Throughout this semester, I've read so many Indian epics, including so many stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The characters in those traditional Indian epics were fascinating. Nevertheless, I've found myself liking Jataka Tales even more although I really like Ramayana and Mahabharata stories.
So I decided to read more Jataka tales. I like the fact that Jataka tales always have some sort of life lesson or wisdom in the story.
Hawk is one of my favorite animals. I like hawks because they have fierce, focused eyes, aiming at preys. So I wondered how hawks are portrayed in Jataka tales. Although I thoroughly enjoyed all the more Jataka stories, and other stories were all interesting and fun to read, this particular story of
"the hawks and their friends" really caught my attention.
The story begins with describing ecosystem of the animals. Their habitats, including that of the hawks, were mentioned to explain how different animals lived in different places, apart from one another. I think the hunters represented the arch-enemy of all animals since they could shoot all of the animals down with a shot of a rifle.
This hunters' dialogue must have sounded like a life threat to the hawks: "That was the cry of birds! They will do very well for our breakfast. There are young ones in that nest."
I think this is why friends and allies are important: "These men are planning to eat our young ones. We must ask our friends to save us. Go to the Kingfisher and tell him what danger we are in." In tough and challenging times, I think friends are there to help out from crisis.
I like how Kingfisher tried hard to help the hawks. I think the kingfisher was a loyal friend.
Wow.. This turtle is a tough turtle: "But when they had put the net all over the Turtle, they could not roll him over. Instead, the Turtle suddenly dived down into the deep water. The men were so eager to get him that they did not let go of the net, so down they went into the water." This is so intense and I could see how tough and determined the turtle was to save his friends.
Lion's roar and dignity scared the hunters and the hawks were saved finally at last. I really like this amazing story of friendship and the importance of making good friends. The hawks would have easily caught and eaten by the hunters if they weren't helped by their loyal friends. This amazing Jataka tale, again, teaches a great life lesson: Loyal friends are your life assets who can even save your life.
So I decided to read more Jataka tales. I like the fact that Jataka tales always have some sort of life lesson or wisdom in the story.
Hawk is one of my favorite animals. I like hawks because they have fierce, focused eyes, aiming at preys. So I wondered how hawks are portrayed in Jataka tales. Although I thoroughly enjoyed all the more Jataka stories, and other stories were all interesting and fun to read, this particular story of
"the hawks and their friends" really caught my attention.
The story begins with describing ecosystem of the animals. Their habitats, including that of the hawks, were mentioned to explain how different animals lived in different places, apart from one another. I think the hunters represented the arch-enemy of all animals since they could shoot all of the animals down with a shot of a rifle.
This hunters' dialogue must have sounded like a life threat to the hawks: "That was the cry of birds! They will do very well for our breakfast. There are young ones in that nest."
I think this is why friends and allies are important: "These men are planning to eat our young ones. We must ask our friends to save us. Go to the Kingfisher and tell him what danger we are in." In tough and challenging times, I think friends are there to help out from crisis.
I like how Kingfisher tried hard to help the hawks. I think the kingfisher was a loyal friend.
Wow.. This turtle is a tough turtle: "But when they had put the net all over the Turtle, they could not roll him over. Instead, the Turtle suddenly dived down into the deep water. The men were so eager to get him that they did not let go of the net, so down they went into the water." This is so intense and I could see how tough and determined the turtle was to save his friends.
Lion's roar and dignity scared the hunters and the hawks were saved finally at last. I really like this amazing story of friendship and the importance of making good friends. The hawks would have easily caught and eaten by the hunters if they weren't helped by their loyal friends. This amazing Jataka tale, again, teaches a great life lesson: Loyal friends are your life assets who can even save your life.
Turtle drags hunters into water. Source: The tough turtle drags hunters
Bibliography:
Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt, illustrated by Ellsworth Young (1912).
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