Raamayana’s heroes in DwaaparayugaPart 1
The Immortal Bear
Jambavan, also called Jambavat, who came into being when Bramha yawned, is depicted as a bear. However, Valmiki, in the Kishkindhakaanda, describes him as “supreme among apes”.
Legends are replete with accounts of humans transforming into animals, (and vice versa) while retaining the intellectual and moral abilities* of the humans, for instance, speech. One may recall that Hanuman assumed the guise of an elderly Brahmin when he met Raama and Lakshmana for the first time.
*unlike the animagus of Harry Potter
Jambavan has been around from the beginning of time. He is said to have been present at the churning of the ocean, witnessing the second avataara of Vishnu, in the form of a giant tortoise uphold the Mandara mountain, and circumambulated* Vamana, the fifth avataara of Vishnu, when he was in the process of claiming his three steps of land from Bali.
Jambavan played a key role in the Raamayana, assisting the seventh avataara of Vishnu as Raama, to find his abducted wife, Sita. Jambavan was the chief advisor of Sugreeva. When the south-bound search party reached the shores of the ocean separating Bhaarathavarsha from Lanka, it was Jambavan who reminded Hanuman of his immense capacity to leap, when Hanuman is described as having “forgotten” his strength; and encouraged him to undertake the mission of leaping across the ocean.
*Jambavan himself talks about his 21 circumambulations, in Valmiki’s Raamayana.
The gem and its trail
In the Dwaaparayuga, lived two noblemen of the Yadu dynasty, Satraajit and Prasenjit. Satraajit was a staunch devotee of Surya, the Sun-god. Pleased with Satraajit’s penance, Surya granted him a magical, precious gemstone, called Shyamanatakamani.
Satraajit appeared as brilliant as the Sun himself when he wore the gem on his person. The celestial gem ensured plenty in the land and also granted its owner 77 kilos of gold every day. Krishna asked Satraajit for the gem, in order to present it to Ugrasena, the doyen of the Yadu dynasty. Satraajit refused to part with it.
When Prasenjit who donned the gem and went into a forest to hunt, did not return, people suspected foul play. They accused* Krishna of having done away with Prasenjit, in order to possess the gem. Krishna went into the forest accompanied by many Yaadavas, to search for Prasenjit and clear his name. When they found Prasenjit lying lifeless** on the ground, they realised that he had been killed by a lion. As they went further, they discovered a lion lying dead, near a cave. Krishna entered the cave while the others waited outside. They returned to their city after seven days of waiting for Krishna to come out of the cave. Krishna took another 21 days to emerge with a bride and the celestial gem.
*ignominy for having seen the moon on the chauthi of Bhadrapada masa, thereby incurring the wrath of Ganesha. It is a belief that listening to this tale of the gem and Krishna absolves the sin of those who have seen the moon on the night of Vinayaka Chaturthi.
**The celestial gem with its immense divine power did not protect the wearer because of Satraajit’s refusal to hand it over to Krishna.
A fight and two weddings
When Krishna entered the cave, he found a child playing with the jewel. Tending to the child were two maidens, the nurse and Jambavan’s beauteous daughter, Jambavati. Jambavan began to fight Krishna in order to protect his family. After a gruelling combat of 28 days, Jambavan realised that his opponent was none other than his beloved Raama. (Again, this whole episode of failure to recognise followed by recognition is part of divine leele).
He offered the gem along with the hand of his daughter to Krishna. Krishna accepted both. When Krishna went to Satraajit with the gem and his new bride, Satraajit was greatly unnerved by the turn of events. Filled with remorse, he offered the gem and his own daughter, the spirited Satyabhaama, to Krishna. Krishna refused the gem but wed Satyabhaama.
