Jambuka

Also known as Jambumalika. A shudra sage. After Rama returned from exile and was ruling Ayodhya, a brahmin child died and its parents began wailing in front of his palace. Everyone wondered how such an incident could happen under Rama’s just rule. Narada, who was present there, said that in one corner of the kingdom, a shudra sage existed and that was the reason for this unfortunate death. Rama immediately called Lakshmana and asked him to keep the child’s body safe, told Bharata to guard the kingdom and began hunting for Jambuka. He found him near the southern ocean, on the banks of a river at the foothills of the Shaila. He was hanging from a tree limb, upside down. Jambuka said that he was meditating to reach heaven in a human form. Rama beheaded him and he attained swargaloka. The brahmin child was also revived as per Uttararamayana.