The Balaji temple at Chilkur has formed a unique army, Jatayu Sena, comprising men who would strive to prevent crimes against girls and women.
In a symbolic ritual organised at the Chilkur temple on Tuesday, scores of male devotees took oath to serve as Jatayu Sena members and chief priest C.S. Rangarajan tied the sacred thread around their wrists. Every Jatayu member would be proactive in protecting girls and women from the unwanted advances of anti-social elements.
The initiative is named after the divine Eagle Jatayu in Ramayana. In the epic, Jatayu puts up a valiant fight against demon Ravana, who abducts Sita. Jatayu would later give the crucial information about Sita’s abduction to Lord Rama and Lakshman, who would ultimately rescue her. Priest Rangarajan, in a release, said atrocities against young girls and women were on the rise in different parts of the State and across country. Rather than condemning or expressing anguish after the incidents take place, it was time the society became sensitive and be alert to protect girls and women from molesters and eve-teasers. Nadeem of Karwan who rescued a 11-year-old girl from a man who was taking her forcibly on his two-wheeler at Moinabad became the first Jatayu member. He was brought inside the temple and felicitated by the priests.
The idea to form the Jatayu Sena came from the devotees themselves, who have been part of a sensitisation campaign. The Jayatu Sena is in continuation to the ‘Rakhee Challenge’ launched by the Chilkur temple last year when women tied rakhis to strange men who vowed to oppose anyone misbehaving with women.
