12 Commom characters from Ramayana and

Mahabharata
BY BAHUBALI MAR 28, 2015

There are many characters who appears both in Ramayana and mahabharata. Here it the list of 12
such characters who appears in both Ramayana and Mahabharata.
1) Jambavanth: who was in Ramas army wants to fight with Rama in Tretha yuga, fought with
Krishna and asked Krishna to marry his daughter Jambhavathi.
the king of bears in Ramayan, who plays a major role, during the building of the bridge, appears in
the Mahabharat, technically speaking the Bhagavatam I would say. Apparently, during Ramayan,
Lord Ram, was pleased with Jambavanths devotion and told him to ask for a boon. Jambavan being
of slow understanding, wished for a duel with Lord Ram, which he granted, saying that it would be
done in his next avatar. And that is the entire story of Symanthaka Mani, where Krishna goes in
search of it, meets Jambavan, and they have a duel, before Jambavan finally recognizes the truth.

jambavantha

2) Maharishi Durvasa: who predicted the separation of Rama and Sita was the son of Maharishi
Atri and Anasuya, visited the Pandavas in exile.. Durvasha gave a mantra to Kunti, the mother of
eldest 3 Pandavas for getting children .

Maharishi Durvasa

3) Narad Muni: Comes in many occasions in both stories. In Mahabharata he was one of the Rishis
attended to Krishnas peace talks in Hastinapur.

Narad Muni

4) Vayu Dev: Vayu is father of both Hanuman and Bheema.

Vayu Dev

5) Vasishthas son Shakthi: had a son called Parasara and Parasaras son was Veda Vyasa, who
wrote the Mahabharata . So this means Vasishtha was the great grandfather of Vyasa. Brahmarshi
Vasishtha lived from the time of Satyavrata Manu, to the time of Sri Rama. Sri Rama was Vasisthas
student.

6) Mayasura: the father of Mandodari and Ravans father in law, appears in the Mahabharat too,
during the Khandava Dahana incident. Mayasura was the only one to survive the burning of the
Khandava forest, and when Krishna finds this out, he lifts his Sudarshan Chakra to kill him.
Mayasura however rushes to Arjun, who gives him refuge and tells Krishna, that he is now sworn to
protect him. And so as a deal, Mayasura, himself an architect, designs the entire Maya Sabha for the
Pandavas.

Mayasura

7) Maharishi Bharadwaja: Dronas father was the Maharishi Bharadwaja, who was the pupil of
Valmiki, who wrote Ramayana.

Maharishi Bharadwaja

8) Kubera: Kubera, who is the elder half brother of Ravana, is also in Mahabharata.

Kubera

9) Parshuram: Parushuram, who appeared in Ram and Sita marriage, is also Guru to Bhishma and
Karna. Parshuram was in the Ramayan, when he challenged Lord Ram to break the Vishnu Dhanush,
which also in a way, quelled his anger. In the Mahabharat he initially has a duel with Bhishma, when
Amba seeks his help in taking revenge, but loses to him. Karna later poses as a Brahmin in order to
learn about weapons from Parashuram, before exposing himself, and being cursed by him, that his
weapons would fail him when he needed them the most.

Parshuram

10) Hanuman: Hanuman being the Chiranjivi( blessed with eternal life), appears in the Mahabharat,
he also happens to be Bhims brother, both of them son of Vayu. The tale of Hanuman quelling
Bhims pride, by appearing as an old monkey, when he was on the journey to get the Kadamba
flower. Also another tale in the Mahabharat, of Hanuman and Arjun having a bet of who was
stronger, and Hanuman losing the wager thanks to help of Lord Krishna, due to which he appears on
Arjuns flag during the Kurukshetra war.

Hanuman

11) Vibheeshana: Mahabharata mentions that Vibheeshana sent Jewell and Gems to Yudhisthiras
Rajasuya sacrifice. That is the only mention about Vibheeshana in Mahabharata.

Vibheeshana

12) Agastya Rishi: Agastya Rishi Met Rama before the war with Ravana. Mahabharata mentions
that Agastya was the one who gave the weapon Brahmashira to Drona. (Arjuna and Aswatama had
obtained this weapon from Drona)

Agastya Rishi

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