Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Jatayu included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana’).
Story of Jaṭāyu
A bird famous in the Purāṇas.
Genealogy.
Descended from Viṣṇu as follows, Brahmā—Marīci—Kaśyapa—Aruṇa—Jaṭāyu.
Birth.
Two sons called Sampāti and Jaṭāyu were born to Aruṇa. Their mother, a bird, was Śyenī. Śyenī, wife of Aruṇa, delivered two children, Sampāti and the great Jaṭāyu (Ādi Parva, Chapter 66, Verse 71). "Know that I am the son of Aruṇa and Sampāti is my elder brother. My name is Jaṭāyu, and I am the son of Śyenī." (Vālmīki Rāmāyana, Canto 14, Verse 32). But, according to Kamba Rāmāyaṇa, the name of the mother of Sampāti and Jaṭāyu was Mahāśvetā. (Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa). Perhaps, Śyenī was also known as Mahāśvetā.
Jaṭāyu flies towards Sūrya.
Sampāti and Jaṭāyu, once under a bet flew up towards the sun. Jaṭāyu outflew Sampāti, and in the exuberance of youth entered Sūrya’s orbit at noon time with the result that, due to the excessive heat his wings were scorched. At this Sampāti, to save his brother, flew up higher than Jaṭāyu and spread out his wings like an umbrella over Jaṭāyu with the result that Sampāti’s wings were burnt, and he fell down somewhere on the Vindhya mountains. He spent the rest of his life under the protection of a sage called Niśākara who was performing penance on the mountains. After their tragic meeting in Sūryamaṇḍala Sampāti and Jaṭāyu never again met in their life. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapter 58; Kamba Rāmāyaṇa, Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa).
Fought with Rāvaṇa.
Jaṭāyu clashed with Rāvaṇa, who was carrying away Sītādevī in his vimāna, and in the fierce fight that they fought in the air, Rāvaṇa cut off Jaṭāyu’s wings and thus felled him on the earth, almost dead. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇya Kāṇḍa, Chapter 51).
Death.
Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa during their search in the forest for Sītā came upon Jaṭāyu lying without wings almost dead and reciting Rāma’s name. Jaṭāyu described to Rāma how Rāvaṇa had carried away Sītā and how he had tried to stop him and fought with him. After giving this account he died. Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa lit a fire and cremated Jaṭāyu. The great bird’s soul attained salvation. (Kamba Rāmāyaṇa).