Eastern Spirituality

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Jambavan or Jamvanta is a bear in Hinduism and believe to lived from Treta Yuga to kaliYuga.

Jambavan (Malay: Jambuwana, Burmese: Zabaman, Tamil: Sambuvan, Thai: Chomphuphan) also known as Jamvanta, Jambavantha, Jambavat, or Jambuvan the King of the Bears, is a asiatic or sloth bear in Indian epic tradition (though he is also described as a monkey in other scriptures), immortal to all but his father Vishnu. Several times he is mentioned as Kapishreshtha (Foremost among the monkeys) and other epithets generally given to the Vanaras. He is known as Riksharaj (King of the Rikshas). Rikshas are described as something like Vanaras but in later versions of Ramayana Rikshas are described as bears. He was created by Brahma, to assist Rama in his struggle against Ravana. Jambavan was present at the churning of the ocean, and is supposed to have circled Vamana seven times when he was acquiring the three worlds from Mahabali.

Glossary Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z