Talk about Vulture in Hindu religion and the first image
that comes to the mind is of Jatayu fighting Ravana who was abducting Sita.
Another Vulture that is mentioned in Hinduism is Sampati, brother of Jatayu.
Both Sampati and Jatayu are the sons of Aruna, chariot driver of Surya, the sun
god.
In the Ramayana, Jatayu tried to stop Ravana who was forcibly carrying away Sita on his Pushpaka Vimana – flying machine. In the attempt, Jatayu was fatally injured. But Jatayu lived long enough to inform Sri Ram and Lakshman about the abduction.
Legend has it that the two brothers once tried to reach sun.
In the attempt, Jatayu almost got his wings burnt. To save his brother, Sampati
flew above Jatayu and in the process burnt his wings.
In the Ramayana, Jatayu tried to stop Ravana who was forcibly carrying away Sita on his Pushpaka Vimana – flying machine. In the attempt, Jatayu was fatally injured. But Jatayu lived long enough to inform Sri Ram and Lakshman about the abduction.
It was Sri Ram and Lakshman who performed the last rites of
Jatayu who died chanting Ram Nam
– name of Sri Ram.
This act of Jatayu helped in attaining moksha and also
sanctified all the vultures.
Sampati who had lost his wings was residing in a cave and
confirmed to Sri Ram about the abduction and informed about the direction in
which Sita was carried away.
In Astrology, Vulture is the vehicle or Vahana
of Ketu Navgraha.