Araṇya-Kāṇḍa of
Ramayana mentions that Jatayu is the "King of Vultures"(gṛdhrarāja). According to the epic, the demon Ravana was abducting the goddess
Sita to Lanka when Jatayu tried to rescue her. Jatayu fought valiantly with Ravana, but as Jatayu was very old
Ravana soon defeated him, clipping his wings, and Jatayu falls down to earth.
Rama and
Lakshmana while on the search for Sita, chanced upon the stricken and dying Jatayu, who informed them of the battle with Ravana and told them that Ravana had headed South. Jatayu then died of his wounds and Rama performed his final funeral rites. Popular belief is that surrounds Chadayamangalam is that the entire course of event following Jadayu falling and rituals performed happened here. Chadayamangalam shares this origin myth with two other places in India,
Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh and Vijayaraghava Perumal temple in Tamil Nadu. Chadayamangalam consists of the Kodandarama temple at the peak of Jadayu para (more commonly called Mellupara) placed 1000 feet above the sea level. Chadayamagalam also has other numerous small mountains like Vayanam Mala, Pavoor Mala, Alathara Mala, Elambrakodu Mala, Arkannur Madappara Mala and Thevannur Mala marking its natural beauty. The associated story in the temple premises include presence of “Kokkarani” (water tank), Jadayu created by rubbing the rock with his beak. As the time has come for the bird to leave his body after hearing narrative of Sitaapaharan, Lord Ram is believed to have performed the last rites of Jadayu. Thus, the Lord granted salvation to Jatayu by standing on one leg on the top of the Jatayu rock, where his foot print surfaced and it exists even now. This site of footprint and the source of water sprinkling out at the top of the rocky mountain throughout the year is revered by devotees coming to the temple. Numerous wild monkeys belonging to bonnet macaque species is also found making the mountain their home. ==Agriculture==