During their period of exile, once Lord Rama had said to Lakshman : " Everywhere on earth, even animals and birds are religious like sages. Jatayu was one such bird. Vinita, the wife of the sage Kashyap had begot 2 sons, Garuda and Arun. Garuda became the vehicle of Lord Vishnu, while Arun became the charioteer of Surya (the sun God). Arun had 2 sons- Sampati and Jatayu. Once in their childhood, Sampati and Jatayu decided to reach to the sun. So they began to fly higher and higher. But very soon, Jatayu seemed to have lost his tolerance to the heat of the sun. Hence to save him, his elder brother Sampati spread his wings over the younger Jatayu. He did save his younger brother but got his own wings burnt by the heat and he fell at the seashore.Later Jatayu came to stay in Panchavati. Later on king Dashratha came to the forests for hunting,There he met and made friends with Jatayu.

When Ravana after abducting Sita was on his way to Lanka on Pushpak vimana, Ravana encountered Jatayu. Seeing Sita crying out for help, Jatayu got outrageous and cursing Ravana, he charged him,they had a long fight.Jatayu had grown old. He knew very well that he cannot overpower Ravana. But he wished to sacrifice his body in the service of Lord Rama. So he fought a fierce battle with Ravana. But he could not stand before the mighty Ravana. Ravana cut his wings and he fell on the ground and Ravana finally managed to abduct Sita.

Back there at the hut, when Rama and Lakshman returned, they did not find Sita there. So they set out to search for her. It was during the search for Sita that Rama happened to meet Jatayu for the first time though Jatayu had known Rama from earlier times. Jatayu was then breathing his last. His mind was concentrated on Rama's feet. He said : " O Lord, the demon king Ravana has forcibly taken Sita towards the south. I have been holding my breath to have a sight of you. Now, I desire to breath my last, so kindly allow me to leave now, O Lord."

Rama's eyes were filled with tears. He said :" Hold your breath, I will make your body immortal and ageless." But Jatayu did not have any attachment for his body. He said that Shri Rama himself is before me. Then for what purpose should i keep my body?."Thus Lord Rama said "now leaving your body, come to stay in my abode."

Shri Rama then dusted Jatayu's body with his locks of hair. Staring at the divine face of Lord Rama, Jatayu breathed his last in his lap and reached Paramdham. Shri Rama performed Jatayu's last rites and respectfully cremated his body and then offered libations for him as well. It was indeed a high fortune for Jatayu, that Lord Rama who could not perform his father's last rites came to perform the last rites of Jatayu.