Jambavan is the wise bear who is part of the Vanara army led
by Sugriva and Hanuman. Jambavan is also a chiranjeevi, one who has no death.
The story of Jambavan and Vamana Avatar of Bhagvan Vishnu is found in the
Puranas. It narrates how Jambavan lost all his strength.
When Bhagvan Vishnu appeared as Sri Ram, Jambavan was very
old. In Ramayana he symbolizes wisdom and patience.
It is said that Jambavan had witnessed the Vamana Avatar of
Vishnu. He saw Vishnu pushing asura-king Bali
to Patala or the netherworld.
Vamana, the dwarf, turned into Trivikrama, the unimaginable
size and measured the three worlds in two steps. Jambavan who was very strong then. When he witnessed this divine event, he wanted to go around Trivikrama.
While doing the circumambulation he accidentally crashed
into the Trivikrama form and got injured. Due to this injury he lost all his
strength.
It is believed that Jambavan was earlier as powerful as Hanuman
and could do all the divine leelas of Hanuman.