Article | Protect Vulture ! Which Is A Respected Bird In The Ramayana | Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh | Central Chronicle

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Protect Vulture ! Which Is A Respected Bird In The Ramayana
     -    Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh
Writer, Author & Social Activist
Blogger - "Climate Diary Of Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh"

      We know that vultures eat dead animals, that is why we look down upon them. The vulture is considered a dirty, ugly bird. In some societies, it is considered a bad omen for a vulture to hover in the sky. But on the other hand, if we look, we will find that the Ramayana which we accept as a religious text and worship, in the same Ramayana the vulture has been described as a helpful and respected bird. Shouldn't we be worried about the declining population of such birds? We have distanced them from ourselves by building skyscrapers, but we will also have to think about how to save them from disappearing.

Ramayana is an epic that makes us understand the difference between good and evil. Shri Ram is a symbol of goodness while Ravana is a symbol of evil. It is not that Ravana was foolish, he was omniscient. But despite being omniscient, he did not use his knowledge and discretion and kidnapped Sita by deceit. That's why despite being knowledgeable, he proved to be a villain. Shri Ram also knew about Ravana's knowledge that is why in Ravana's last moments he had instructed Lakshman to acquire knowledge from Ravana. On the advice of Shri Ram, Lakshman had also received knowledge from Ravana. Ravana was killed by Shri Ram because he covered his knowledge with his ignorance. I am discussing this so that we can examine our actions. If we are not Ravana, then we have not been able to become Shri Ram or Lakshman either. Our demonic power keeps manifesting itself in the form of our actions which cause harm to nature and the environment.
We know that vultures eat a dead animal that is why we look down upon them. The vulture is considered a dirty, ugly bird. In some societies, it is considered a bad omen for a vulture to hover in the sky. But on the other hand, if we look, we will find that the Ramayana which we accept as a religious text and worship, in the same Ramayana the vulture has
been described as a helpful and respected bird. Shouldn't we be worried about the declining population of such birds? We have distanced them from ourselves by building skyscrapers, but we will also have to think about how to save them from disappearing.
Many animals, birds and plants are mentioned in Ramayana, the holy book of Hindu culture. In which vulture is also mentioned. Almost all those people who have read Ramkatha in some form or the other or have seen it as a television serial know about the Vulture King Jatayu. When Ravana is deceitfully kidnapping Sita and taking her to Lanka, Sita calls for help. The vulture king Jatayu hears Sita's call and challenges Ravana. Jatayu asks Ravana to free Sita. While Jatayu knew that the Ravana he was challenging was much stronger than him but Jatayu was not afraid. He courageously tries to stop Ravana. Powerful Ravana injures him by cutting off his wings and runs away with Sita. The injured Vulture King understands that he is so badly injured that he will no longer survive. Still he waits groaningly for Shri Ram and Lakshman. Shri Ram reaches there while wandering in search of Sita. Then Jatayu tells them that Ravana, the king of Lanka, has kidnapped Sita. He tried to save Sita but could not succeed. Ravana has injured him and now he is about to die. Shri Ram knows from the Vulture King who has taken Sita and where. If this incident is read carefully, it becomes clear that Valmiki, the author of Ramayana, was knows about the vulture community. That is why he was called Jatayu  the Vulture King. Any person can be a king only if he has subjects. Being a community means that there is family and community consciousness in that community. If a bird spessies has consciousness of community, then how can that community be bad?
The job of the vulture is to keep nature and the environment clean, that is why he it protects nature from viruses and toxic elements by eating dead animals. He is a top class cleaner. Of course, our cities no longer need such natural cleaners because we have adopted artificial means of cleaning. But here we are not talking about any product but about a bird species. Animals die in forests, mountains and many other inaccessible places and if anyone goes to dispose of their dead bodies, they are vultures. Even today, vultures hold an important place in our life chain. It is our responsibility to save them, because in their absence, a link in the life chain will be broken and this will cause harm to both nature and the environment. If not more, at least we should save the vulture species from extinction by thinking that the vulture king Jatayu did not fear for his life to save Sita and helped Shri Ram. Perhaps Valmiki also wanted to give the same message that every bird is essential for human life and it should be the duty of humans to save them.
Vultures are scavenging birds that feed on dead animals. Vultures do not kill their own prey, they feed on dead animals. As scavengers, vultures play an important role in the ecosystem by decomposing the dead animal matter, cleaning the environment and reducing the spread of diseases. So, we should remember always Vultures are obligate scavengers that play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem services such as nutrient recycling, removal of soil and water contaminants, and regulating the spread of diseases. By protecting the Vulture, we will not only preserving a vital species, but also helping to maintain the health and balance of its ecosystem. Additionally, we will be preserving an important cultural symbol that has played a significant role in human history for thousands of years. Whether through supporting conservation efforts or simply spreading awareness of the importance of this species, we can all play a role in ensuring the survival of the Vulture for generations to come. We must accept that no matter what the bird is, it is never ugly and dirty. Every bird is essential for the life and ecosystem of nature.
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Thank you Central Chronicle 🙏
(29.10.2023)
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