Jambavan role in Ramayana and Puranas

Jambavan plays an important role in Hindu epic Ramayana. Jambavan, also known as Jamvanta, was the King of the Bears. Jambavan helped Rama to find Sita, who was abducted by King Ravana. He made Hanuman to realize his immense capabilities and encourages Hanuman to fly across the ocean in search for Sita Devi in Lanka. Jambavan received a boon from Lord Rama that he would have a long life and have the strength of about ten million lions. Jambavan know about the all-curing plant named Vishalyakarni from the gods and he later used this information to convey Hanuman to help injured Laxmana who was rendered unconscious by Ravana's son named Indrajit. Jambavan is considered to be one of the few to have been present for both Ram and Krishna avatars.

In puranas, Jambavan is said to have been present for the churning of the ocean and thus witnessed the Kurma avatar of Lord Vishnu, later Vaman avatar. Jambavan may be the longest lived of the chiranjivis and have been witnessed nine avatars.

Other popular names of Jambavan are Jamvanta, Jambavantha, Jambavat, Jambuvan, Jambuwana, Zabaman, Keeratuvan, Sambuvan and Chomphuphan.