Ramayana: Why Rama Pierced Crow's Eye & Its Ancestral Boon

• Indra's son, Jayanta, doubted Rama's divinity and tested him by injuring Sita while disguised as a crow.
• Angered, Rama used a Brahmastra (a blade of grass) against Jayanta, who could find no refuge from the weapon.
• Rama spared Jayanta's life after he surrendered, but the Brahmastra pierced one of his eyes, explaining why crows look sideways.
• Rama blessed Jayanta, stating that food offered to crows would reach ancestors, making crows a link to the departed.
• This incident established the Hindu ritual of feeding crows during ancestral rites to appease the souls of elders.

Why It Matters: Explains a Hindu ritual and a crow's unique vision, rooted in ancient myth.