Jambumāli

Jambumāli was a powerful rākshasa warrior. He was the son of Prahasta, the chief minister of Rāvaṇa. He was one of the strongest fighters sent against Hanumān after the destruction of the Pramadā Vana.

He came in a great chariot and used a bow of unusual power. He struck Hanumān with arrows in the face, chest and head. Hanumān then took the iron wheel from Jambumāli’s chariot and threw it, and it killed him. The Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa tells this in the Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 44.

The battle

Hanumān destroyed the Pramadā Vana and killed the first wave of eighty thousand kinkaras (Rāvaṇa’s attendants). Rāvaṇa then sent one force after another.

Jambumāli arrived in his chariot with his weapons ready. He opened the fight with his bow. He struck Hanumān with arrows, one in the face and others across the head and chest. Some of the blows drew blood.

Hanumān felt the blows and turned all his attention to this new enemy. He picked up the iron wheel, the circular iron rim of Jambumāli’s own chariot, and hurled it with great force. It struck Jambumāli and killed him.

Place in the order of the battles

Jambumāli’s death came in a series of stronger forces that Rāvaṇa sent against Hanumān:

1. eighty thousand kinkaras
2. Jambumāli
3. seven sons of ministers
4. five generals
5. Aksha Kumāra, Rāvaṇa’s son

Each time, the rākshasa army, however strong, could not stop Hanumān.

Sources

• Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 44