This is the third article in the series “Geography of Ramayana”. In the first part, I have identified the location of the Jatayu’s fall. In the second part, we found the location of Mahendra Parvat, which was Bhagawan Hanuman’s take-off point for Lanka. In this article, using the Ramayana evidence we shall try to find the location of Sampaathi—Jatayu’s elder brother.

Why is Sampaathi crucial for Ramayana?

Rama’s path from Panchavati--in a desperate search for Seetha--gets influenced at first by Jatayu—who informs Rama that Seetha was taken in the southern direction, then by Kabhanda—who informs Rama to reach out to Sugreeva.

Later Sugreeva gives his directions to Lanka for his Vanara party, in spite of which, the Vanaras lose the directions and are led astray. Driven by desperation, the Vanaras are on the verge of giving up the search and fast on to death. It is at this critical juncture Sampaathi appears on the scene. He provides the last set of guidelines for the Vanaras to successfully locate Lanka and find Seetha.

First, we shall look at the narration of the Vanara search effort chronologically and then get into the analysis of the geographical locations to find the location of Sampaathi.

We can divide the Vanara search effort into three parts:

1. The search of Vanaras
2. The Swayamprabha situation
3. Sampaathi’s testimony

1. The Search of Vanaras:

The Vanara search party led by Angada begins their search by the Vindhya Mountains and scan through the entire south without tasting any success in locating Seetha. So, the team decides to conduct their search once again.

सह तारा अंगदाभ्याम् तु संगम्य हनुमान् कपिः |
विचिनोति च विन्ध्यस्य गुहाः च गहनानि च || ४-५०-१

“Associated with Angada, Lt. Tara and others, the monkey Hanuma searched the caves and thick forests of Vindhya Range.” [4-50-1]

2. The Swayamprabha Situation:

After getting exhausted from searching for Seetha throughout the entire region, the tired Vanara party comes across a cave filled with food and drinks, which the Ramayana calls as “Riksha Bila”.

गिरि जाल आवृतान् देशान् मार्गित्वा दक्षिणाम् दिशम् |
विचिन्वन्तः ततः तत्र ददृशुः विवृतम् बिलम् || ४-५०-७
दुर्गम् ऋक्ष बिलम् नाम दानवेन अभिरक्षितम् |

“Having searched that province in the southern direction that is encompassed with interlocked mountains, and during their search there they have observed a wide-opened and impassable cavity known as Riksha Bila which is well guarded by a Danava called Maya.” [4-50- 7, 8a]

After getting refueled in the Riksha Bila, the Vanaras fail to find a way out of the cave. That is when they meet the guardian of the cave, Swayamprabha.

The Vanaras (Hanuman) describe their plight to Swayamprabha regarding their failure to find Seetha within the time allocated by Sugreeva and now, not finding a way to come out of this cave. Taking sympathy for the Vanaras, Swayamprabha agrees to transport the Vanaras out of the cave.

3. Sampaathi’s Testimony:

We meet the hero of our article, Sampaathi, when the Vanaras--starting with Angada--decide to fast onto death after failing to make any progress with their search even after coming out of the cave.

उपविष्टाः तु ते सर्वे यस्मिन् प्रायम् गिरि स्थले |
हरयो गृध्र राजः च तम् देशम् उपचक्रमे || ४-५६-१
सांपातिः नाम नाम्ना तु चिर जीवी विहंगमः |
भ्राता जटायुषः श्रीमान् प्रख्यात बल पौरुषः || ४-५६-२

“At which mountain's tableland those monkeys sat down for self-immolation, to that area the elder brother of Jataayu, a kingly eagle known as Sampaati by name, one renowned one for his forcefulness and aggressiveness, and a celebrated and sempiternal sky-flying eagle has arrived.” [4-56-1, 2]

Sampaathi overhears the Vanaras eulogize Jatayu for dying in service of Sri Ram during their conversation where they discuss their wretched fate, for their inability to find Seetha within the stipulated time given by Sugreeva.

Upon hearing good words about his brother Jatayu, Sampaathi makes a resolution to help the Vanaras, and informs them that he has seen Seetha being abducted by Ravana.

तरुणी रूप संपन्ना सर्व आभरण भूषिता |
ह्रियमाणा मया दृष्टा रावणेन दुरात्मना || ४-५८-१५
क्रोशन्ती राम राम इति लक्ष्मण इति च भामिनी |
भूषणानि अपविध्यन्ती गात्राणि च विधुन्वती || ४-५८-१६

“I have seen a youngish lady while she is being stolen away by the black-hearted Ravana. She was adorned with all kinds of jewellery, and that lady in fury was bewailing calling, 'Rama... Rama...' even calling 'Lakshmana...' and she was throwing her ornaments down and her limbs were highly wriggly to set herself free from that Ravana.” [4-58-15, 16]

Sampaathi is the final piece of the puzzle that recalibrates the Vanara search party to the correct course—the one described by Sugreeva— to reach Ravana’s Lanka.

