Week 2 Topics

Jatayu: I am a big fanatic of nature and and animals. Reading through Wikipedia Jatayu is a bird in the epic Ramayan. I am currently reading the public domain edition of Ramayana. In the story he tries to rescue a women named Siti from a evil character named Ravana. Unfortunately, Jatayu was not able to beat Ravana from taking the woman. According to Wikipedia Ravana cut his wings off and the location where Jatayu fell in Kerela, India. I also read that he once flew so high that the sun burned his wings. I would like to learn more details about Jatayu in the actual Ravana epic. I would also like to learn more details about his early life. 

Sampati: According to Wikipedia he is the brother of Jatayu.  Sampati lost his wings because he protected his brother from the sun. His brother flew high enough to where the sun began to burn his wings. I have not actually read past the 40^th episode of the public domain edition of the Ramayana but Wikipedia explains the importance Sampati had in the search of Siti. According to Archive  Sampati was a vulture who lived in a cave. He had incredible sight and hearing.  He apparently regains his wings by describing places above the horizon that no one can easily see, which leads to the recapture of Siti. This story also interest me because of the animal involved. 

Nandi: Wikipedia describes Nandi as a bull.  I am interested in this character because one of my favorite animals is a bull and I enjoy going to rodeos on my personal time. In Wikipedia he is said to be the vehicle of Shiva which is an important deity ion Hinduism. He is also said to be the gatekeeper of Shiva. Qoura describes Nandi as a “bearer of truth and righteousness.”

Nandi, the vechicle of Shiva: Qoura Website 

Airavata: Wikipedia describes this character as a white elephant who is the vehicle of Indra  which is another important deity in Indian epics. He is also said to be the king of all elephants. In some stories from Wikipedia he is believed to have came from the “Ocean of milk [where he] guards one of the points of compass.”   I am interested in this deity because I have always seen elephants portrayed as important symbols in the Indian culture. I never knew exactly the significance they had. Researching about this specific elephant is a good way to start learning more about the impact of elephants in this specific culture.