Jambavan (जाम्बवान्)

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Jambavan (Samskrit : जाम्बवान्) or Jambavanta is well known as the wise old minister (a noble bear) of Sugriva, the Vanara Raja who lived on the Kishkinda mountain of Bharatavarsha. He is also known for his fight with Shri Krishna for Syamantakamani (a precious ornament gifted by Surya) described in Bhagavata Purana. Thus his role in Ramayana and Bhagavata Purana is well discussed. There are different versions that Jambavan was described as a monkey and a bear.

In some of the Ramayana versions in Indian languages he is described as a monkey. In some versions he was described as a monkey existing from an ancient period even prior to incarnation of Shri Rama. Jambavan is said to have witnessed nine out of the ten incarnations of Mahavisnu, thus he is known for his longevity.

Birth and Family

In Valmiki Ramayana, Jambavan is described as Rksapungava (ऋक्षपुङ्गव: । foremost of bears) who was created from Brahma.

पूर्वमेव मया सृष्टो जाम्बवानृक्षपुङ्गव:। जृम्भमाणस्य सहसा मम वक्त्रादजायत।।1.17.6।। (Valm. Rama. 1.17.6)

Brahma says - earlier Jambavan, the Rkshapungava, the foremost among bears arose from my face at the instance of my yawning.

There are two stories about the birth of Jambavan in the Puranas.

Birth of Jambavan

One day time of Brahma ended and the night had advanced two yamas (six hours) . The Madhukaitabhas born of the ear-wax of Mahavisnu began to create trouble and commotion in the waters of the great flood. They saw a lotus on the surface of water. Seeing Brahma in it they challenged him for fight. Brahma's middle face began to sweat which flowed through his cheeks and reached the loins. Jambavan came into being from that sweat and hence the name Ambujata, (born from the water of sweat). As he was the first person who entered the land of Jambunada he was called Jambavan. As he was born at a time when it was the night time for Brahma, when no universe was yet formed, the time his age or date of birth could not be ascertained. At the time of Sri Rama Jambavan was six Manvantaras (age of a Manu) and for hundred and sixtyfour Caturyugas (a period of four yugas) old. (The present age is the twenty-eighth Caturyuga of the seventh Manu). Jambavan had witnessed all the incarnations from Matsya to Sri Rama. (Kamba Ramayana Purva Kanda).

Family

Marjara, was the son of Jambavan. It is said in Brahmapurana that the marjaras (cats) have their origin from this son of Jambavan. (Page 488, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi).

Sri Krsna married Jambavati the daughter of Jambavan. (Bhagavata, Skandha (10)

Jambavan in Ramayana

When the troubles and hardships caused by the wickedness of Ravana became unbearable the goddess Earth and the Devas approached Brahma for redress. Brahma took them to Vaikuntha, where Mahavisnu heard everything and said that he would incarnate as the son of Dasaratha and would kill Ravana. As Mahavishnu took the avatara of Shri Ramachandra, Brahma directed chiefs of Apasara and Gandharvas to create an army of monkeys to help Shri Rama on that occasion. Accordingly Brahma created Jambavan (earlier than Rama's incarnation) and several other monkeys. Distinguished rshis, siddhas, vidyadharas, uragas, charanas procreated heroic sons in the form of monkeys who became forest-dwellers.

During the time of Shri Rama, Jambavan was the minister of Sugriva. It is stated in Valmiki Ramayana, Kiskindha Kanda, Sarga 41, that Nila, the son of Agni, Hanuman, Jambavan, Suhotra, Sarari, Saragulma, Gaja, Gavaksa, Gavaya, Susena, Rsabha, Mainda, Dvivida, Vijaya, Gandhamadana, Ulkamukha, Asanga, Angada and others were the ministers of Sugriva. The monkeys who went to the south in search of Sita, reached the sea shore. The question was how to jump over the sea to Lanka. Each of them came forward to show his ability and admitted failure. Finally Jambavan called Hanuman to him and advised him to jump over to Lanka. Hanuman who was not aware of his own powers, refused. Jambavan told him about his birth, self-power, attainment of boons etc. Hanuman became convinced of his powers at the words of Jambavan and jumped over the sea to Lanka. (Ramayana, Kiskindha Kanda). Jambavan walked round Mahavisnu, who incarnated as Vamana to curb the powers of Mahabali. At that time Jambavan was immensely strong. But by the time of the incarnation of Sri Rama his strength had decreased much. Hear what he said to the monkeys who assembled on the sea-shore to go in search of Sita. "My abilities in olden times were not what you see now. In the far old days, I had walked round that Eternal Being Visnu when he measured three steps at the sacrifice of Mahabali. Now, I am very old and have not enough strength" to jump over the sea." (Valmiki Ramayana, Kiskindha kanda, Sarga 65).

Once due to a curse of sage Trnabindu Hanuman lost his great strength and vitality. But, he would regain the lost power when one reminded him of it. During the- search for Sita Hanuman felt it difficult to jump across the southern sea to Lanka due to the above curse. But, when Jambavan described to him about his noble origin and powers Hanuman regained his lost power and vitality, and successfully jumped across the sea to Lanka. (Page 308, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

During the triumphal tour of Sahadeva in the South he fought against Kiskindha, and after seven days' fighting the monkeys saw Sahadeva off with a present of costly gems. "Sahadeva fought against the monkey chiefs like Mainda, Dvivida etc. for seven days, but neither of them got exhausted, and the monkey chiefs, with affection and gratitude asked Sahadeva to depart with gems." (Sabha Parva, Chapter 31). During this period nothing was heard of Sugriva,Hanuman and Jambavan in Kiskindha. Might be Sugriva was no more. Hanuman, after the death of Sri Rama, lived in Gandhamadana in Kimpurusavarsa. (Bharata and Bhagavata, 10th Skandha) .

