Indian traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
Jatayu
Jatayu identifies himself as a friend of Rama’s father and promises to guard Sita when the brothers are away. His bond with the exiles becomes part of their life at Panchavati. After his fight with Ravana, the dying bird tells Rama what has happened. Rama embraces him, mourns his sacrifice and performs funeral rites, praising the possibility of heroism even among birds.
Also known as Jaṭāyu
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In the sources
Principal account
TraditionalJatayu identifies himself as a friend of Rama’s father and promises to guard Sita when the brothers are away. His bond with the exiles becomes part of their life at Panchavati.
Further detail
TraditionalAfter his fight with Ravana, the dying bird tells Rama what has happened. Rama embraces him, mourns his sacrifice and performs funeral rites, praising the possibility of heroism even among birds.
Context & interpretation
The entry concerns Jatayu in the Ramayana retelling, including his promise and final testimony. Speech, combat and ritual honour are traditional narrative elements; the passages are not offered as evidence of a historical talking bird or an independently observed afterlife.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
Jatayu promised Rama his helpOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 78
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0078
- Original scan leaf
- 78
- Recorded leaf number
- 78
- Current Reader position
- 69
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
he has given up his life in seeking to rescue SltaOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 89
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0089
- Original scan leaf
- 89
- Recorded leaf number
- 89
- Current Reader position
- 80
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
