Jembawan: The Bear King Who Stole the Syamantaka Jewel
Jembawan, the noble warrior also known as the king of bears, traveled the world with great wisdom and courage. As a wise advisor, he provided guidance to kings and rulers from various kingdoms. Not only was he renowned for his immense strength, but Jembawan was also respected for his profound insights into life, morality, and justice. Want to learn more about the story of Jembawan? You can continue with his tale below.
Jembawan, also known as Jambawanta or Jamwanta, is a legendary figure in Hindu mythology. He is a bear king believed to have lived from the time of Kertayuga to Dwaparayuga. Jembawan was born from Brahma, the creator deity in Hinduism, and possesses extraordinary strength and wisdom.
In Bali, Jembawan is also known as Kapi Jembawan and is a character from the Ramayana. He is depicted as a bear warrior or a half-man, half-bear figure in Indian epic tradition, although in Balinese tradition he is also shown as a monkey-like human with a dog's head. Jembawan is known as Riksharaja, meaning the ruler of the bears.
The Wise Jembawan (Source:Private Collection)
Jembawan is a chiranjivi, an immortal being who has lived for thousands of years. He is believed to have been born even before the creation of the Universe and is a mythological character who appears in ancient Indian epics. He is a devotee of Vishnu, and Jembawan descended to Earth to assist in combating evil. In his previous life, Jembawan was the King of the Himalayas.
One of Jembawan's significant roles is during the event known as Samudra Manthan or "Churning of the Ocean of Milk". In this tale, the gods and asuras (demons) collaborate to churn the ocean of milk to obtain amrita, the nectar of immortality. Jembawan, with his extraordinary power, helped in this process. He used his strength to help rotate Mount Mandara, which was used as the churning rod, while the serpent Vasuki was used as the churning rope.
This immortal bear warrior is said to possess the strength of a hundred lions and the wisdom and foresight of the gods themselves. He is a brilliant leader, a skilled strategist, and a formidable opponent. In the Ramayana, he appears to aid Sri Rama in fighting Ravana.
Jembawan was the one who made Hanuman realize his immense abilities and encouraged him to fly across the ocean to search for Sita in Alenka. When Lakshmana was severely wounded during the battle against Ravana, Jambavan instructed Hanuman to find the Lata Mahosadhi herb in the Himalayas.
Jembawan is Fighting a Lion (Source: Private Collection)
Jambavan also appears in the Mahabharata, where he kills a lion that had devoured Prasena and stolen the Syamantaka jewel. Krishna traced Prasena’s steps and discovered that he had been killed by a lion, which in turn was killed by a bear.
Jembawan eventually surrendered and recognized Krishna’s true identity. As a sign of peace, Jambavan gave the Syamantaka jewel and his daughter, Jambavati, to Krishna. Jambavati, believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, later became one of Krishna’s wives.
The Figure of Jembawan (Source: Private Collection)
Jembawan is a figure of wisdom and strength, with an exceptionally long life. He has witnessed significant events in Hindu mythology from Kertayuga to Dwaparayuga. Although his later life is not extensively documented, Jembawan remains remembered as one of the most loyal and wise beings in Hindu mythology.
