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 162 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
162 (of 671)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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INTERVENING STORIES 133 The Ramopakhyāna (3. 275. 40) states that Daśagrīva made the
worlds weep, hence he was called Rāvana (rāvayāmāsa lokānyatta-
smādrāvaṇa ucyate).
The PCR mentions that Mandodari requested monk Vāli to
rescue Ravana (9.157). The PCS refers to a personal combat and the
humiliation of Rāvaṇa at his being lifted up by Väli (12. 10) before
the latter's renunciation of the world. Otherwise it follows the PCR.
The RPS follows the PCR and further mentions that Rāvana assumed
the form of Indra and raised the mountain with his one lac arms
(p. 38). The TSP mentions a battle between the soldiers only. In the
combat Vāli first seizes Rāvaṇa (IV. p. 131), then releases him and
thereafter he renounces the world.
According to the Ananda Rāmāyaṇa, Rāvana prepares a lute with
various parts of his body, using the sinews of his body as strings and
pleases Śiva who offers him Parvati to be his wife (1.13.28f).
conquest-expedition:-According to
(xi) Rāvaṇa's
the PCV,
thereafter Rāvaṇa conquers the Khecara chief of various islands and
encamps at Pātālaṅkārapura. Here Kharadūṣaṇa greets Rāvana and
shows him army of 14000 soldiers (10.19).
According to the VR, Rāvaṇa after killing Kalakeya Dānavendra
Vidyujjihva returns to Lankā. Surpanakha bewails the death of her
husband. Rāvaṇa consoles her and sends her along with Khara who
is equipped with a battalion of 14000 Rākṣasas to occupy the Danda-
kavana (7.24.36).
(xii) Defeat of Sahasrakiraṇa, the Māheśvara king:-Further,
according to the PCV, Rāvana encamps on the Vindhya hills, on his
expedition to conquer Indra. There he performs a worship of the Jaina
idol placing it on the dune of the bed of Narmadā. Suddenly a gush
of water which was first pooled over by some mechcnical devices and
then released by Sahasrakiraṇa, the king of Māheśvaranagara, who
was playing watersports with the members of his harem in the river,
disturbs Rāvaṇa's worship. Enraged Rāvaṇa imprisons Sahasrakiraṇa.
Muni Satabāhu, the father of the prisoner gets his son released.
Thereafter Sahasrakirana becomes a monk. When
When
Anaranya of
Ayodhya learns it he also renounces the world (10.25-88).
According to the VR, Rāvana goes to Māhiṣmatipuri to subdue
Arjuna Kārtavīrya. The latter is playing watersports in the river
Narmada by preventing the flow of the water with his one
thousand arms (bāhūṇāṃ sahasrasya 7. 32. 4). He suddenly releases
