This is the place where Lord Ramachandra performed the funeral of Jatayu. Sri Vijaya Raghava Perumal Temple is the place where Lord Ramachandra performed the last rites for Jatayu, the vulture. He fought with Ravana to rescue Sita from him and sacrificed his life in the service of the Lord. As a mark of honour to Jatayu, the flag post and the Balipeeta are present outside the temple. Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple is twelve kilometre west of Kanchipuram. Lord Vijaya Raghava Perumal blesses the devotees in a sitting posture holding Jatayu on His thigh, to mark the importance of Jatayu’s devotion. The Pushkarani (temple tank) of the temple is called as Jatayu Pushkarani. The Vimanam (the tower above the sanctum sanctorum) of the temple is called as Vijaya koti vimanam. On certain festive occasions, Lord Vijaya Raghavan goes on street processions mounted on his ‘Horse Vahanam’. There is a separate sannidhi for Jataayu opposite the temple tank. On all festive occasions, Lord first visits the Jataayu sannidhi (altar) during his street procession.

Lord Ramachandra left Ayodhya and went to the forest as ordered by His father, Dasharatha. While in the forest, Sita spotted a golden deer and requested Rama to catch for her. The deer was a demon Maricha and he was sent by Ravana to lure Rama and Lakshmana, so that he could abduct Sita. With Rama and Lakshmana out in search of the deer, Ravana abducted Sita to Lanka. On the way to Lanka, Jatayu stopped Ravana and fought with him to release Sita, but Ravana cut Jatayu’s wings and he fell down to the earth. When Rama and Lakshmana went in search of Sita, They found Jatayu mortally wounded in the forest. Jatayu narrated the events to Rama before he left the body. Sri Rama then performed the last rites for Jatayu. Jatayu belongs to the Pul (a separate family of eagle) family and was buried in a pit (Tamil kuzhi), hence this sthalam is called Thiruputkuzhi. Jatayu was friend of King Dasharatha. Since Lord Ramachandra was not able to perform the last rites for His father as He was away in exile, Lord derived some consolation by performing His obsequies and giving moksham to Jatayu.

Jatayu