Jatayu
Jatayu (जटायू), in Hindu mythology, is the son of Aruna and nephew of Garuda. A demi-god who has the form of a vulture, he tries to rescue Sita from Ravana when Ravana is on his way to Lanka after kidnapping Sita. Jatayu fought valiantly with Ravana, but as Jatayu was very old Ravana soon got the better of him. As Rama and Lakshmana chanced upon the stricken and dying Jatayu in their search for Sita, he informs them of the fight between him and Ravana and the direction in which Ravana had gone (i.e., south).
Variants of name
- Jatāyū (जटायू)
- Jatayu Kshetra (जटायु क्षेत्र) (जिला नासिक, महा) [1]
Ancestry of Jatayu
The Ramayana - Aranya Kanda Sarga 14 discusses the ancestry of Jatayu. Rama and Laxmana on their way to Panchavati come into contact with Jatayu. When Rama questions about its identity, Jatayu narrates the creation of animal species along with humans, and informs Rama that he is a friend of King Dasharatha and would like to help Rama in exile.
1. Then while proceeding to Panchavati that Rahu's descendent came across a mammoth eagle with marvellous might in midway. [3-14-1]
2. On seeing such an eagle in the forest those two highly privileged brothers Rama and Lakshmana questioned it asking, "Who you are?" presuming it to be a demon. [3-14-2]
3. But that eagle with sweet ad soft words spoke to them as though to please them, "oh boy Rama know me as your father's friend." [3-14-3]
4. Accepting that bird as his father's friend Raghava revered it, and he that Rama then asked for that eagle's name and lineage. [3-14-4]
5. On hearing Rama's words that bird said about his ancestry and himself, and in doing so, that eagle also narrated the overall genesis of all beings. [3-14-5]
6. Once upon a time there were lords of people, oh dextrous Raghava, and you may listen all about them from the beginning, while I narrate [3-14-6]
7. Of them Kardama was there at first, and afterwards Sesha, and later Samshraya was there with many children and a vigorous one he was. Then Sthaanu, Mariichi, Atri, the great mighty one Kratu, Pulastya, Angira, Pracheta and Pulah were there. And oh, Raghava, Daksha, Vivaswan were while the other name of Vivasvan is Arishtanemi, and lastly the great resplendent Kashyapa, was there as Prajapati. [3-14-9] [3-14-7]
10. Oh glorious Rama, there were sixty highly renowned daughters to Daksha, thus we hear. [3-14-10]
11, 12a. Of them Kashyapa accepted eight slender-waisted daughters of Daksha Prajapati, namely Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kaalakaa and Taamra, Krodhavasha, also thus Manu and even Anala also as wives. [3-14-11, 12a]
12b, 13a. Then Kashyapa is gladdened and said to those young wives, "You all shall deliver sons similar to me and who can sustain the three worlds." [3-14-12b, 13a]
13b, 14a. Oh, dextrous Rama, Aditi, Diti, Kaalakaa and Danu have agreed for that, but others became unheedful of Kashyapa's words. [3-14-13b, 14a]
14b, 15a. Aditi gave birth to twelve Aditya-s, the Sun-gods, eight Vasu-s, the Terrestrials-gods, eleven Rudraa-s, the Fury-gods, and two Ashvinis, the medicine-gods, total thirty-three of them. [3-14-14b, 15a]
15b, 16a. Oh, boy Rama, Diti gave birth to well-known Daitya-s, the so-called demons, and earlier this earth with forests and oceans belonged to them. [3-14-15b, 16a]
16b, 17a. And oh, enemy-destroyer Rama, Danu gave birth to son Ashvagriiva or also called Hayagriiva, Horse-headed god, and Kaalakaa gave birth to Naraka and Kaalaka. [3-14-16b, 17a]
17b, 18a. But Taamraa gave birth to five world renowned girls namely, Krounchi, Bhaasii, Shyenii, Dhritaraashtrii, and Shukii. [3-14-17b, 18a]
18b, 19. And from each of the five daughters of Taamraa in turn emanated are the other avian species, where Kraunchii gave birth to Uluka-s, the owls, Bhasii-s gave birth to Bhaasaa-s, the vultures, and Shyenii gave birth to very sharp eagles and falcons, and then Dhritaraashtrii gave birth to swans and all other kinds of graceful water-birds. [3-14-18b, 19]
