Jatayu: A Great Example of sacrifice and service to the supreme god

Have you heard or read the Ramayan?

If the answer is "No," it's worth calling it FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Ramayan is the journey of Lord Ram, who descended to this earth to set a perfect example for mankind. His ideals, qualities, glory, and teachings are eternal and fascinating. He is indeed the supreme Lord, the well-wisher of all living beings. However, His devotees are even more merciful and kind since the Lord generally follows the strict rules of the law of Karma for all living entities. But His devotees go a step further, always praying to God to uplift the fallen and degraded souls entangled in this material world. In fact, if we serve the Lord's pure devotees wholeheartedly, we receive more blessings and spiritual bliss than serving God directly.

Glory of Ramayan

The great example starts with the writer of Ramayan. Ramayan is a timeless epic in the true sense. You cannot forget the Ramayan once you read it. It was written by Sage Valmiki, who was himself a robber. But after coming in contact with the pure devotee of the Lord, Narada Muni, he transformed. He achieved the greatest position one can imagine, a rare opportunity to describe the glories of Lord Ram to mankind for millennia to come. Such is the glory of the Ramayan that it will remain forever on this planet. Those involved in spreading its glory will receive the highest spiritual benefit possible.

Kidnapping of mother Sita

There are many stories and pastimes of Lord Ram in the Ramayan, all captivating and deep. One such story is of Jatayu, a vulture with special powers. He was a true devotee of the Supreme Lord, which was proven when he sacrificed his life to become part of Lord Ram's pastimes. When Ravana kidnapped Mother Sita, Lord Ram's wife, and took her to Lanka (modern-day Sri Lanka), Jatayu heard her cries and flew into the sky to stop Ravana. Though old and weak, he fought Ravana but was unsuccessful in saving Sita. However, the fight resulted in something extraordinary.

A bird's fighting spirit

Jatayu informed Lord Ram about Sita’s kidnapping, giving crucial information and directions. He then died. According to Vedic custom, birds are considered inferior to humans, and nothing is usually done for their last rites. But Lord Ram, moved by Jatayu’s sacrifice, awarded him the highest honor by holding him in His lap as he died. What a glorious moment! The Supreme Lord, difficult to attain even by yogis performing penances for thousands of years, was touched by the love of His devotee. Lord Ram didn’t stop there; He personally performed Jatayu's last rites with all Vedic rituals, setting an example that those who become His devotees deserve the highest respect. As the Supreme Creator and Maintainer, Lord Ram acted in the highest possible way for Jatayu, who, in turn, set an example of how to serve the master.

Key lesson of Dharma

There is a saying in Vedic literature, "????? ?????? ???????" (Dharma protects those who protect it). Jatayu’s sacrifice teaches us this principle. If we do not adhere to our duty (Dharma), we cannot expect Dharma to protect us. If you lie, you must pay the price. Neglecting one's duty cannot be justified. Another important lesson from this episode is that we must be courageous and take risks to achieve something greater in life. Sitting idle will not help us grow.

Highest destination of life

Listening to or reading about the glories of Lord Ram and His devotees like Jatayu can inspire us to serve the Almighty in His mission. The Lord’s mission is to liberate everyone from the clutches of maya and engage them in His eternal, glorious abode. The Lord’s abode is called Vaikuntha, which means a place where there is no anxiety. Unlike heaven, which offers superior sense enjoyment compared to earth, the residents of Vaikuntha experience far more joy and happiness. The happiness of Vaikuntha is eternal, ever-increasing, and of the highest magnitude. To experience a spark of this, one should glimpse the sankirtan of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. I have experienced this myself and can confidently say that no material happiness can compare to the joy of transcendental sound vibration (the Lord’s holy name).

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