From this week for few more weeks, we can listen to stories conveying the qualities one need to possess while doing our activities.
Kids are excited and interested about animals. This week we can listen to the story of a bird called Jatayu. This story is from Ramayanam happened during “Aaranya Kandam” (when Rama, Sita and Lakshmana lived in the forest).
In brief, Rama went in search of the golden deer which Sita was interested in and Lakshmana followed him as Sita wanted him to help Rama who might be in trouble. When Sita was alone in their hermit, Ravana came there disguised as a sage and abducted her. He took her forcefully and placed her in his chariot and started flying in the air. Sita did not expect this sudden attack and was crying all the while asking for help. Jatayu an old vulture was sleeping under a tree and heard some feeble voice of a lady. Jatayu is the bird whose life was once saved by King Dasaratha, father of Lord Rama.
Jatayu on hearing the feeble cry of a lady, opened his eyes and could see a chariot flying in the air with a demon carrying an innocent lady. Sita yelled all the way as,
“Oh Rama, Oh Lakshmana come and save me”.
These words made Jatayu to react swiftly as he could recognize that it should be Sita, wife of Rama, asking for help. As Jatayu was old and resting for a long time, he could not fly high and fast. But as he hears the cries of Sita, he mustered energy and flew near Ravana’s chariot. Seeing Jatayu coming for her rescue, Sita yelled at Ravana saying
“Oh Ravana, see even this old vulture could not withstand your ill-behvaiour and coming to rescue me”.
Jatayu now understood that the demon was none other than Ravana and told him,
“Oh demon king, it is not a rightful act to abduct Sita, the wife of Rama. Please leave her and I can return her to Rama, otherwise it is sure that you will not escape from Rama’s arrows”.
On hearing these words from Jatayu, Ravana replied
“Hey poor bird, though you are weak and senile, you are not afraid of me and speaking against me. Go away from here otherwise I have to kill you and proceed with my wish!”
Albeit his oldness, Jatayu wanted to save Sita from the cruel hands of Ravana and hence started attacking him with his long wings. Ravana got hurt by Jatayu’s fluttering wings and became furious.
While Ravana took his sword and aimed at Jatayu’s wings, Sita prevented him from aiming at Jatayu. Jatayu continuously hurted Ravana by fluttering his wings and piercing with his beak. Though Jatayu cannot match Ravana’s powers, he fought a good battle with Ravana. Finally, Ravana cut Jatayu’s wings and pierced the sword into his flesh. Jatayu cried aloud out of pain and fell down. Jatayu felt bad that he could not save Sita who is like his daughter. Ravana then flew away with Sita in his chariot.
Few days later, Rama and Lakshmana were roaming around the forest in search of Sita and found a big old bird lying around. They thought that the bird had died, but as they came nearer, they could hear groaning sound from the bird. It was none other than Jatayu. When Rama touched Jatayu, the bird could realize that it is Rama’s touch and uttered, “Oh Rama, I am Jatayu, a vulture who was given life once by your father Dasaratha. Sita was abducted by Ravana and even though I fought with him to rescue her, I cannot succeed. He broke my wings and flew away with Sita towards south direction. You will find her soon and will be happy with her”. Saying these words, Jatayu died on Rama’s lap. Rama became very sad to lose Jatayu who is like a second father to him. He performed the last rites of Jatayu, thinking that he did not get the chance to do last rites for his own father. Atleast he could do for Jatayu who is equivalent to his father. As per Jatayu’s words, they started in search of Sita in the South direction.
Though Jatayu was weak and old, did not fail to put efforts in rescuing Sita. He knew that Ravana is more powerful than him, but still he fought with him. He knew his fight will not succeed but only the fight made him know that it was only Ravana who abducted Sita and took her towards south direction. Jatayu held his final breath to utter those words to Rama which would help him in finding Sita.
Though Jatayu played a small role, it was only him who told Rama about Ravana abducting Sita and they flew towards South. That made the difference in Rama’s and Lakshmana’s search for Sita, otherwise they would have been wandering the forest not knowing Sita's whereabouts. Jatayu’s actions displays that though we might be weak, or less skilled, or under-privileged, our every single act will make a difference, if we believe in what we do.
Another important qualtiy that can be observed from all our moral stories is to first try to solve the problem by smooth, non-violent means, if that is not possible, then try other means which is also emphasized in this story by Jatayu (when he first asked Ravana to leave Sita).
Here is a Bharathiyar song I am reminded when I think about birds..
