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 142 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
142 (of 671)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RĀMA-STORY E. Renouncing the World : 113 (i) The acceptance of monkhood by the principal eight sons of
Lakṣmaṇa: According to the PCV, once Kanakaratha, the Khecara lord
of Kañcananagara arranges 'svayaṃvara' ceremony for his daughters,
Mandakini and Candramukhi. They select Lavana and Ankuśa as their
husbands respectively. The eight principal sons of Lakṣmaṇa out of
250 in all, take it as an affront and fight with Lavana and Aṅkusa.
The ministers of Rāma intervene and avert the disaster. Then the eight
sons of Lakṣmaṇa accept monkhood under Mahābalamuni (106). The
names of these eight sons are: Śrīdhara (of Visalyā), Prthvītilaka
(of Rūpamatī). Mangalanilaya (of Kalyāṇamālā), Arjunavṛkṣa (of
Vanamālā), Śrīkesin (of Ratimālā), Vimalaprabha ( of Jitapadmā ),
Sarvakīrti (of Abhayamatī) and Supārśvakīrti (of Manoramā). These
eight sons are born of eight queens of Lakṣmaṇa. Viśalya¹ is the chief
queen of Lakṣmaṇa among his 16000 wives (91).
The VR does not mention any marriage of Kuśa and Lava.
Lakṣmaṇa has one wife only (Ūrmila). He has two sons, Angada and
Candraketu (7.102.2). They are installed as the kings of Angadiyapuri
in the Kärupatha country (7.102.8) and Candrakāntapurī in the Malla
country (7.102.9) respectively. These countries are said to have been
conquered by Rāma for them (his nephews),
The PCR mentions Bhagavatī instead of Abhayamati as one of the
eight queens of Lakṣmaṇa. It mentions 17000 (94.17) wives of Lakṣmaṇa
(94.23). The TSP does not mention any fight between the sons of Rāma
and those of Lakṣmaṇa (IV. p. 341). It mentions Vimala, Śrīkęśin and
Satyakīrti as the names of the sons of Lakṣmaṇa born of Ratimālā,
Jitapadma and Abhayavatī respectively (IV. p. 313). The RPS
follows the PCR but mentions Hemaratha in place of Kanakaratha
(p. 195) and Mṛgalocanā in place of Candramukhi. There is no mention
of any quarrel between the sons of Lakṣmaṇa and those of Rāma
(p. 195).
The UP mentions the same number of wives of Lakṣmaṇa as in
the PCV (68.666f) and Pṛthvīsundarī as the chief queen (68.704).
The MP refers to Pṛthvīsundara as the first son of Lakṣmaṇa begot
on Pṛthvsĭundarï (79.9.8). He is made the king of Vārāṇasī after the
death of Lakṣmaṇa.
1. The PCV mentions at 20.187 Prabhāvatī as the chief queen. The PCR also
mentions the same name at 20.228.
8
