Jatayupara in Kerala: Where the Great Jatayu fought against Ravana to protect the chastity of Mata Sita

Jatayupara in Kerala: Ramayana is one of the most sacred texts of the Sanatan Dharma. Not only in the India, but in many places of the world, people recite it daily. Hinduism is not a religion practiced by any one person. One of its bases is the Vedadi scriptures, whose number is very large. All these are divided into two parts-

1 The texts of this category are called Shruti. They are considered inauspicious. In this, the four Samhitas of the Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads, Vedangas, Sutras etc.

2 The texts of this category are called Smritis. These sages are considered to be praneeth. In this category, 18 Smritis, 18 Puranas and Ramayana and Mahabharata are also considered as two histories.

Today we talk about Ramayana and many places which is famous for the remnants and characters of the great epic which give us a clear and life like perspective of the Lord Rama and his life. Jatayupara is one of the place where we can see the remains of the great epic. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world are coming to Jatayupara where the Great Jatayu fought against the demon King Ravana to protect the chastity of woman.

Where it is located:

Jatayupara Sree Kodanda Rama Temple at Chadayamangalam in Kollam district of Kerala is about 38 km away from Kollam and 46 km away from the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. Sahyadri, the benevolent mountains range of western ghats, are covered by lush green hills and small mountains, Chadayamangalam is a small village cradled in the lap of the nature surrounded by the small mountains like Vayanam Mala, Pavoor Mala, Alathara Maia, Elambrakodu Mala, Arkannur Malappara Mala and thevannur Mala The M.C. Road goes through the Chadayamangalam village in the north-west direction. In Chadayamangalam town, adjacent to the M.C. Road Sree Mahadeva Temple is situated at about 25 feet height. On the south side of the temple there is the huge rock Jatayupara and Kodand's Rama temple at its peak.

The mountain of Jatayupars had the area of 243 acres and now this is shrunk to mere 65 acres. The Jatayuppara is at 1000 feet height. The shrine of Sree Kodandarama consecrated on the peak of Jatayupara is the representation of Dharma (ethics). The inner sanctum of this temple has huge idol of Lord Ram, the maryada purushotham- (the righteousness Supreme Man).

Thousands are flowing towards this temple seeking the blessings of Lord Rama, chanting nama for their salvation Rama nama (Rama-chanting) burns ignorance, sin and evils.

International Sree Rama Cultural Centre

An International Sree Rama Cultural Centre is being constructed as the part of Sree Kodanda Rarna Temple complex. In the gate way there will be the full structured idol of Sree Hanuman with 30 feet height. There will be a mandapam with the idol of Poojaneeya Swami Satyananda Saraswaths and the path way will be decorated with the painted scriptures of the events of Ramayana starting from "Puthrakameshti. Apart from that there will be various institutions like old age home, cow barn, library, meditation hall, conference hall, Thunjan Math, the Research Centre for Ramayana etc.

Remaints of epic visible here at Sree Padamudra (The foot print of Lord Rama)

Lord Rama met the badly wounded jatayu and he told Rama that Ravana has gone to the southerly direction Lord Rami blessed Jatayu and his soul merged to the supreme sublime Rama. The left foot print of Lend Rama is visible on the rock and is being worshipped by the devotees. The idol of Rama is faced to the direction mentioned by Jatayu. It is believed that the journey of Rama-Lakshmana, seeking Sita, then proceeded from Jatayupara to Pamba river at Sabarimala (the then Rishyamookachalam) and then to Rameswaram Dhanushkodi and finally to Lanka.

Pranatosmyham Ramam

Devotees from all over the country are flowing to Jatayupara for the darsana of Sree Kodanda Rama. The crowned idol of Lord Rama is 13 feet height. "Pranatosmyham Ramam, the mantra chanted by Jatayu is resounding here. It is believed that the devotee who recites the 'Jatayu Sthuthi in front of Sree Kodatida Rama will attain moksha (deliverance).