It is sung by Bombay Jayasree in album “Atma - soul”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XC7MjGF2mw
Kids are excited and interested about animals. This week we can listen to the story of a bird called Jatayu. This story is from Ramayanam happened during “Aaranya Kandam” (when Rama, Sita and Lakshmana lived in the forest).
In brief, Rama went in search of the golden deer which Sita was interested in and Lakshmana followed him as Sita wanted him to help Rama who might be in trouble. When Sita was alone in their hermit, Ravana came there disguised as a sage and abducted her. He took her forcefully and placed her in his chariot and started flying in the air. Sita did not expect this sudden attack and was crying all the while asking for help. Jatayu an old vulture was sleeping under a tree and heard some feeble voice of a lady. Jatayu is the bird whose life was once saved by King Dasaratha, father of Lord Rama.
Jatayu on hearing the feeble cry of a lady, opened his eyes and could see a chariot flying in the air with a demon carrying an innocent lady. Sita yelled all the way as,
“Oh Rama, Oh Lakshmana come and save me”.
These words made Jatayu to react swiftly as he could recognize that it should be Sita, wife of Rama, asking for help. As Jatayu was old and resting for a long time, he could not fly high and fast. But as he hears the cries of Sita, he mustered energy and flew near Ravana’s chariot. Seeing Jatayu coming for her rescue, Sita yelled at Ravana saying
“Oh Ravana, see even this old vulture could not withstand your ill-behvaiour and coming to rescue me”.
Jatayu now understood that the demon was none other than Ravana and told him,
“Oh demon king, it is not a rightful act to abduct Sita, the wife of Rama. Please leave her and I can return her to Rama, otherwise it is sure that you will not escape from Rama’s arrows”.
On hearing these words from Jatayu, Ravana replied
“Hey poor bird, though you are weak and senile, you are not afraid of me and speaking against me. Go away from here otherwise I have to kill you and proceed with my wish!”
Albeit his oldness, Jatayu wanted to save Sita from the cruel hands of Ravana and hence started attacking him with his long wings. Ravana got hurt by Jatayu’s fluttering wings and became furious.
While Ravana took his sword and aimed at Jatayu’s wings, Sita prevented him from aiming at Jatayu. Jatayu continuously hurted Ravana by fluttering his wings and piercing with his beak. Though Jatayu cannot match Ravana’s powers, he fought a good battle with Ravana. Finally, Ravana cut Jatayu’s wings and pierced the sword into his flesh. Jatayu cried aloud out of pain and fell down. Jatayu felt bad that he could not save Sita who is like his daughter. Ravana then flew away with Sita in his chariot.
Few days later, Rama and Lakshmana were roaming around the forest in search of Sita and found a big old bird lying around. They thought that the bird had died, but as they came nearer, they could hear groaning sound from the bird. It was none other than Jatayu. When Rama touched Jatayu, the bird could realize that it is Rama’s touch and uttered, “Oh Rama, I am Jatayu, a vulture who was given life once by your father Dasaratha. Sita was abducted by Ravana and even though I fought with him to rescue her, I cannot succeed. He broke my wings and flew away with Sita towards south direction. You will find her soon and will be happy with her”. Saying these words, Jatayu died on Rama’s lap. Rama became very sad to lose Jatayu who is like a second father to him. He performed the last rites of Jatayu, thinking that he did not get the chance to do last rites for his own father. Atleast he could do for Jatayu who is equivalent to his father. As per Jatayu’s words, they started in search of Sita in the South direction.
Though Jatayu was weak and old, did not fail to put efforts in rescuing Sita. He knew that Ravana is more powerful than him, but still he fought with him. He knew his fight will not succeed but only the fight made him know that it was only Ravana who abducted Sita and took her towards south direction. Jatayu held his final breath to utter those words to Rama which would help him in finding Sita.
Though Jatayu played a small role, it was only him who told Rama about Ravana abducting Sita and they flew towards South. That made the difference in Rama’s and Lakshmana’s search for Sita, otherwise they would have been wandering the forest not knowing Sita's whereabouts. Jatayu’s actions displays that though we might be weak, or less skilled, or under-privileged, our every single act will make a difference, if we believe in what we do.
Another important qualtiy that can be observed from all our moral stories is to first try to solve the problem by smooth, non-violent means, if that is not possible, then try other means which is also emphasized in this story by Jatayu (when he first asked Ravana to leave Sita).
Here is a Bharathiyar song I am reminded when I think about birds..
It is sung by Bombay Jayasree in album “Atma - soul”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XC7MjGF2mw
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