Jambavan
The Immortal Bear King
The ancient, wise king of the bears, so old he remembers Vishnu's earlier avatars. He reminded Hanuman of his forgotten powers - and later even wrestled Krishna.
- Sanskrit/Telugu name: జాంబవంతుడు
- Also known as: Jambavanta, The Bear King
- Symbols: Bear form, Syamantaka jewel
Story
Jambavan is the wise old king of the bears, created at the dawn of this age, and in many tellings he is a chiranjeevi - one who lives across the yugas. He is so ancient he personally circled the universe when Vishnu took his giant Trivikrama strides as Vamana! In the Ramayana, Jambavan is the army's grandfather figure, and he gives the epic one of its greatest moments. When the vanaras stood defeated at the edge of the ocean, unable to cross a hundred yojanas to Lanka, it was Jambavan who turned to quiet Hanuman and reminded him of the truth Hanuman had forgotten: a childhood curse had hidden his memory of his own limitless power. "You are the son of Vayu - nothing is beyond you!" With those words, Hanuman grew vast and leapt the ocean. Ages later, in Krishna's time, Jambavan was still alive, guarding the sun-bright Syamantaka jewel in his cave. Krishna came searching for it, and the two wrestled for many days - until Jambavan realized this was his own Rama, come again in a new form. Overjoyed, he surrendered the jewel and gave his daughter Jambavati to Krishna in marriage. One devotee, two avatars, one very long life!
Fun fact
Jambavan is one of the only figures who appears in both epics' worlds - he served Rama in the Treta Yuga, then wrestled Krishna in the Dvapara Yuga and became his father-in-law.
Family and connections
- Devotee: Rama