| Jambavati | |
|---|---|
| Member ofAshtabharya | |
 Jambavati and the other Ashtabharya of Krishna, Mysore painting. | |
| Other names | Narendraputri, Rohini |
| Affiliation | Devi,Ashtabharya,Lakshmi,Rohini |
| Abodes | Dvaraka |
| Texts | Vishnu Purana,Mahabharata,Harivamsa,Srimad Bhagavatam |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents |
|
| Consort | Krishna |
| Children | Samba, Sumitra, Purujit, Shatajit, Sahasrajit, Vijaya, Chitraketu, Vasuman, Dravida, and Kratu |
| Dynasty | Yaduvamsha (by marriage) |
Jambavati (Sanskrit:जाम्बवती,romanized: Jāmbavatī) is chronologically the secondAshtabharya of theHindu godKrishna. She is the only daughter of the bear-kingJambavan.[1] Krishna marries her when he defeats her father, Jambavan, in his quest to retrieve the stolenSyamantaka jewel.[2]
Jambavati, a patronymic, means daughter ofJambavan. Sridhara, a commentator on theBhagavata Purana, identifies her with Krishna's wife Rohini. However, another commentator, Ratnagarbha, disagrees.[3] TheHarivamsa also suggests that Rohini may be an alternate name of Jambavati.[4] Jambavati is also given the epithets Narendraputri and Kapindraputra.[4]
In the epicMahabharata,Jambavan is introduced as Jambavati's father.[4] TheBhagavata Purana and theHarivamsa calls him the king of bears.[4][5]
Jambavati is an incarnation of the goddessLakshmi, along with thejunior wives of Krishna, as well as the Ashtabharya.[6]
The marriage of Jambavati andSatyabhama to Krishna is closely linked with the story ofSyamantaka, the precious jewel, which has its mention in theVishnu Purana and theBhagavata Purana. The precious jewel originally belonged to the sun-god,Surya. Surya, pleased with his devotee – theYadava nobleman,Satrajit, gave him the dazzling gem as a gift. When Satrajit returned to the capital city ofDvaraka with the jewel, people mistook him for Surya because of his dazzling glory. Krishna, impressed by the lustrous stone, asked him to present the jewel toUgrasena, Mathura's king and Krishna's grandfather, but Satrajit did not comply.[2]
Subsequently, Satrajit presented the Syamantaka to his brother Prasena, who was a counsellor. Prasena, who wore the jewel often, was attacked by a lion one day while hunting in the forest. He is killed in a fierce battle, and the lion fled with the jewel. The lion failed to retain the jewel, as shortly after the battle, it enters Jambavan's mountain cave, only to get killed. Jambavan, who seized the glittering jewel from the clutches of the lion, gives it to his young son to play with.
Back in Dvaraka, following the disappearance of Prasena, it was rumoured that Krishna, who had an eye on the Syamantaka jewel, had Prasena murdered and stolen the jewel. Krishna, who was accused of this false allegation, went out with other Yadavas in search of Prasena to establish his innocence by finding the jewel. He followed the trail that Prasena had taken and discovered the corpses of Prasena. He then followed the trail of the lion and reached the cave, where the dead lion was lying. Krishna told his fellow Yadavas to wait outside, while he entered the cave alone. Inside he saw a little child playing with the priceless jewel. As Krishna approached Jambavan's son, the child's nanny cried aloud, alertingJambavan. The two then engaged in furious combat for 27–28 days (as perBhagavata Purana) or 21 days (as perVishnu Purana). As Jambavan gradually grew tired, he realized that Krishna was none other than his benefactor Rama from theTreta Yuga. In gratitude and devotion to Krishna who spared his life, Jambavan gave up his fight and returned the jewel to Krishna.Jambavan offered his maiden daughter Jambavati in marriage to Krishna, along with the Syamantaka jewel. Krishna accepted the proposal and married Jambavati. They then moved to Dvaraka.[2][7][8]
Meanwhile, Yadavas who accompanied Krishna to the cave had returned to the kingdom presuming Krishna as dead. Every member of the royal family had assembled to mourn his death. After returning to Dvaraka, Krishna narrated the story of the recovery of the jewel and his marriage to Jambavati. He then returned the jewel to Satrajit in the presence ofUgrasena. Satrajit felt shy and ashamed to receive it, as he had realized his error of judgment and his greediness. He then offered his daughterSatyabhama in marriage to Krishna, along with the precious jewel. Krishna married Satyabhama, but refused the gem.[2][7]
TheMahabharata and theDevi Bhagavata Purana narrate a story of the birth of Samba, Jambavati's chief son. Jambavati was unhappy when she realized that only she had not borne any children to Krishna while all the other wives had many children. She approached Krishna to find a solution and to be blessed with a son like the handsomePradyumna, Krishna's first-born son from his chief wifeRukmini. Then Krishna went to the hermitage of the sageUpamanyu in theHimalayas and as advised by the sage, he started to pray to the godShiva. He did penance for six months in various postures; once holding a skull and a rod, then standing on one leg only in the next month and surviving on water only, during the third month he did penance standing on his toes and living on air only. Pleased with the austerities, Shiva finally appeared before Krishna asArdhanarishvara, the half-female-half-male form of the god, asked him to ask a boon. Krishna then sought a son from Jambavati, which was granted. A son was born soon thereafter who was namedSamba, after the form Shiva had appeared before Krishna.[9][10]
According to theBhagavata Purana, Jambavati was the mother of Samba, Sumitra, Purujit, Shatajit, Sahasrajit, Vijaya, Chitraketu, Vasuman, Dravida, and Kratu.[11] TheVishnu Purana says that she has many sons headed bySamba.[3]
Samba grew up to be a nuisance to theYadavas, Krishna's clan. His marriage to Lakshmana, the daughter ofDuryodhana (the head of theKauravas) ended up in his capture by Duryodhana. He was finally rescued by Krishna and his brotherBalarama. Samba once pretended to be a pregnant woman and his friends asked some sages who would raise the child. Offended by the mischief, the sages cursed that an iron pestle will be born to Samba, and would destroy the Yadavas. The curse came true, leading to the death of Krishna's clan in theMausala Parva.[10]
After the disappearance of Krishna, Jambavati along with Rukmini and other ladiesascended the funeral pyre.[12]
In Puranic literature, Jambavati has been an epic character inBhagavata Purana,Mahabharata,Harivamsa, andVishnu Purana. The legend of the fight between Jambavan and Krishna over the Syamantaka jewel has been prominently featured.[4][13] TheVijayanagara emperor,Krishnadevaraya, composed a drama called theJambava Kalyanam. Ekaramantha wrote a poem with the themeJambavati Parinayam (meaning: Jambavati's marriage).[13]
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