JATAYU / JENTAYU (malayan). a figure/character from epic RAMAYANA. Jatayu is the son of Aruṇa and nephew of Garuda. A demi-god who has the form of a vulture, he was an old friend of Dastarata / Dasharatha (Rama's father). He tries to rescue Shinta / Sita from Dasamuka / Rahwana / Ravana when Dasamuka is on his way to Alengka/ Lanka after kidnapping Shinta. Jatayu fought valiantly with Dasamuka, but as Jatayu was very old Dasamuka soon got the better of him. As Rama and Lakshmana chanced upon the stricken and dying Jatayu in their search for Shinta, he informs them of the fight between him and Dasamuka and the direction in which Dasamuka had gone.
