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{{Short description|Character in Hindu scripture}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
[[File:Rama kill shambuka.jpg |thumb|Rama slays Shambuka. Illustration from a [[Mughal miniature]] of the Ramayana.]]
'''Shambuka''' ({{Langx|sa|शम्बूक}}, [[IAST]]: śambūka) is a character in some editions of the [[Ramayana]]. Some say that the character and his story are an interpolation which is not found in the original Valmiki ''[[Ramayana]]'' but in a later addition called ''[[Ramayana#Uttara Kanda|Uttara Kanda]]''.<ref name="Paula_2008" /><ref name = Goldman2022>{{cite book|last1=Goldman|first1=Robert|last2=Goldman|first2=Sally|title=The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: The Complete English Translation|date=2022|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=9780691225029}}{{rp|7–8}}</ref>{{Disputed inline|First Sentence Compromise|date=January 2024}}

According to this version, Shambuka, a shudra ascetic, was killed by the god [[Rama]] (protagonist of the ''Ramayana'') for attempting to perform [[Tapas (Indian religions)|tapas]] (austerities) in violation of [[dharma]], resulting in the bad [[karma]] which caused the death of a [[Brahmin]]'s son.<ref>Government of Maharashtra, ''Nasik District Gazetteer:'' {{cite web |url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/nasik/005%20History/001%20AncientPeriod.htm |title=History - Ancient Period |access-date=2006-10-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107163101/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/nasik/005%20History/001%20AncientPeriod.htm |archive-date=7 November 2006 |df=dmy-all }} (text credited to Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. V. V. Mirashi)</ref><ref name="Prasad57" /><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fi9nnQAACAAJ |title=Śrīmad Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa |publisher=[[Gita Press]] |year=1992 |edition=3 |volume=Part III - Yuddha Kāṇḍa and Uttara Kāṇḍa |pages=2130–2135 |language=English, Sanskrit |chapter=Cantos LXXV-LXXVI (75-76) |oclc=27360288 |access-date=22 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405165759/https://books.google.com/books?id=fi9nnQAACAAJ |archive-date=5 April 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The story is regarded to be created at a later period.<ref name="Nadkarni" /> While the ''Uttara Kanda (''including Shambuka's tale) is generally regarded as a later interpolation to the original epic,<ref name="Paula_2008">{{cite book |author=Paula Richman |title=Ramayana Stories in Modern South India: An Anthology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c-p9Iyk3lpkC&pg=PA111 |year=2008 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-21953-4 |page=111 |access-date=27 April 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/ramayanastoriesi0000unse/page/110/mode/2up |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0"/> the Book is considered part of "ongoing Ramayana tradition" and part of the ''Valmiki Ramayana''.<ref name="Paula_2008" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sattar |first=Arshia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pRtwDQAAQBAJ&q=uttara+the+book+of+answers |title=Uttara: The Book of Answers |date=2016-11-14 |publisher=Penguin Books Limited |isbn=978-93-85990-35-9 |language=en}}</ref>

Shambhuka is alluded in the epic [[Mahabharata]]; his story retold in some versions of the ''Ramayana''.<ref name=Buitenen1973 />  In [[Jain literature]], the story of Shambuka is different and he is [[Surpanakha]]’s son.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mid-day.com/news/opinion/article/surpanakhas-shambuk-23292936|title=Surpanakha's Shambuk|date=18 June 2023 }}</ref>

==Legend in the Uttara Kanda of the Ramayana==
According to this story, when [[Rama]] was ruling [[Ayodhya (Ramayana)|Ayodhya]], a [[Brahmin]] approached the court and told everyone that his young son has died due to the misrule of Rama. Rama immediately called a meeting with all his ministers and enquired about the cause of this. The sage [[Narada]] told him that this has happened due to a violation of a rule of ''[[Tapas (Indian religions)|tapas]]'' (austerities). Narada informed him that a [[shudra]] was performing tapas, which was prohibited in the age of [[Treta]]. So Rama went in search of the shudra and found the place where Shambuka was performing penance. After confirming that Shambuka is indeed a shudra, Rama killed him. The gods praised Rama for this act and congratulated him for protecting their interests and for not allowing shudra to attain heaven in person. Brahmin's son was also resurrected.<ref name="Paula_2008" /><ref name="Prasad57">{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/The.Ramayana.of.Valmiki.by.Hari.Prasad.Shastri/page/n1583 | title=The Ramayana of Valmiki | author=Hari Prasad Shastri | publisher=Shanti Sadan | year=1957 | isbn=978-0-8542-4048-7 | volume=III - Yuddha Kanda and Uttara Kanda| pages=583–586| oclc=654387657 |ol=OL8651428W |language=English}}</ref>

