Essay name: Paumacariya (critical study)
Author:
K. R. Chandra
Affiliation: Research institute of Prakrit, Jainology and Ahimsa Vaishali
This is a critical 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, contrasting with the divine portrayal in Valmiki’s version.
Page 134 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RAMA-STORY 105 earth to give way if she is chaste. The earth gives way and her purity
is proved. Hence there is no abandonment of the queen.
B. Lakṣmaṇa's Ardhacakravartitva :
(i) Coronation of Lakṣmaṇa :-According to the PCV Bharata
and Kaikeyī accept asceticism (80-83). Rāma refuses the crown.
Lakṣmaṇa is made the king of Sāketapurī (Ayodhyā) and Rāma is also
consecrated. Vibhīṣaṇa, Sugrīva, Māruti (Hanumat) Pratisūrya (the
son of Mahendrarāja), Nīla, Virādhita, Ratnajaṭin and Bhāmandala
are recognised as the lords of Lankā. Kiṣkindhipura, Śrīpura, Hanuru-
hapura, Ṛkṣapura, Pātālaṅkārapura, Devopagitanagara and Rathanu-
pura respectively (85).
(ii) Occupation of Mathura by Satrughna :-Śatrughna demands
Mathurā for his kingdom from Rāma. It is under the rule of the son-
in-law of Rāvaṇa, namely Madhu who is unconquerable on account of
his trident (triśula) which was given to him by a celestial being,
Camara. Satrughna encamps on the bank of the river Yamuna and
when Madhu is away from the city without his trident, he besieges the
city, defeats Madhu and kills the latter's son Lavaṇa. Defeated Madhu
accepts monkhood (85). The trident flees away to Camara. Angry
Camara spreads epidemic in the city and causes death of its people.
Satrughna leaves for Ayodhya. When seven Munis visit Mathurā, the
epidemic subsides and the city prospers again, Satrughna pays homage
to those Munis and installs the statues of those Munis (Riṣis) in the four
quarters outside the city (86-89), to escape further calamity.
(iii) Lakṣmaṇa's war-campaign: Once Nārada requests
Vidyadhara Ratnaratha of Ratnapura of southern Vijayārdha to marry
his daughter, Manoramā to Lakṣmaṇa, but the latter turns down his
proposal and insults him. Nārada goes to Lakṣmaṇa and instigates him
to force marry Manoramā. Lakṣmaṇa attacks Ratnaratha and defeats
him. At the request of Manoramā he grants life to her father. Then
Ratnaratha marries his daughters Satyadāmā and Manoramā to Rāma
and Lakṣmaṇa (ch. 90). Thereafter Lakṣmaṇa conquers all the lords
of the southern range of the Vijayārdha mountain and becomes an
Ardhacakravartin of Bhāratavarṣa (91).
According to the VR Bharata hands over the reins to Rāma by
returning the latter's sandals (6.127). Vasistha coronates Rāma as the
king of Ayodhyā. When Lakṣmaṇa refuses to accept Yuvarājatva that
authority is bestowed upon Bharata (6.128). Here Bharata does not
renounce the world. He attains heaven along with Rāma (7.110).
Vibhīṣaṇa and Sugrīva who were already made the lords of Lankā and
