I come here once again in front of you all, with the letter J for the #AtoZ Challenge. This time I am going to talk about the big bird Jatayu (Jatayuvu), who is a good friend of Rama, Sita from Ramayana (in Indian Mythology). There are a lot more characters that we can easily recall the letter J, but I wanted to talk about Jatayuvu due to the story narrated by my granddad.
My granddad introduced me to Jatayu first time when I hurt my back while doing the cartwheel in a very careless way. He told me that even the famous gymnasts or the kickboxers would get hurt if played carelessly just like the big birds Jatayu and Sampati. Want to know what that story is all about?
Jatayu reference in Indian Mythology:
Jatayu & Sampati
Jatayu and Sampati are cousin-brothers of the biggest bird – Garuda. You know who Garuda is right? He is the vehicle for Lord Vishnu (my friend Govinda) so that he can fly around the world. Jatayuvu and Sampati are best friends apart from being brothers. They used to fly around the whole world in a jiffy and always enjoy life. They are used to having some silly fights to do some time pass. During one such fight, they wanted to know who is the strongest and fastest among them. So they decided to fly along with Sun (Aditya) and go around the world.
Next day, in the morning they started flying along with Aaditya high up in the sky. But as you all know Aaditya goes very fast as he rides the seven-horse chariot. So after some time, the younger bird Jatayu started getting tired and was about to fall down. Then the elder one Sampati used his wings like an umbrella for Jatayu so that Jatayu wouldn’t get tired of the hot sun. But in this process, Sampati burnt his wings and fell off. Jatayuvu also fell down after a while. But they both fell down in different directions, and couldn’t meet afterward, as they both lost their memory and the sense of where they are at that moment as they got burnt by the sun.
Jatayu appearence in Ramayana:
During Rama’s exile in the forest, when Ravana tries to take away Sita from Rama, its Jatayu who fights with Ravana for a long time and in fact unseats Ravana from his chariot flying in the sky. Then Ravana takes up his big sword and cuts both the wings of Jatayuvu.
Jatayu then waits for Rama to come in search of Sita. Then he passes the information that Ravana has kidnapped Sita and flew in the south direction to Rama and Lakshmana. Then he dies off in Rama’s hands. Jatayu is the first person to know whereabouts of Sita after she got kidnapped by Ravana. Then Rama meets Hanuman and sends off Hanuman in search of Sita in the south direction.
Sampati
When the group of monkeys along with Hanuman reach south, they were still not able to locate Sita. So they get tired and very disappointed. In the meantime, they meet Sampati, who couldn’t fly and eyes these monkeys as his prey. But Sampati overhears the monkeys talking about Jatayu and Rama, Sita and realizes that these monkeys are out to help Rama only. So he tells them the direction in which Ravan flew his chariot and also tells them how far his island (i.e., current day Sri Lanka) is from that place.
My Lessons from Jatayu – the biggest Bird
I think, birds also behave more like us human beings and they also want more friends just like me. So these are the points that I would like to carry forward from these two biggest birds in Indian Mythology:
- We need to use our strength wisely and very cautiously.
- One shouldn’t use our time for silly fights
- Also, we should never forget our friends and always be there to help them.
So, Friends, this is my story for today with letter J. Tomorrow I would be back with another letter. Till then, have a nice day. This post is a part of the #A to Z Challenge and #BlogchatterA2Z series for letter J and I am happy to be part of these challenges. You can find my other articles for this #A to Z Challenge here.
Author’s Note: All the pictures used in this blog are “Free to Use” only and sourced from Google, Wikipedia or Wikimedia Commons only.
I was always so sympathetic towards Jatayu for fighting out Ravan to save Sita. Your posts reminds me of my own childhood when these characters would be such delights to read and watch on TV in the form of Mahabharata or Ramayana.
Yes very true Sonia. Those were the golden days where we used to wait for weekends to watch these epics on TV
Gosh, I had forgotten about Sampati! Thanks again, you’re doing an amazing job!
Thanks a lot Shalini
That’s a lovely lesson to learn from these mythological creatures.
Thank you Noor
I would always be in tears when Jatayu got hurt after the fight when he saves Ram. Each time I would hear the story or see it on the television I would feel bad.
Yes very true Shubhra. Even I used to feel the same.
Please compile these stories or the whole series and publish it as a book, it would be great read for kids.
Thank you Priyanka for your suggestion. I will try it, but would need your guidance too
I love the lttle lessons your posts teach us. Of course it is treat to read about all the mythological chatacters individually too!
Thank you Mayuri for your kind words
Thank you dear
As I said in another post earlier, it is Indian culture we have shown and enormous friendship between animals and humans. They can communicate and help each other. It is not for human survival we need to kill animals and plants. In fact all of Ramayana is collaboration between man and animal. It is the western culture that tries to emphasise importance of humans alone and killing of all others. Our culture is that of inclusion.
Very well said Abhijit. Yes, now the westerners are coming to learn from us and we are trying to become like thrm
I remember watching on TV the series where Jatayu fought with Ravana to save Goddess Sita. He was a Hero for me in the childhood.
Yes for all kids that mighty bird is the hero at that point of time.He is my favourite too
Your mythological stories are indeed very entertaining. I expected the usual story of Jatayu’s fight with Ravana but you have also added the one about Jatayu flying with Astivi and Aditya. That is a new one for me.
Thanks a lot Jay
Use your strengths wisely… very good lesson.
While watching the teleserial Ramayan, when Jatayu is hurt, wounded and perishes I had felt sad. Good choice of the letter J…..
https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.com/2019/04/jaw-parts-of-body.html
Thank you Kalpana
I am main my son read your post everyday.that way he will get knowledge about mythological characters.
Thanks a lot Ujjwal am humbled actually
I’m fascinated by Jatayu when he tried to save Sita Ma inspite of knowing that he was weaker than Ravana. Brave soul!
Yes Aditi, thats the power of friendship we need to learn!!
You will never be short of topics to write when it comes to mythology. Nice detailed post. Lage raho.
#ContemplationOfaJoker #Jokerophilia
True Manas. Thanks for visiting
Jatayu has very short role in Ramayana but he cannot be forgotten because of his help to Rama. It made me smile when you said Govinda is your friend 🙂
the 2nd image you chose is beautiful. thanks for sharing. i love that even the birds have stories!
Joy at The Joyous Living
Thanks a lot for liking the post. Yes, we are used to treating all animals as equals and that’s the reason why Indian Mythology has stories about all the animals
woow a wonderful post. loving your series. thank you for reminding me of the old golden days where we use to wait for ramayan
Thank you dear
Thank you for sharing, I find Indian mythology fascinating!
Thanks Andi for visiting my blog and liking it
Your stories are bringing back so many childhood memories. It was such a delight to watch these episodes on TV. Love reading them.
Thank you Rashi
He is my favourite character from Indian mythology dear, such an example, loving your unique series
Mine too Roma. Thanks a lot
Aha! Good to read about Jatayu and Sampati again after a long time. Thanks for refreshing my memory. Liked the lessons from their story.
Thank you dear
And i din’t know about sampati at all…Also i think you are right when you say not to fight on silly issues. Choose your battles wisely. Some of them are really not worth it…
Yes Singhal, very well said. Thanks for reading it.
I knew about Jatayu but It is a pleasure to read the lessons from this. Wonderful thought! Loving your series dear.
Thank you dear.