The ''Uttara Kanda'' - dated to post-Vedic period (3rd to 2nd century BCE)<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tFdjAAAAMAAJ&q=+later+Vedic+times+ |title=Indologica Taurinensia |date=2005 |publisher=Istituto di indologia |pages=245 |language=en}}</ref> is regarded an interpolation to the original epic.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="Paula_2008" /><ref name=":0">{{cite book |title=An Introduction to Eastern Ways of Thinking |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |page=158 |quote=By now, it can be confirmly said the ' Uttarkand ' of Ramayana is an interpolation of quite later period}}</ref>

== Appearance in other texts ==
[[File:Sri Rama meets muni Shambhuka.jpg|alt=Valmiki Ramayan I Gita Press Gorakhpur by MahaMuni|thumb|Valmiki Ramayan I Gita Press Gorakhpur by MahaMuni महामुनि का संग्रह"]]
Shambuka is alluded in 12.149.61.62<ref name=Buitenen1973>{{Cite book |last1=Buitenen |first1=Johannes Adrianus Bernardus |url= |title=The Mahabharata, Volume 7: Book 11: The Book of the Women Book 12: The Book of Peace, Part 1 |last2=Fitzgerald |first2=James L. |date=1973 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-25250-6 |page=814 |language=en}}</ref> in the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' (Principally compiled in 3rd century BCE–4th century CE), in a debate between a jackal and a vulture at a cremation ground. The jackal urges the family of a dead young boy to not abandon him at the cremation ground citing how Rama revives a dead Brahmin boy and slew the sudra Shambuka.<ref>Sherraden pp. 1-2</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mahabharata, Book 12: Santi Parva: Apaddharmanusasana Parva: Section CLIII |url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a152.htm |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=sacred-texts.com}} [[Kisari Mohan Ganguli]] p. 338, Note 338:1</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Raghavan |first=Venkatarama |title=The Greater Ramayana |date=1973 |publisher=All-India Kashiraj Trust |page=27 |language=en |author-link=V. Raghavan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vWhBAgAAQBAJ&dq=sHambuka+jackal&pg=PT594 |title=The Mahabharata: Volume 8 |date=2015-06-01 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-93-5118-567-3 |pages=Note 157 |language=en}}</ref>

The Shambuka also appears in [[Raghuvaṃśa]], an epic poem composed by celebrated Sanskrit poet [[Kālidāsa]] in 5th century CE; [[Uttararamacarita|Uttaramacarita]], a Sanskrit play composed by [[Bhavabhuti]] in 7th century CE and the 15th century Sanskrit text ''[[Ananda Ramayana]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Richman |first=Paula |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7RW6MrAiJ-0C&q=sambuka |title=Questioning Ramayanas: A South Asian Tradition |date=2001 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=9780520220744 |pages=54, 95–96 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |author=Kalidasa, Mallinatha, M R Kaale |url=https://archive.org/details/raghuvamsaofkali00kliduoft/page/xxii/mode/2up?q=sambuka |title=The Raghuvamsa of Kalidasa : with the commentary (the Samjivani) of Mallinatha |date=1922 |publisher=Bombay : P.S. Rege |page=22 |language=en |oclc=1051754532}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |author=Kalidasa, Mallinatha, M R Kaale |title=The Raghuvamsa of Kalidasa : with the commentary (the Samjivani) of Mallinatha |date=1922 |publisher=Bombay : P.S. Rege |language=en |oclc=223345573}}</ref> Rama's killing of Shambuka is also mentioned in verse 749 in prabandham 'Perumal Thirumozhi' (sung by [[Kulasekara Alvar]]) of [[Naalayira Divya Prabandham]], a collection of 4,000 verses composed by the 12 [[Alvars]].<ref>{{Cite book |author=Kulasekara Alvar |url=https://www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/pdf/pm0512_02.pdf |title=Perumal Thirumozhi, Naalayira Divya Prabandham |publisher=Project Madurai |pages=131 |language=en}}</ref> The legend is also covered in the ''[[Ramavataram]]'' written by Tamil poet [[Kambar (poet)|Kambar]] in the 12th century.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mvXsDwAAQBAJ&q=Jambavan&pg=PP5|title=Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|date=2015-01-01|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0597-2|language=en|pages=678–9}}</ref>