In South India, at the southern tip of the Sahya ranges, a mountain reputed for medicinal herbs., may still be seen. This mountain is known by the name "Marutvamala". A legend- connected with the origin of this mountain, is given in Uttara Ramayana as follows:- “It was the time of the battle between Rama & Ravana. Ravana's younger brother Vibhisana, joined the side of Rama and fought against Ravana. The enraged Ravana shot his arrow at Vibhisana. In his endeavour to save Vibhisana, Laksmana fell down unconscious. Rama and his followers discussed how Laksmana could be revived. Jambavan observed that there was a herb called "Dronam" in one of the peaks of the Himalayas and if it was brought at once, Laksmana  could be restored to his senses. Hanuman flew; to the Himalayas immediately. But although he combed the forests there, he was not able to find the herb: Dronam. So he tore away and lifted a whole peak which was full of all kinds of medicinal herbs and returned to Lanka. Jambavan took the needed herbs from it and deposited the peak at the southern end of India. This is the present Marutvamala. (Mala means mountain). (Page 491, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

MRTASANJIVANI. This is a medicinal herb to give life to those who are dead. When in the Rama-Ravana battle Laksmana and others fell dead, Sri Rama wanted Mrtasanjivani to be brought to revive them back to life. Jambavan the oldest among the monkey-warriors then instructed Hanuman to get it from the mountain Mahameru.  (Page 505, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

Armies of many lakhs of monkeys were deputed to the eight regions to search for Slta. Susena was appointed chief of the army for the west, Satabali for the north, Vinata for the east and Angada for the south. As the south was the chief place for the search, monkeys like Hanuman,Jambavan, Vivida, Nala, Nila, Kumuda, each of them an expert in various ways, were appointed chiefs of different matters. Every chief and his assistant was given suitable instructions by Laksmana and Sugriva, and accordingly the army of monkeys began its march under the leadership of Hanuman.

Soon after Sri Rama entered Lanka, Ravana sent Suka and Sarana to Sri Rama's camp. After taking a distant view of the surroundings, they entered the camp of Sri Rama in the form of monkeys. Taking care not to come within the observation of Vibhisana, they went about the military camps, gathering secret information. Just then they were met by Jambavan and Hanuman. After closely observing them for a considerable time, they understood that they were enemy spies. The monkey-heroes promptly seized them and produced them before Sugriva. (Page 758, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

Jambavan During Vamana Incarnation

At the time of the incarnation of Vamana, Jambavan was very strong and valiant. When Vamana brought under control the three worlds by measuring three steps Jambavan travelled throughout the three worlds carrying the news everywhere. Within three moments Jambavan travelled eighteen times through the three worlds. In this travel of lightning-speed the end of the nail of his toe touched the highest peak of Mahameru, who considered it as an insult and said "You are arrogant of your speed and youth. Hereafter your body will not reach where your mind reaches and you shall be ever old." Because of this curse Jambavan became old and unable to carry out what he wished. (Kamba Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda).

Jambavan in Shrimad Bhagavata Purana

Jambavan fighting with Shrikrishna in a cave.

Jambavan is seen in Dvapara Yuga, in connection with the precious stone Syamantaka, in the incarnation of Krsna. The Sun-god gave this jewel Syamantaka to King Satrajit. His younger brother Prasena wore it and went to the forest for hunting. A lion killed him and took the jewel in his mouth and was going along the forest when Jambavan killed it and took the jewel. It was rumoured that Sri Krsna had killed Prasena and taken the jewel.

Shrikrishna milking the cow on the night of Bhadrapada Chaviti day when he sees the reflection of Chandra in the milk.

So Sri Krsna went in search of the jewel to the forest, defeated Jambavan and took the jewel, and returned it to Satrajit. Sri Krsna married Jambavati the daughter of Jambavan. (Bhagavata, Skandha 10).

From the story of Prasena it may be seen that Jambavan left Kiskindha and lived in another cave with his sons and other relations. (Page 413-414, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

Prasena, brother of the Yadava King Satrajit, went ahunting wearing on him the gem called Syamantaka presented to the latter by the Sungod. Jambavan saw a lion carrying off the gem after killing Prasena. He killed the lion, recovered the gem from it and gave it to his children to play with. A rumour was spread that it was Krsna who had killed and stolen the gem. Krsna searched for the gem in the forest and found it out in the cave of Jambavan. In the duel that ensued between Jambavan and Krsna the former was defeated. He recognised Krsna to be the Lord, and presented Syamantaka and also his daughter JambavatI to Krsna and JambavatI thus became Krsna's wife. (Page 425, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

Once Prasena went hunting with that gem round his neck and he was attacked and killed by a lion. The lion while carrying the Syamantaka was killed by Jambavan and the latter carried the gem to his den and gave it to his children to play with. When Prasena did not return from his hunting and was found later lying dead without the gem the news spread that the stone might have been stolen by Krsna after killing Prasena. The slander reached the ears of Krsna also and he went to the forest in search of the Syamantaka. He found the cave of Jambavan and on peeping in found the children of Jambavan playing with the gem. Jambavan attacked Krsna and after a grim battle which lasted for several days Jambavan was defeated. When he knew that it was Krsna who had defeated him he gave him along with the Syamantaka his daughter Jambavati also Krsna brought the gem and the girl to Dvaraka and gave back the gem to Satrajit. (Chapter 38, Harivamsa; Chapter-13, Part 8, Padma Purana).  (Page 603, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)