The heroic Jatayu majestic symbol against violence against women
Dear my ArcheoTravelers, today I take you to the discovery of a particular Indian sculpture found at Jatayu Earth’s Center and above all to the legend linked to the place and the character it represents.
Over the past few days on the Instagram profile I have reposted a beautiful video having this work as its subject. In the stories and in the related post I then asked you if you wanted to know something more about it … and now here I am, as promised, to tell you the story of this huge sculpture that stands right on the top of a mountain
Jatayu Earth's Center
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In the state of Kerala, on the southwestern coast of southern India, there is the Jatayu Earth’s Center, a rock-themed nature park, open since 2018, created thanks to the efforts of the Indian tourism department and the director and sculptor Rajiv Anchal.
This particular park is characterized by the presence of the largest sculpture in the world depicting a bird. Oh, yes, you guessed it right, this is the work in the video I reposted and you think it took 10 years to complete.
The subject of the sculpture, 60 long, 45 wide and over 20 meters high, which reaches 1,400 m2 of surface, is Jatayu, the winged creature that also gave the park its name. Let’s find out better together who it is and its history.
Who is Jatayu?
Jatayu is a mythological figure of the Hindu tradition and a character of the famous epic poem Rāmāyaṇa, one of the oldest and most significant Hindu epic works, whose original core is roughly traced back to the 5th-4th century BC, and which had its definitive drafting only in the 2nd century AD To be clear, this work represents for Hindus something comparable to what Homeric works represent for us, such as the Iliad or the Odyssey.
Returning to Jatayu, if we go to see the genealogy of this demigod in the form of a vulture or eagle, we discover that he was the son of Aruṇa and his wife Shyeni, he was also the brother of the enormous Sampāti eagle, as well as grandson of Garuda, the divine progenitor of the lineage of birds and old friend of Dasharatha (the father of the god Rāmā).
Within the Rāmāyaṇa, and more precisely in his III kāṇḍa, the Āraṇyakāṇḍa, we can read about the heroic act that saw him as the protagonist and that made the memory of him immortal.
Reading the text we get to know the evil demon Rāvaṇa, a very particular, somewhat arrogant and aggressive character who stopped at nothing to get what he wants, kingdoms of the mortal, divine or the underworld, but also and above all women, such as we will see shortly.
At the beginning of the Rāmāyaṇa this demon dominated everything and everyone, it is even said that he was able to command the rising and setting of the sun. However despite his arrogant attitude, he was still a benevolent ruler with his people who thanks to him never went hungry and could live in a rich and prosperous kingdom.
But as I mentioned, one of the weaknesses of Rāvaṇa was precisely the fair sex. In fact, he had several wives, and also maintained a thick harem, made up of the very women he had made slaves during his countless conquests of him. We also know that if a woman did not give in to her flattery, he still took her by force.
Fate would have it that it was the meeting with two women that marked his fate and spoilers … the end of him.
The first was a girl named Vedavati, who had retired to a remote hermitage to meditate and venerate the god Vishnu, whom she wished to meet and marry (you must know that she was actually the incarnation of Lakshmi, the lost bride of Vishnu). The fact is that Rāvaṇa was quite enraptured by her beauty and purity, he fell in love with her, but she coldly refused her attention.
Rāvaṇa, given the temper that distinguished him, obviously did not accept no as an answer to his advances, and took her by force, thereby breaking the young woman’s chastity and thus destroying her dream of marrying the beloved god Vishnu.
As a reaction to her violence, the girl committed suicide on a sacrificial pyre, but not before swearing that she would return to cause the death of her tormentor. And so, believe me she was her.
The other woman who in some way sealed the fate of Rāvaṇa was a certain Rambha. She was the consort of Nalakuvara, one of the sons of Kubera, half-brother of Rāvaṇa himself. Unfortunately Nalakuvara was unable to prevent his wife from being violated and therefore cast a powerful curse on the demon: if Rāvaṇa ever took a woman by force again, he would die.
After some time, according to the legend, Vedavati was reborn as Sītā, wife of Rāma (incarnation of her in turn of Viṣṇu, in short everything repeats itself). Even in this new life, Rāvaṇa fell in love with her again. Taken by her passion, he invited her to join him to become one of her wives, but Sītā rejected her proposal in a very contemptuous way:
“You jackal (jambuka; also means” man of low rank “) do you want to seduce me inaccessible (durlabhām) lioness (siṃhīm)? You cannot touch me as you cannot touch the light of the Sun (ādityasya prabhā yathā) ”
This obviously unleashed the wrath of the terrible demon who grabbed her woman and dragged her onto her flying chariot to take her to his own kingdom, Laṅkā.
And it is precisely at this juncture that Jaṭāyu entered the scene, who, hearing Sītā’s requests for help, flew to her aid, managing to destroy the chariot, and thus causing the two to fall to earth. A close fight ensued between the demon and the eagle, and in the end Rāvaṇa prevailed who, holding her powerful sword Chandrahasa, cut off the left wing of the demigod.
Jatayu, injured and now devoid of a wing, managed to land on top of a rock, which with the passage of time, took the name Jatayupara, the very place where the monumental statue that depicts him was built.