लंकायाम् अथ गुप्तायाम् सागरेण समंततः |
संप्राप्य सागरस्य अंतम् संपूर्णम् शत योजनम् || ४-५८-२४
आसाद्य दक्षिणम् तीरम् ततो द्रक्ष्यथ रावणम् |
तत्र एव त्वरिताः क्षिप्रम् विक्रमध्वम् प्लवंगमाः || ४-५८-२५

 “O monkeys traverse a hundred yojanas across the sea. On reaching the southern coast you will be able to see Ravana's Lanka defended and surrounded by the sea. Now proceed swiftly and prove your strength.” [4-58-24, 25]

Following the advice of Sampaathi, the Vanaras proceed forward to the location where Bhagawan Hanuman leaps from the Mahendra Parvat.

येषु वेगम् गमिष्यामि महेन्द्र शिखरेषु अहम् || ४-६७-३७
नाना द्रुम विकीर्णेषु धातु निष्पन्द शोभिषु |

एतानि मम वेगम् हि शिखराणि महान्ति च || ४-६७-३८
प्लवतो धारयिष्यन्ति योजनानाम् इतः शतम् |

“I will pick up speed on the peaks of mount Mahendra filled with different kinds of trees and minerals. O great monkeys these mountain peaks can withstand the crushing force of my feet as I leap over a hundred yojanas.” [4-67-37b, 38, 39a]

Geographical Analysis:

Let us try to identify the locations involved in these Ramayana narrations, starting with the journey of the Vanaras.

1. Vanara search:

After failing in their first round of search, the Vanara party begins to search again from the Vindhya forests in southern direction.

ततः समुत्थाय पुनः वानराः ते महाबलाः |
विन्ध्य कानन संकीर्णाम् विचेरुर् दक्षिणाम् दिशम् || ४-४९-१५

“Those great-mighty vanara-s again perking themselves up searched the southern direction that is overspread with Vindhya forests.” [4-49-15]

During the course of their search, they arrive at the south-west peak of the mountains, where the Vanaras loose a significant amount of time looking for Seetha.

आसेदुः तस्य शैलस्य कोटिम् दक्षिण पस्चिमाम् |
तेषाम् तत्र एव वसताम् स कालो व्यत्यवर्तत || ४-५०-३

“They reached the south-west peak of that mountain during their search. While they
were still there, the time stipulated for them (by Sugreeva) had slipped.” [4-50-3]

These Vindhya forest and mountain should not be confused with the Vindhya Range of central India. Because, from the statements of Angada, we get to know that the term “Vindhya forest” here is referring to the “Dandaka forest” spread around central-southern India.

ते वयम् दण्दकारण्यम् विचित्य सुसमाहिताः |
अज्ञानात् तु प्रविष्टाः स्म धरण्या विवृतम् बिलम् || ४-५७-१६

“Such as we were, we searched Dandaka forest very meticulously, but we unwittingly entered into a wide-opened cave (Riksha Bila) of the earth.” [4-57-16]

Dandaka forests

The south-west peak of mountains in the Dandaka forest region would mean nothing but the peaks of the Western Ghats! It is around this region, the Vanaras come across the Riksha Bila and Swayamprabha.

South-west peaks of Dandaka forests

2. Swayamprabha:

Swayamprabha gives a heads-up to the Vanaras about the place where she has brought them out from the cave.

एष विन्ध्यो गिरिः श्रीमान् नाना द्रुम लता आयुतः || ४-५२-३१
एष प्रस्रवणः शैलः सागरो अयम् महा उदधिः |
स्वस्ति वो अस्तु गमिष्यामि भवनम् वानरर्षभाः |
इति उक्त्वा तत् बिलम् श्रीमत् प्रविवेश स्वयम्प्रभा || ४-५२-३२

“This one which is surrounded by diverse trees and vines is the magnificent Vindhya Mountain, this mountain is Prasravana, and this vast expanse of water is the ocean. Now I wish to return to my mansion... oh, best vanara-s, let safety betide you." saying thus Swayamprabha the Sainted Lady, re-entered the ostentatious cavity, called Riksha Bila.” [4-52-31b, 32]

Again, the Vindhya mentioned here by Swayamprabha is not the Vindhya ranges of central India; instead, it is yet again pointing at the Western Ghats.

Why do I say that?

Because Swayamprabha’s Vindhya range is close/next to the ocean whereas the central Indian Vindhya range is nowhere close to the ocean. And also remember that Vanaras entered the Riksha Bila in the southwest part of the Dandaka region.

Vindhya of Swayamprabha

3. Sampaathi:

Vanaras meet Sampaathi after coming out of the cave. Sampaathi himself narrows down the plausible area for his location by describing the site he fell onto from the sky.

