The Devoted Eagle
Periya Udaiyār (Tamil: 'the great lord' / 'the noble owner') is the honorific used in the Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition for Jaṭāyu — the aged eagle-king who encountered Rāvaṇa abducting Sītā and, despite his advanced age and weakness, fought the demon-king to protect Her. Mortally wounded, he lived long enough to report to Rāma where Sītā had been taken.
Rāma's Grief and Honor
When Rāma found the dying Jaṭāyu, he wept over him as he would for his own father. Rāma performed Jaṭāyu's final rites — an honor usually reserved for one's own family. This moment is deeply moving in the Rāmāyaṇa tradition: the Lord Himself grieving for and honoring a devotee-bird who gave everything for His consort.
Theological Significance
Jaṭāyu represents the highest form of tadīya-śeṣatva — absolute service to the Lord's own — without calculation or self-interest. He fought not for personal gain but out of pure devotion to Sītā (Śrī Devī) and his dharma. His story is cited as a teaching on ananya-śaraṇatva (having no other refuge) and the Lord's grace toward those who serve His devotees.