Defeated his fearsome but elderly adversary, Rāvaṇa continued the journey towards his kingdom, holding Sītā close to him. Upon reaching their destination, Rāvaṇa segregated the goddess in some rooms of her palace, placing her in the custody of some rākṣasī (of the fate of female demons). Subsequently he tried several times to seduce her, each time obtaining a disdainful refusal. Now let’s face it, it was only thanks to the ancient curse of Nalakuvara that Sītā was able to remain chaste during her long imprisonment in the demon’s palace.
Rāvaṇa in a lenient way, if we can say so, then decided to give Sītā a year to decide to take him as a husband, after this period, if he still refused his offer, he would tear her up and cook her for breakfast.
Meanwhile, realizing her disappearance, Rāma and her brother Lakṣmaṇa immediately set out in search of the goddess. During their wanderings, they first encounter the devastation generated by the clash between Jaṭāyu and the demon Rāvaṇa, only to locate the lifeless body of the eagle.
During the exhalation of his last breath, he told what had happened to the two brothers and was able to indicate to Rāma the southward direction that the two had taken, thus comforting him on the certainty of being able to free his kidnapped wife. With Jaṭāyu dead, the brothers celebrate the appropriate funeral rites to the heroic eagle and set off again with more hope in their hearts.
Arriving after other adventures in the kingdom of Laṅkā, Rāma eventually managed to defeat Rāvaṇa and reunite with his beloved. All is well that ends well. In fact, more or less, if you are interested in the subject let me know and I will talk about it in another article dedicated to the unfortunate Sītā.
The sculpture of Jatayu
As you can now imagine, the work that dominates the Jatayu Earth’s Center is a real tribute to the legendary creature’s dedication to the safety and honor of women.
From the shots you can see how the sculpture presents a surprising attention to detail, just look at the rendering of the decorated and layered feathers, truly splendid.
The huge wings, resting on the ground, also allow visitors to walk on the figure and climb up to its head. In fact, you can also enter inside where a museum is housed.
Not only that, reconnecting to the tradition that Jatayu would like to take refuge in a cave after his battle against Rāvaṇa, a particular rock and Ayurvedic Siddha resort is being built which will offer Ayurvedic treatments combined with stories featuring Jatayu himself.
Access to the park
The park is located on a hill in the Kollam district of Kerala. If you are interested in visiting it, you should know that access is possible upon payment of a ticket and that no special transport is required to enter it, except for the use of a cable car to reach the top.
During the visit, you can take your cameras with you, with which you can immortalize the extraordinary landscape as well as the equally extraordinary sculpture, but remember that luggage is not allowed and must be stored in special lockers.
A reflection
A plaque outside the museum pays homage to the fallen Jatayu. It is specifically a poem translated by K. Jayakumar and dedicated by Pinarayi Vijayan, the Prime Minister of Kerala:
“ Stand atop this hill for a while in contemplation.
Here is where Jatayu fell
Trying to block with his talons and beak
The alien gnome who seized in deceit
The priceless pearl of a daughter
Born to the plough-furrow of dear earth
And fleeing to another coast.
He who believes in to be his right
To possess even the celestial nymph he covets.This is where the enemy’s sword
Chopped Jatayu’s wing.
The spot that accepted that flowing blood stream
Like a sobbing mother accepting her martyred son.
This spot received that bird
Flapping ist single wing
Descending like a flag on the mast
Of this country’s pride.Doesn’t this wind that blows here
Sing that tale?
Doesn’t every sand grain here
Recall that saga?As we stand on this hill
With heads bowed
In the memory of that bird
Who sacrificed himself as a flower offering,
We indeed churn immortality from death”
Jatayu is the embodiment of valor and chivalry. Risking her life, she did her best to save Sītā from her kidnapper. For this reason, the sculpture stands as a massive tribute to the safety and honor of women.
At the same time, Jatayu also represents a bygone era, during which humans, animals, birds and other living forms cared for each other peacefully on this Earth.
In the words of Rajiv Anchal, this symbolism has great relevance in today’s social scenario as the crime rate against women is still very high.
With the words featured on the plaque and admiring the splendid stone Jatayu, each guest of the Jatayu Earths Center is required to understand, emulate and be inspired by the inner meaning of this ancient legendary act.
This work, the legend that inspired it, the hidden meaning inherent in the mythical character it represents excites me, I don’t know about you.
Reading tips
For further reading tips related to Indian mythology (and not only), I refer you to the Amazon storefront that I have dedicated to this topic.
In qualità di Affiliato Amazon riceverò una piccola percentuale di guadagno dagli acquisti idonei. Comprare i prodotti tramite i precedenti link è un modo per supportare il progetto ArcheoTravelers, così da poter implementarne sempre di più i contenuti. Ringrazio di cuore chiunque deciderà di supportarmi tramite questa iniziativa.
Trained at the University of Turin, where she obtained her three-year degree in Cultural Heritage Sciences and her master's degree in History of Archaeological and Historical-Artistic Heritage, she specialized at the University of Milan, graduating in Archaeological Heritage. Freelancer, she deals with computer archeology and virtual heritage, museum displays, 2D graphics and multimedia products applied to cultural heritage. Collaborates with various public and private bodies in the field of projects related to the research, enhancement, communication and promotion of cultural heritage. She deals with the creation of cultural itineraries relating to the entire Italian Peninsula and the development of content (creation of texts and photographic production) for paper and virtual publications. Her study interests include the development of new techniques and means of communication for the enhancement of cultural heritage and the evolution of the symbolism of power between the Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages.