हृष्ट पक्षि गण आकीर्णः कन्दर उदर कूटवान् |
दक्षिणस्य उदधेः तीरे विन्ध्यो अयम् इति निश्चितः || ४-६०-७

“Since this mountain is teeming with teams of birds, caves in its midriffs, and it is with peaks of its own kind, thus I resolved this to be Mt. Vindhya at the coast of the southern ocean.” [4-60-7]

“Vindhya at the coast of the southern ocean”—a clear corroboration for the inference we drew earlier that these Vindhyas refer to the Sahya/Malaya/Western Ghats because the central Indian Vindhya is nowhere close to the southern ocean.

Now, where was Sampaathi?

• In the 1^st part of the series (Tracking the trail of Jatayu), we saw Jatayu fell at Taked and informed Rama that Ravana proceeded in the southern direction.

Taked

• Sampaathi witnesses Seetha’s abduction and guides the Vanaras towards Mahendra Parvat and the ocean. He also describes his location as near the southern coast.
• We have seen in the 2^nd part of the series (Where is the Mahendra Parvat of Ramayana?) that the Mahendra Parvat lies on the southern tip of the Indian mainland.

Mahendra Parvat

From this information, we can infer that Sampaathi was living;

1. To the south of Taked
2. Near the Peaks of the Southern Ocean
3. To the north of Mahendra Parvat

Is it possible to locate this crucial character of Ramayana, the elderly eagle Sampaathi?

As it turns out, this last piece of the puzzle was hiding in plain sight all along, as Chadayamangalam!!

Chadayamangalam

Chadayamangalam (Kerala) has become well known for its Jatayu Earth Center, the world’s largest bird sculpture—on Mellupara hill. The local legend has it that Jatayu fell on this hill and subsequently, Rama performed the final rites of Jatayu.

Why then am I connecting this place to Sampaathi instead of Jatayu?

Ramayana is very explicit in informing us that Jatayu fell near Panchavati, north of Kishkinda and that Rama performed his final rites at the banks of river Godavri—which has been dealt with detail in the 1^st part. Chadayamangalam does not corroborate any of these Ramayana descriptions to be the legitimate location for Jatayu’s fall.

Additionally, the devil lies in the details.

The local legend states, that the Jataayu fell onto the hills of Chadayamangalam. But, Ramayana makes no such mention of Jataayu falling on top of a hill.

स छिन्न पक्षः सहसा रक्षसा रौद्र कर्मणा |
निपपात महा गृध्रो धरण्याम् अल्प जीवितः || ३-५१-४३

“When that demon of cruel actions has ruptured his wings that colossal eagle Jataayu immediately fell down to the ground with a lessened life.” [3-51-43]

Do you know who the Ramayana explicitly says to have fallen on top of a hill?

Yes, it’s Sampaathi!

निर्दग्ध पत्रः पतितो विन्ध्ये अहम् वानरर्षभाः |
अहम् अस्मिन् वसन् भ्रातुः प्रवृत्तिम् न उपलक्षये || ४-५८-७

“And oh, vanara-chiefs, when sun rays have utterly burned my wings, I fell down on this Mt. Vindhya, and while living hereabouts constrainedly, I could pay no attention to my brother's experiences or, at least his existence, or otherwise.” [4-58-7]

Jatayapara Hill

While Chadayamagalam does not fit any of the Ramayana evidence for Jataayu, it beautifully corroborates all the three constraints we saw for the location of Sampaathi.

Then how did Chadayamangalam get linked with Jataayu lore?

We can only conjecture.

From Ramayana narration, we know that Sampaathi—who was actually intending to eat the Vanaras—changed his mind and helps the Vanaras after hearing the Vanaras eulogize Jataayu. Thus the crucial role played by Jatayu in helping the Vanaras, even after his demise, might have played a role in naming the place of Sampaathi with his more illustrious brother–Jatayu.

Summary:

The Vanara group led by Angada, Hanuman and Jambavanta search all over the Dandaka forest and fail to locate Seetha. They enter into a cave along the southwestern peaks of the Western Ghats and lose their path. Swayamprabha helps them by bringing them near the Malaya ranges next to the southern ocean.

When the Vanaras plan on fasting to death after failing to make any headway, they meet Sampaathi–the elder brother of Jatayu. We saw that Chadayamangalam corroborates all the descriptions of Ramayana to be the location of Sampaathi.

Sampaathi informs the Vanaras about witnessing the abduction of Seetha and the dwelling of Ravana. The Vanaras follow the instructions of Sampaathi and reach the northern shore of the ocean.

दक्षिणस्य समुद्रस्य समासाद्य उत्तराम् दिशम् |
संनिवेशम् ततः चक्रुः सहिता वानर उत्तमाः || ४-६४-४

“On reaching the northern side of the Southern Ocean those best monkeys have collectively made a camp there.” [4-64-4]

Next stop is the el-dorado— Ravana’s Lanka!

 

References:

1. Tracking the Trail of Jatayu- https://myind.net/Home/viewArticle/tracking-the-trail-of-jatayu
2. Where is the Mahendra Parvat of Ramayana- https://myind.net/Home/viewArticle/where-is-the-mahendra-parvat-of-ramayana
3. Cover image: Google

 

All the images are provided by the author.