave him the funeral rites of a father and blessed him to reach the worlds of the virtuous. Jatayu shows that courage and goodness do not depend on youth or strength.