20. Dhritaraashtrii gave birth even to Chakravaaka water-birds, and Shukii gave birth to a daughter Nata, and Nata's daughter is Vinata. [3-14-20]
21, 22. Oh, Rama, Krodhavasha gave birth to ten of her self-same daughters namely Mrigi, Mrigamanda, Hari, Bhadramanda, Maatangii, Sharduulii, Shweta, Surabhii, and like that to Surasa, who is embodied with all giftedness, and even to Kadruva. [3-14-21, 22]
23. Children Mrigi are all of the the deer, oh best of the best-men, Rama, and Mrigamnda's progeny is Riksha-s, Bears, a kind of antelope, and like that the Himalayan yak like species.[3-14-23]
24. Then Bhadramanda gave birth to the girl named Iravati and her son is elephant the great, Airavata, the protector of world. [3-14-24]
25. And Hari's offspring are lions and sagely/mighty monkeys, while Sharduulii gave birth to baboons and tigers. [3-14-25]
26. Then Maatangi's childrenm are elephants, oh, best one among men, Rama, and Shweta gave birth to eight elephants that are at eight quarters of world, sustaining the world on their head. [3-14-26]
27. Then, oh Rama, Surabhi gave birth to two daughters, one is named as illustrious Rohini, safe you be, and the other is Gandharvi. [3-14-27]
28. Rohini gave birth to cows and other livestock, while Surasa gave birth to Naga-s, viz., many headed serpents, while Kadru gave birth to ordinary serpents. [3-124-28]
29. Oh, the best among men Rama, the wife of great-soul Kashyapa, lady Manu procreated humans, Brahman--s, Kshatriya-s, Vyasya-s, and Shudra-s. [3-14-29]
30. The Brahman-s emerged from face, the Kshatriya-s from chest, the Vyasya-s from two thighs, and the Shudra-s from two feet, thus we hear from the scriptures viz., Veda, i.e., Rig Veda Purusha Shuukta. [3-14-30]
31. All the merited fruit-bearing trees are given birth by [[Anala], and now I will narrate about Vinata, the daughter's daughter of Shukii, and about Kadru, the sister of Surasa. [3-14-31]
32. Kadru gave birth to a thousand-headed serpent (Nagas) who is the bearer of this earth, and Vinata gave birth to two sons namely Garuda and Aruna. [3-14-32]
Garuda is the eagle-vehicle of Lord Vishnu, while Aruna, also called Anuuru, for he is a thigh-less being, is the charioteer of Sun's seven-horse chariot. The seven horses of Sun's chariot are the seven colours in vibgyor as in a rainbow. Aruna and Garuda are of avian origination and attributed to be the speediest propellers, and Jatayu and Sampati belong to that lineage.
33. Oh enemy-destroyer Rama, I took birth from that Aruna, the charioteer of Sun, and my elder brother Sampati too, hence know me as Jatayu, the son of Shyenii. [3-14-33]
34. Such as I am, I can be your helpmate at your residence if only you wish me to... oh, boy, this impassable forest is a beloved one to predators and demons, isn't it... as such I can take care of Seetha if you and Lakshmana go out..." Thus Jatayu said to Rama. [3-14-34]
35. Raghava revered Jatayu in his turn by gladly hugging and stood by him with his head bent, and that kind-natured Rama is indeed regardful of the friendship of his father with Jatayu that is repeatedly said by Jatayu. [3-14-35]
36. He that Rama took the princess from Mithila Seetha, and proceeded to Panchavati along with that very mighty bird and Lakshmana, as though to incinerate enemies, like fire that burns down grasshoppers. [3-14-36]
Lineage - Kashyapa+Taamraa<Shukii<Nata<Vinata<Aruna<Jatayu
Jatayu and Sampati
In this context, the contribution of Jatayu's brother, Sampaati, is worth mentioning. Jatayu and Sampaati, when young, used to compete as to who could fly higher. On one such instance Jatayu flew so high that he was about to get seared by sun's flames. Sampaati saved his brother by spreading his own wings and thus shielding Jatayu from the hot flames. In the process, Sampaati himself got injured and lost his wings. As a result Sampaati lived wingless for the rest of his life. Another version of this story reverses their roles, saying that it was Jatayu who saved Sampaati from the flames of the sun.
