Then the Lord, folding His hands in reverence, said, By this act of committing your life at the altar of service, you have attained the adobe of greatest rishis and savants, oh! Jataayu! you shall come to my supreme heaven, higher than the heighest.

Near Kanchipuram, away from the banks of the river Vegavathi lies the vast and verdant forest land of Gridhra Rajapura. Jatayu, the chief of the eagles, who ruled that place was known for his valour and courage. Jatayu was a good friend of king Dasaratha. When Sri Rama was in exile, Jatayu took a paternal care of him, and promised to take proper care of Sita, in Rama's absence. Fate had so decreed that the infatuated Ravana should abduct Sita and cross Gridhrarajapura on his flight to Srilanka.

Jatayu, resting on the tree, heard Sita's anxious cry, and pounced angrily on Ravana. What ensued wasa great and seemingly endless war between two equally strong, ferocious figheters. Jatayu was fighting for Sita's honour. He was motivated by his sathya to Sri Rama and his great dedication to integrity. Seeing this, the vile Ravana stopped the war for a brief while as if to seek peace. When the confused Jatayu hesitated, Ravana chopped off his wings and rendered him immobile.

The hapless Sita, embraced Jatayu, now in shambles and prayed that he should be alive till he met her husband, who was sure to reach there on his search for Sita. It did not take long. Soon rama following the trail, reached Gridhararajapura. He was shoked to see jatayu in that condition. Deprived of the natural form, Jatayu looked like a ghost of huge clouds along the mountain. Rama was reminded of his father. He wept aloud. He asked, 'with whom did you fight to cause so many heads to fall and so many broken weapons to crowd the ground?'

Jatayu haltingly narrated the fight with Ravana and how he had carried away Sita. having conveyed the news, with Ramanam in his lips, Jatayu gave up his physical body. Rama filled with sorrow, said to Lakshmana, The king of the eagles, died a hero's death in discharging a noble deed. He is reverd as my father. I shall myself perform his samskara which he richly deserves."

While Jatayu's body was being placed on the pyre, Sri Rama assumed His original form of Sri Vishnu, who alone can bestow Heaven. Adoring his bracelets and all ornaments, in this divine form with four arms bearing Sanka, Chakra and Mace, with the beaming Kaustuba gem radiating brilliant shine, with his consort Sridevi and Bhudevi on the flanks, with the host of Devas and Sages singing His praise in astonished reverence the Lord set fire to the funeral pyre. It was then that the Lord, folding hs hands in reverence promised Jatayu the supreme heaven.

The Lord scratched the earth whith the tip of his bow and uttered the prayer to Varuna. In the sacred spring that gushed forth he bathed, and offered Jala tharpana to the soul of Jatayu. He requested Jatayu to ask for boons. Jatayu prayed to the Lord, to come to the same place, after his successful war with Ravana, 'you must remain here in this form as Samara Pungava, and grant infinite boons to people, who bathe in this spring and worship you at your temple".

The Lord granted the boons of jatayu. He said, " Let this spring attain fame as Gridhrapushkarani (the tank of the sacred eagle). Let all the sacred rivers like Ganga confer their presence in this tank. Those who spend even one night in this sacred place of the name Satyavratha, shall be relieved of his sins. Sterile women, who bathe in this tank and worship me in devotion, shall bear noble sons. Whatever gift is made here, shall yield fruits manyfold. Whatever gift is given during eclipses shall yield inexhaustible fruits, through My grace. Whoever parys here devotedly, shall be relieved of all diseases". Thus the fifth canto of The Vamana Purana narrating the sacred history of Tirupputkuzhi, ends on a worshipful note. As directed by Sage Brighu, sage Bharatwaja worshipped Sir Vijayaraghava and stayed for quite a long period on the kshethra.

Jatayu's battle with Ravana is more important than the battles in Lanka. Hence the pious revere Jatayu along with Bharata and look him as an Alwaar, a guide in the holy path. To millions of men, women and children, the Ramayana is not a mere tale. It has more truth and meaning than the events in one's own life. Just as plants grow under the influence of sun light, the people of India grow in mental strength and culture by absorbing the glowing inspiration of the Ramayana. When we see helpless person in danger or difficulty, let us think of Jatayu and with a firm mind try to help regardless of the circumstances.








Source: The Eminence of Tirupputkuzhi, A commemorative Souvenir, March 1997.