This story is missing in later renditions of the Ramayana such as the ''[[Ramcharitmanas]]'', written by [[Tulsidas]] in the 16th century, which ends with coronation of Rama.<ref name="Rinehart">{{Cite book |last=Rinehart |first=Robin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hMPYnfS_R90C&q=shambuka+tulsidas&pg=PA246 |title=Contemporary Hinduism: Ritual, Culture, and Practice |date=2004 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-905-8 |location= |pages=246 |language=en}}</ref>

== Reception ==
[[File:Ram Temple, Ramtek - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Rama Temple at [[Ramtek]] (10th century, restored)<ref>{{cite book |author=Hans Bakker |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=McwUAAAAIAAJ |title=The History of Sacred Places in India As Reflected in Traditional Literature: Papers on Pilgrimage in South Asia |publisher=BRILL |year=1990 |isbn=90-04-09318-4 |pages=70–73}}</ref> owes its origins to Shambuka as per local legend.]]

According to local temple legend, Rama temple at [[Ramtek]] owes its origin to Shambuka. It is believed that Shambuka performed his ''tapas'' on Ramtek hill. Rama granted Shambuka three boons at his request: Rama stay in Ramtek (origin of the temple), Shambuka's corpse be turned into a [[Lingam|''shivalinga'']] (icon of the god [[Shiva]]). Devotees worship Shambuka before worshipping Rama, as per the last boon.<ref>Paula Richman in Sherraden p. xviii</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Leslie |first=Julia |url= |title=Authority and Meaning in Indian Religions: Hinduism and the Case of Valmiki |date=2017-11-22 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-77299-0 |page=116 |language=en}}</ref>

Authors such as [[Rabindranath Tagore]], [[Mahatma Gandhi]] treat the character of Shambuka as an interpolation and creation of a later period.<ref>{{cite book|title=An Alternative Idea of India: Tagore and Vivekananda|page=83|publisher=Taylor & Francis|author=Gangeya Mukherji|date=29 November 2020 |isbn=9781000083774}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Gandhi and Social Order|page=14|publisher=Research Publications in Social Sciences|quote=Mahatma Gandhi , on the other hand, has regarded this entire story as an interpolation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BvVLbL0dzqkC|author1=D. K. Misra|author2=Shambhu Lal Doshi|author3=C. M. Jain|year=1972|isbn=9780896843950|access-date=19 May 2022|archive-date=19 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519212723/https://books.google.com/books?id=BvVLbL0dzqkC|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Pushtimarg]] [[Vaishnav]]ite tradition points out that the ''Ramayana'' refers to other shudras, such as [[Shabari]], who lived in the forest. Shambuka therefore deliberately violated dharma in order to get Rama's attention, and attained salvation when he was beheaded.<ref>Motiramji Sastri, ''Ramayan'' (in Gujarati) (Ahmedabad, 1961).</ref>

K.R. Raju termed the story of Shambuka as "frivolous" and "maliciously fabricated".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=keZtAAAAMAAJ Untouchability Affire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405192806/https://books.google.com/books?id=keZtAAAAMAAJ |date=5 April 2023 }}, p.17, 1997</ref>

