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...
34. The previous birth of Anjanasundari
[Full title: Didactic stories; (A) Religious cum Moral Stories; (34) The previous birth of Anjanasundari or the story of Kanakodari]
After narrating the preceding story the monk related the following story (17.59-70) illustrating the consequences of desecrating a Jinaidol. -
INTERVENING STORIES 169 Kanakodari, the wife of Sukantha had Laksmi as her cowife. Once Kanakodari out of jealousy threw away in the street a Jina-idol which was installed by her cowife. When a nun, Samyamasri delivered a discourse on the right conduct, Kanakodari reinstalled that idol in a shrine. She observed vows and was reborn as Anjana. The Paumacariya (17. 166-196) agrees with the Paumacariya The Paumacariu (19. 7. 3) merely refers to the throwing away of the Jina-idol in her previous birth by Anjana. The Trishashti Shalaka Purusha-caritra (IV. 173) agrees with the Paumacariya The Ramapurana of Bhattaraka Somasena. (ch. 9) adds that the idol was not thrown out but concealed for 22 'ghatikas', hence Anjana had to suffer separation from her husband for 22 years.