changeadminThe Indian state of Kerala is famous for its beautiful backwaters, pristine beaches, spices, cultural heritage, cuisine, and the World’s largest bird sculpture.
Jatayu Earth Centre at Chadayamangalam in Kollam, is a one-of-a-kind theme park based on the ancient Indian scripture, the Ramayana.
In the park, there is a mammoth statue measuring 200-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, and 70-foot-high, dedicated to Jatayu, the king of Vultures, as Tulsidas mentions in the epic poem Ramcharitmanas.
Story of Jatayu
According to Ramayan, when Goddess Sita, the wife of Lord Ram, was abducted by Ravan, the demon king of Lanka. Jatayu, flying in the skies heard Sita’s cries for help. He came valiantly to fight a brave battle with his claws, beak, and talons, making it extremely difficult for Ravan.
However, Ravan severed the left wing of the bird with his mighty sword and escaped with Sita. The wingless Jatayu fell to the ground and in his pain waited for Lord Ram to narrate the incident.
When Lord Ram along with his brother, Lakshman, came searching for his wife, Jatayu told them where Ravan had taken Sita. Finally, when Jatayu succumbed to the wounds, Lord Ram blessed the brave bird with Liberation and performed the final funeral.
The information provided by Jatayu played a critical role in the eventual victory of Lord Ram over Ravan. Therefore despite his defeat, Jatayu is remembered as a great hero who showed extreme bravery and sacrifice.
Jatayu Sculpture
The Jatayu monument is built on the top of a hill, which is believed to be the place where the mighty bird passed away.
This masterpiece creation is done by India’s famous film and art director Rajiv Anchal, known for movies like Guru (1997), Beyond the Soul (2002), and Pilots (2000).
In 2008, the project of constructing the Jatayu sculpture was given to Rajiv Anchal and his team. It took around 10 years of dedicated work to build this beautiful statue. He not only was involved in the design and construction but also made financial investments from his savings.
The wing pieces of the bird sculpture are intricately carved and placed. The pieces are constructed out of compacted concrete (except for the talons, which are stainless steel).
The face of the giant statue of Jatayu is designed in a way that expresses anguish and helplessness. Also, as the left wing was cut off by Ravan, the Jatayu sculpture has only the right-wing spread on the hill.
Close to the Jatayu structure, there is a beautiful Temple along with the footprint of Lord Ram and a small water body, that is believed to have formed by the impact of Jatayu’s beak.
Jatayu Earth Centre
Jatayu Earth’s Centre is spread over 65 acres and is located in Kollam district, about 50 km north of the capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram.
As the structure is located at a height of 1,000 feet from the bottom of the hill, visitors can reach it via an 820-step walkway, cable car, or helicopter ride. The place has become a famous attraction with thousands of domestic and international tourists visiting daily.
Wrapping Up
The story of Jatayu symbolizes an act of selfless service and also represents an era when man and wildlife peacefully co-existed on this Planet.
Unfortunately, Vultures who play such a critical role in the ecosystem as nature’s recyclers, face a harsh reality. The species that inspired the tale of courage and selflessness is now on the brink of extinction.
We can say that the Jatayu statue is a symbol of courage and a reminder of preserving and protecting Earth’s ecology.
Read more about the important contribution of Vultures to our Ecology.
Watch the video to see the intricacies of the World’s largest bird sculpture.
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