Jatayu is a bird that appears as a character in the epic Ramayana. He was the son of Garuda, the bird sacred to Lord Vishnu. Jatayu fought against Ravana, when he was carrying away Sita. Ravana fought with him and left him mutilated. Later Lord Ram and Lakshman found him just in time to hear his dying words about what had happened to Sita. Both the brothers then did his funeral rites. It is also said that Jatayu was the friend of King Dasaratha.