Kokkarani

Kokkarani is the small pond formed by stroke of the venerable aged bird Jatayu. In Ramayana Jataya fought against Ravana, when he abducted Sita, but Ravana cut of the bird's left wing with his sword. Sita blessed Jatayu to sustain his life till he meet Rama. The pond has water throughout the year, it never goes dry and the devotees believe that there is the presence of Ganga Mata.

Cow barn & Bio Diversity Park

The proposed Cow barn and the Bio Diversity Park (Bird Sanctuary & Byre) conveys the message of Lord Rama. The gist of the Ramayana is the oneness of all living and nonliving organisms. While Rama was staying in the forest his co-dwellers were birds, monkeys, plants and animals. Man cannot exist without birds and animals. The bio diversity park uphold the message of empathy and sympathy and the oneness of nature which were prevailed in the Panchavadi, Nandigram and Dandaluaranyam.

The Sanctum

We can see the living symbols of the epic Ramayana in Jatayupara. The sights of Jatayupara will recall the memories of the bygone era. The clusters of monkeys, the rocky gorge, gulch, caves, bush, shrubs, plants, deferent types of animals are the gifted nature of Jatayupara. Sree Kodanda Rama temple darsana will definitely impart an enraptured spiritual tranquility to everyone.

Swami Satyanand Saraswati was the great saint who revived the Jatyuppara, the sanctified land of salvation. He fought consistently against the hurdles and criticism to fulfill his mission. The trust is trying to realise the vision of Swami jee by confronting various challenges to srve the nation and to protect its culture.

Great saints visited Jatayupara

The great saints of India, spiritual, cultural and social leaders visited Jatayupara and Sree Kodanda rama Temple. They reached Sree Kodanda rama Temple with the 'Atmjyoti' from the holy places related to Ramayana like Nandigramam, Rameswaram and Ayodhya. Chief of the Ayodhya Digambar Academy Swami Kamalanayana Das and Swami Sankara Chaityna of Matha Amritathnanda Math among many visited Sree Kodanda Rama Temple.

Kummanam Rajasekaran, Patron of Sri Kodanda Rama Kshetra Trust

Former Governor of Mizoram and Patron of Jatayupara Sri Kodanda Rama Kshetra Trust Kummanam Rajasekaran pointed out that most of the present generation are unaware of the fact that Lord Sri Rama was the true symbol of national unity of India. As a ruler in the north, he traveled extensively in the south, visiting Sabari at Sabarimala, the Valmiki ashram where his sons Lava and Kush were trained. There are innumerable Rama temples at various places in Kerala.

He told that there is a huge foot print of Sri Rama in Jatayuppara, which is indelibly inscribed in the rock. A perennial spring from where the bird king Jadayu drank water to keep himself alive to have darshan of his lord is still seen in the temple premises.

He has appealed that people should come forward in large numbers and make this objective a success. While talking to Newstrack, he said that the organization is constructing 1000 steps so that the followers of Lord Rama can easily reach the padamudra (footprints of Lord Rama). He told that the padmudra of Lord Rama is situated on a hill at a height of about 1000 feet. In such a situation, devotees find it very difficult to reach there. That's why the organization is building stairs.

Shri Rajasekharan is personally overseeing the development activities of the temple and is also developing an institution named "Shri Ram Dham" which will be a center of excellence for Ramayana studies.

He, however, emphasized that the project lacks financial resources. Delays in funding have stalled its progress. It is necessary that at least five acres of land is purchased around the temple for the necessary development of the temple and the proposed cultural complex. To achieve this goal, the temple trust has devised a plan to protect the temple with the least cost to the supporter's financial resources. He has appealed to the people of Uttar Pradesh for cooperation in preserving the tradition of the temple and its cultural heritage. He said that Uttar Pradesh has the largest number of people who believe in Lord Ram. Those people should come forward and help to develop Jatayupara as a cultural site. He has also run a fund-raiser campaign in this regard called "Ramanu Oru Pidi Mannu", (a handful of soil for Rama).