Paumacariya (critical study)
by K. R. Chandra | 1970 | 238,015 words
This is an English study of the Paumacariya: the earliest Jain version of Rama's life story, written in Prakrit by Vimalasuri dating to the 4th century AD. In this text, Rama (referred to as Padma) is depicted with lotus-like eyes and a blooming face. The Paumacariya places emphasis on the human aspects of characters rooted in Jain values, contrast...
26. The Previous Birth of Bhagiratha
[Full title: Didactic stories; (A) Religious cum Moral Stories; (26) The Previous Birth of Bhagiratha or the story of a potter]
Following the episode of the burning of the sons of Sagara, Bhagirath requests muni Srutasagara to tell him the cause of his and Bhima's escape from death. The monk narrates the story (5. 204-216) illustrating the consequences of torturing the Sangha. Once a Sangha of the Sramanas on a pilgrimage to the Sammeta mountain was tortured by all the inhabitants of a village despite the opposition from a potter. In course of time when some villager committed theft, the king burnt the whole village. The potter who was out of the village on that occasion escaped death. That potter was reborn as a rich merchant and all the villagers as the inhabitants of Varataka. The merchant then was reborn as a king while the villagers as (maivaha=matrvahakah) worms. Those worms were trampled down to death by an elephant. The king renounced the world and attained heaven. From heaven he was reborn as Bhagiratha while the worms passing through various births became the sons of Sagara. The Paumacariya (5. 285-315) and the Ramapurana of Bhattaraka Somasena. (ch. 3) agree with the Paumacariya The Trishashti Shalaka Purusha-caritra (II, p. 214) mentions the Virata country for Varataka. Jahnu
164 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM is mentioned as one of the sons of Sagara. Devendraganin, the commentator of the Uttaradhyayana mentions Bhagiratha as the son of Jahnu.