Jatayu Mangalam
The place where Lord Rama found the dying Jatayu was named JatayuMangalam (now known as ChadayaMangalam) and is in the Kollam district of Kerala. A huge rock in this place is named after Jatayu as JatayuPara and is a place of attraction for tourists.
Animal depiction of warriors
When Rama besieged Lanka, all his supporters like Kishkindha king Sugriva and his commander Hanuman, Jatayu, Jamvanta etc were Jat warriors. Bhaleram Beniwal has pointed out that these characters have been depicted as monkeys, birds or animals is out of jealousy of the manuvadis and agents of dharma who never wanted to bring the true history of Jats. [2]
The Jat hostorian Thakur Deshraj has explained about the reasons of animal depiction of people prevalent in India during Ramayana period. During this period all four varnas had come into existence in Aryans. The duties of each varna were defined but they could change varna. Brahmans had come into a dominant position and had full control over kings and the society. Some kshatriyas like Kartaviryarjuna had become rebellions against the increased influence of Brahmans. In Sarswati ashrama a big organization under the leadership of Parsurama was constituted by Brahmans to penalize such kshatriyas. Brahmans suppressed kshatriyas like Kartaviryarjuna and deprived these kshatriyas from their status. The Aryans by this time had crossed Vindhyas and moving towards south. Vanars were inhabitants in southwest Vindhyas. Pampa sarovar was their main center. Vanars were not monkeys but either aboriginal inhabitants of that area or people of Aryan groups who had come from Iran via Bombay and reached south of Vindhyas. [3]
जटायु क्षेत्र
विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[4] ने लेख किया है ...जटायु क्षेत्र (AS, p.353) नासिक ज़िला, महाराष्ट्र में अवस्थित है। यह क्षेत्र नासिक रोड से 26 मील (लगभग 41.6 कि.मी.) और घोटी स्टेशन से 10 मील (लगभग 16 कि.मी.) की दूरी पर स्थित है। किंवदंती के अनुसार श्रीराम ने रावण द्वारा आहत गिद्धराज जटायु का अंतिम संस्कार यहीं पर किया था। वाल्मीकि रामायण, अरण्यकांड 68, 35 के अनुसार यह स्थान गोदावरी नदी के तट पर स्थित था- 'ततो गोदावरी गत्वा नदीं नरवरात्मजौ उदकं चत्रतुस्तस्मै गृध्रराजाय तावुभौ।'
चिंगलपट
विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[5] ने लेख किया है ...चिंगलपट या 'चिंगलपेट' (AS, p.333) मद्रास (वर्तमान चेन्नई) में समुद्र तट पर स्थित एक दुर्ग नगर है। यहाँ के क़िले के एक पार्श्व में दोहरी क़िलाबंदी है और तीन ओर झील तथा दलदलें हैं। यहाँ से 5 मील (लगभग 8 कि.मी.) पर पहाड़ी के ऊपर दक्षिण का प्रसिद्ध 'पक्षीतीर्थ' है। पहाड़ी पर भगवान शिव का मंदिर और 'जटायुकुंड' भी है। जटायुकुंड का संबंध रामायण के गिद्धराज जटायु से बताया जाता है। पहाड़ी के नीचे 'शंखतीर्थ' है। 1857 के स्वतंत्रता संग्राम के बहुत प्रारंभिक दिनों में यह स्थान क्रांतिकारी और गोपनीय कार्यवाहियों और बैठकों का अड्डा बन गया था। जुलाई, 1857 में दो हिन्दू मंदिर- एक छोटा चिंगलपुट शहर के तीन मील दक्षिण पश्चिम, मनिपकम में और दूसरा उससे बड़ा, चिंगलपुट शहर के उत्तर में पल्लवरम में स्थित, क्रांतिकारियों के क्षेत्रीय शरण-स्थल बन गए थे।
References
- ↑ AS (p.353)
- ↑ Bhaleram Beniwal: Jāt Yodhaon ke Balidān, Jaypal Agencies, Agra 2005 (Page 40-41)
- ↑ Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihasa (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992 (Page 15-19)
- ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.353-354
- ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.333
- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dhallapiccola
- Ramayana (ISBN 0-89744-930-4) by C. Rajagopalachari
Back to The Ancient Jats