>245CMR at 17:56, 3 July 2021

2021-07-03T17:56:23Z

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{{short description|Divine creature in Hinduism}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| texts = [[Ramayana]], [[Bhagavata Purana]]
| image = Jambavan.jpg
| alt = Jambavan
| caption = Painting of Jambavan
| affiliation = Divine [[bear]]
| father = [[Brahma]]
| siblings =
| children = [[Jambavati]] (daughter)
}}
In Hinduism, '''Jambavana''' also known as '''Jambavanta''' is the divine-king of bears, created by the god [[Brahma]] to assist the avatar [[Rama]] in his struggle against the Lanka king [[Ravana]].<ref name=dict /> Jambavanta is an Asian black bear or sloth bear in Indian epic tradition, though he is also described as a monkey in other scriptures.<ref name=dict>Patricia Turner, Charles Russell Coulter. ''Dictionary of ancient deities''. 2001, page 248</ref> Jambavana was present at the [[Samudra manthan|churning of the ocean]] and is supposed to have circled [[Vamana]] seven times when he was acquiring the three worlds from [[Mahabali]].

Jambavan, together with Parasuram and Hanuman, is considered to be one of the few to have been present for both Ram and Krishna avatars. His daughter [[Jambavati]] was married to [[Krishna]]. He was also presented for the churning of the ocean and thus witness to the Kurma avatar, and further the Vaman avatar, Jambavan may well be the longest-lived of the Chiranjeevi and have been witness to nine avatars.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jambavan: The only one who saw Lord Rama and Krishna|url=http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-slideshow/seekers/god-and-i/jambavan-the-only-one-who-saw-lord-Rama-and-Krishna?track=cntshfb}}</ref>

== Names ==
[[File:Jambavanta.JPG|thumb|Jambavana as depicted in [[Yakshagana]] (a dance drama)]]
Jambavan is also known as
* Jambavat
* Jambavantha (ಜಾಂಬವಂತ, [[Kannada script]])
* Jamvanta [[Kannada script]]
* Jāmbubān ‍([[Bengali language|Bangla]])
* Champu ([[Khmer Language|Cambodia]])
* Jambuwana ([[Malay language|Malay]])
* Jambuvan ([[Odia language|Odia]])
* Jambuvaan ([[Marathi language| Marathi]])
* Jambavan ([[Malayalam]])
* Jāmbavamtudu (జాంబ వంతుడు, [[Telugu language|Telugu]])
* Keeratuvan ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewelry-history.com/2012/07/syamantaka-mani-part-5-jambavan-fights.html|title=Jambavan Fights Krishna (Syamantaka Mani Legend, Part 5)|first1=Angela|last1=Magnotti|last2=rews}}</ref>
* Zabaman ([[Burmese language|Burmese]])
* Sambuvan (சாம்பவான், [[Tamil language|Tamil]])
* Chomphuphan (ชมพูพาน, [[Thai language|Thai]])
Several times he is mentioned as Kapishreshtha (Foremost among the monkeys), and other epithets are generally given to the Vanaras. He is known as Riksharaj (King of the Rikshas). Rikshas are earlier described as similar to Vanaras but in later versions of Ramayana, Rikshas are described as bears.

==Legends==
===Birth===
In the beginning when Brahma was born from the navel of lord Vishnu he started meditating and yawned for some time during the yawn a small creature was born which later became Jambavan. It is said he was called jambavan either because he was born on jambudwip or because he was born while yawning. In Sanskrit yawn means Jrimbhan (जृम्भण=yawning).
He was present at the time when Lord Vishnu was fighting madhu and kaitabha demons. And was Clapping and enjoying the battle. Since he was born when there was no time his age is not known. At the time of Ramayan he was 6 manvantara old.
===Helping Rama===
In the epic ''[[Ramayana]]'', Jambavantha helped Rama find his wife [[Sita]] and fight her abductor, Ravana. It is he who makes [[Hanuman]] realize his immense capabilities and encourages him to fly across the ocean to search for Sita in Lanka.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mvXsDwAAQBAJ&pg=PP5&dq=vettam+mani#q=Jambavan|title=Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|date=2015-01-01|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0597-2|language=en}}</ref>

===The Syamantaka gem===
In the [[Mahabharata]], Jambavantha had killed a lion, who had acquired a gem called [[Syamantaka]] from Prasena after killing him. Krishna was suspected of killing Prasena for the jewel, so he tracked Prasena's steps until he learned that he had been killed by a lion, who had been killed by a bear. Krishna tracked Jambavantha to his cave and a fight ensued. The combat between Krishna and Jambavan ensued for 27/28 days (per Bhagavata Purana) and 21 days (per Vishnu Purana) after which Jambavan began to grow tired. Then realizing who Krishna was, Jambavantha submitted. He gave Krishna the gem and also presented him his daughter [[Jambavati]], who became one of Krishna's wives.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mvXsDwAAQBAJ&pg=PP5&dq=vettam+mani#q=Jambavan|title=Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|date=2015-01-01|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0597-2|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Vamana]]
* [[Sugriva]]
* [[Ramayana]]
*[[Vanara|Vanara Army]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.valmikiramayan.net/kishkindha/sarga65/kishkindha_65_prose.htm Jambavantha motivating Hanuman for the task of leaping the ocean.] in Valmiki Ramayana - Kishkindha Kanda in Prose Sarga 65 - Accessed August 14, 2006.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090104053813/http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/jambavantha-a-rksha-warrior-2/ Jambavantha - A Rksha Warrior]

{{Ramayana}}

[[Category: Characters in the Ramayana]]
[[Category: Mythological bears]]
[[Category: Bears in religion]]
[[Category: Characters_in_the_Bhagavata_Purana]]

Jambavan - Revision history

>245CMR at 17:56, 3 July 2021