Correspondence
By B. L. Nahata
Summary
The correspondence section features a letter from B. L. Nahata that comments on a sculpture of a double‑headed eagle recently discussed in the journal. Nahata notes that the image resembles the legendary Bharunda bird described in Jain literature and the Panchatantra. The Bharunda is a bird with two heads but one stomach; each head shares common organs yet retains independent will. Nahata recounts the tale: one day, the first head found a sweet fruit and ate it alone, telling the other that they share the same stomach so it makes no difference which head eats. Feeling slighted, the second head later consumed a poisonous fruit to spite the first. Since both heads share one body, they both died. The story’s moral cautions against selfishness and disunity. This narrative is well known in children’s versions of the Panchatantra: a two‑headed bird living in a banyan tree finds a delicious fruit but one head refuses to share; in revenge, the other head eats a poisonous fruit, causing both to die. Nahata highlights similar references in Jain texts like the *Vasudeva Hindi*, *Kalpasutra Kiranavali* and Hemacandra’s *Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra*, where the Bharunda exemplifies the danger of internal discord and the importance of harmony in the soul. He explains that in some Jaina iconography, the bird symbolises the dual nature of mind and senses. The letter further mentions that double‑headed eagles appear in medieval Indian art, coats of arms and tantric diagrams, representing union of opposites. Nahata quotes a verse from the Panchatantra that summarises the moral: “Pride and envy bring ruin; as the Bharunda birds perished through discord.” He urges readers not to misinterpret the Bharunda motif as evidence of foreign influence but to recognise its indigenous roots in Indian fables. The letter concludes by thanking the journal for inviting scholarly discussion on artistic symbols and encourages more correspondence on such topics. Through this letter, the journal demonstrates its engagement with readers and its openness to exploring how mythological motifs illuminate ethical principles across texts and media.
Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.
Conclusion
Nahata’s letter uses the familiar story of the two‑headed Bharunda bird to illustrate how selfishness and internal conflict can lead to mutual destruction. In the tale, one head’s refusal to share a tasty fruit prompts the other to ingest poison, causing both to die. Jain texts and Panchatantra fables use this motif to teach unity and the need to control ego. By linking the motif to artistic depictions of double‑headed eagles, the letter demonstrates how literary themes permeate visual culture. It underscores the journal’s role as a forum for readers to connect textual symbolism with art and ethics.