=== Relationship to Caste System ===

The Shambuka story is connected to discussions of the [[caste system]], because it positively portrays Rama's killing of Shambuka.<ref name="Nadkarni">{{cite journal |last=Nadkarni |first=M. V. |year=2003 |title=Is Caste System Intrinsic to Hinduism? Demolishing a Myth |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/4414252 |url-status=live |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=38 |issue=45 |page=4787 |issn=2349-8846 |jstor=4414252 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112191423/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4414252 |archive-date=12 November 2022 |access-date=12 November 2022}}</ref>  Shambuka acts outside his caste, so he is a threat to the social order.<ref>{{cite book|last=Doniger|first=Wendy|date=November 2010|title=The Hindus - An Alternative History|url=https://archive.org/details/TheHindusAnAlternativeHistorygnv64/page/n235/mode/2up|publisher=Penguin Books|page=235|isbn=978-0143116691}}</ref>  Rinehart notes that "the Shambuka story is well known to low castes, who identify with the mistreated Shambuka."<ref name="Rinehart" />  Similar criticisms have been made for centuries: the eighth-century play Uttararamacharita portrays Rama as regretful, and as forced by duty to kill Shambuka to uphold the social order.{{r|Paula_2008|p=9}}  The same point was made explicitly in [[B.R. Ambedkar]]'s essay, [[Annihilation of Caste]], in which he points to Shambuka's story as evidence that the caste system can only be maintained by the threat of lethal force.<ref name="Ambedkar">{{cite speech |title=Annihilation of Caste|first=Bhimrao Ramji |last=Ambedkar |date=1936 |event=The 1936 Annual Conference of the Jat-Pat-Todak Mandal of Lahore (not delivered) |url=http://www.ambedkar.org/ambcd/02.Annihilation%20of%20Caste.htm }}</ref>  Indian social activist and politician [[Periyar]] vehmently criticized Rama for his mistreatment of the Shudras, citing Shambuka's example.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richman |first=Paula |date=2018-03-09 |title=Why Periyar was critical of the Ramayana (and Rama) |url=https://scroll.in/article/871237/part-and-parcel-of-the-north-indian-worldview-why-periyar-was-critical-of-the-ramayana-and-rama |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref>

These themes have appeared in modern literary work in the form of re-tellings of the Shambuka story.<ref name="richman2">{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=The Ramayana Revisited|editor-first=Bose|editor-last=Mandakranta|title=Why Can't a Shudra Perform Asceticism? Sambuka in Three Modern South Indian Plays|first=Paula|last=Richman|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=2004|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780195168334/page/124/mode/2up}}</ref> Multiple plays have reimagined the story, variously modifying it to depict Rama as a servant of the ruling class ([[T. Ramaswamy Choudary]]'s ''Sambuka Vadha'' (1920)), to have Shambuka act as mouthpiece for anti-caste scholars (Thiruvarur K. Thangaraju's ''Ramayana Natakam'' (1954)), or to have Shambuka live and instead help the Brahmin who accused him to achieve enlightenment ([[Kuvempu]]'s ''Shudra Tapasvi'' (1944)).<ref name="richman2" /> The 1977 film [[Kanchana Sita]], based on a [[Kanchana Sita (play)|1961 play by the same name]], depicts Rama as caught in inner conflict between ''moksha'' (the desire for enlightenment) and ''artha'' (the desire for sovereign power).<ref name="zacharias">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Ramayana Stories in Modern South India: An Anthology |last=Zacharias |first=Usha |year=2008|editor=Paula Richman|chapter=Union with Nature: Prakriti and sovereignty in Aravindan's Kanchana Sita|pages=99–107|publisher=[[Indiana University Press]]|location=Bloomington |isbn=978-0-253-34988-0}}</ref>

==In popular culture==

*''Sambuka Vadha'' ("The Slaying of Sambuka"), a 1920 [[Telugu language|Telugu]] play by [[T. Ramaswamy Choudary]] {{r|richman2|p=127}}
*''Shudra Tapasvi'' ("The Shudra Ascetic") a 1944 play by celebrated [[Kannada]] poet [[Kuvempu]].{{r|richman2|p=133}}
*1954 play, ''Ramayana Natakam'' ("Ramayana Drama"), by [[Tamils|Tamil]] journalist, playwright, and actor Thiruvarur K. Thangaraju{{r|richman2|p=129}}
*[[Kanchana Sita (play)|Kanchana Sita]], a 1961 play by [[Malayalam]] playwright [[C. N. Sreekantan Nair]].
*[[Kanchana Sita]], a 1977 film based on the 1961 play of the same name, by [[Kerala]] filmmaker [[G. Aravindan|Govindan Aravindan]].<ref name="zacharias" />
*''[[Teesri Azadi]]'', a film on [[caste system in India|caste system]] depicts the story of Shambuka.

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* {{Cite book |last=Sherraden |first=Aaron|title=Śambūka and the Rāmāyaṇa Tradition: A History of Motifs and Motives in South Asia |date=2023-08-01 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=978-1-83998-471-6 |language=en}}

{{Ramayana}}

[[Category:Characters in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Hinduism-related controversies]]