Continuing with the story of Garuda, we will today look at the story of Jatayu.
Garuda's elder brother Aruna who was the chariotter of Surya, the sun god had 2 children : Sampaati and Jatayu. Sampaati was the elder of the two and Jatayu the younger. When the two were young, they were both strong and naughty. Once the two decieded who among them could fly higher and immediately rose up in the direction of the sun. Higher and higher they flew until they both started feeling the heat of the sun. However, Sampaati quickly realized the danger they both were in and immediately flew over Jataayu and covered his wings over Jataayu. This saved Jataayu from the heat of the sun, however the severe heat from the sun burned Sampaati's wings causing him to fall down to earth.
During the Vanavasa of Rama and Sita, Ravana cheated Sita and kidnapped her and was taking her to Lanka. While Ravana was taking Sita to Lanka, Sita wailed and shouted to all the forest animals to tell her beloved husband that she is being kidnapped and taken to Lanka. Hearing her wails, Jatayu who was a friend of Dasharatha, the father of Rama immediately flew and tried to rescue her from Ravana. He fought a valient battle with Ravana injuring him severely. However by this time Jatayu was really old and weak and could not match the prowess of Ravana. Ravana after a strong battle managed to cut off Jatayu's wings causing his fatal injuries. Jatayu fell to ground but was determined to hold onto his life till such a time he meets Rama and informs him of the whereabouts of Sita.
Eventually Rama while searching for Sita, came across Jatayu and Jatayu narrates the entire incident to Rama and told him that Sita was taken by Ravana towards the South. Rama thanks Jatayu for the help rendered and promises him heaven when he dies. Jatayu happy about the services rendered by him to god eventually dies at the hands of Rama. Rama then proceeds to perform the funeral rites of Jatayu and then proceeds to search for Sita in the southward direction.
There are a couple of noteworthy things in this story : One, an elder brother is virtually like a father to this younger brother and it becomes his duty to save and protect his younger brother from danger, whether it is knowingly or unknowingly committed. Secondly service to god and friends should not see any boundaries. Jatayu was willing to give up his life for the cause of his friend and god. The same should be followed in our lives also.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Garuda's Story
This is the story of Garuda, the eagle who is also the vahana or the vehicle of Vishnu.
Kashyapa Prajapati had 2 wives : Kadru and Vinita. Kadru gave birth to a thousand snakes and was very proud. By deceit, she made Vinitha her slave. Vinitha prayed to Kashyapa who then gave her a boon that she will give birth to 2 sons who will redeem her from slavery. In time, Vinitha gave birth to 2 eggs which she protected till they hatch. However she got impatient when the eggs did not hatch for a long time and therefore forcefully broke opened the first egg. Immediately a very handsome man came out of the egg and lamented to his mother : "Mother, why did you break the egg so quickly ? If you had waited a little longer, I would have grown fully and would have freed you from slavery ? Since you broke the egg so quickly I have not grown below by thighs". Hearing this Vinita plunged into deep grief. Hearing this her son said "Mother do not worry, Please preserve the other egg carefully and he will grow to be a very strong man and will save you from slavery". So saying Vinitha's first kid who was called Aruna left her and became the chariotter of Surya the sun god. In time the second egg developed fully and out came a very powerful eagle called Garuda. He came to know the plight of his mother from her and approached Kadru and asked her what she wanted in return for his mother's freedom. Kadru knew that her sons were no match to Garuda in terms of strength and hence she asked for the divine Amruta of the gods for her sons. At once Garuda flew to the heavens and got the Amruta from the gods, but Garuda also knew that if he gave the Amruta to the snakes, they would become immortal and therefore would again trouble his mother. Hence he took the Amruta and told the snakes that he would give it to them at the banks of the river. However he cunningly took them to a place where there were a lot of Dharba (sharp grass) growth and poured the Amruta there. At once all the snakes in their eagerness to drink the Amruta and become immortal, went and licked the Dharbas. The sharp Dharba grass cut their tounges into two. Hence all the snakes from then on have 2 tounges.
Kashyapa Prajapati had 2 wives : Kadru and Vinita. Kadru gave birth to a thousand snakes and was very proud. By deceit, she made Vinitha her slave. Vinitha prayed to Kashyapa who then gave her a boon that she will give birth to 2 sons who will redeem her from slavery. In time, Vinitha gave birth to 2 eggs which she protected till they hatch. However she got impatient when the eggs did not hatch for a long time and therefore forcefully broke opened the first egg. Immediately a very handsome man came out of the egg and lamented to his mother : "Mother, why did you break the egg so quickly ? If you had waited a little longer, I would have grown fully and would have freed you from slavery ? Since you broke the egg so quickly I have not grown below by thighs". Hearing this Vinita plunged into deep grief. Hearing this her son said "Mother do not worry, Please preserve the other egg carefully and he will grow to be a very strong man and will save you from slavery". So saying Vinitha's first kid who was called Aruna left her and became the chariotter of Surya the sun god. In time the second egg developed fully and out came a very powerful eagle called Garuda. He came to know the plight of his mother from her and approached Kadru and asked her what she wanted in return for his mother's freedom. Kadru knew that her sons were no match to Garuda in terms of strength and hence she asked for the divine Amruta of the gods for her sons. At once Garuda flew to the heavens and got the Amruta from the gods, but Garuda also knew that if he gave the Amruta to the snakes, they would become immortal and therefore would again trouble his mother. Hence he took the Amruta and told the snakes that he would give it to them at the banks of the river. However he cunningly took them to a place where there were a lot of Dharba (sharp grass) growth and poured the Amruta there. At once all the snakes in their eagerness to drink the Amruta and become immortal, went and licked the Dharbas. The sharp Dharba grass cut their tounges into two. Hence all the snakes from then on have 2 tounges.
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