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.
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134
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAÙMACARIYA�
on the
the water which sweeps away the flowers collected by Ravaṇa,
bank of the river to worship Siva. Here RÄvana is captured by Arjuna
and released on a request from Pulastya (7. 31-33). Anaranya is said.
to have been defeated by RÄvana (7. 19. 23). Anaranya on that
occasion cursed RÄvana that he would be killed by Dasarathi RÄma.
The TR merely refers to the fight of SahasrabÄhu with RÄvaṇa
(5. 22).
The PCR, RPS and TSP agree with the PCV. The PCS mentions
Sahasrakirana fighting with his 1000 arms (15. 3. 7).
(xiii) Stopping of the Yajña of Marutta:-According to the PCV,
further RÄvana overpowers king Marutta of Rajagá¹›ha and stops his
animal sacrifice. He also saves NÄrada who was heckled by the
Brahmins when he (NÄrada) tried to explain that a true sacrifice did
not involve any killing. Marutta marries his daughter KanakaprabhÄ
to RÄvana (ch. 11).
According to the VR, RÄvana challenges Marutta of UśīrabÄ«ja
country to fight or to accept his suzerainty. But Marutta at the advice.
of his priest continued the performance of the Maheśvara-sattra
(sacrifice) and withdrew from fighting. RÄvana took it as the defeat of
Marutta and went away (7. 18).
The PCR (ch. 11), the RPS (p. 42 f) and the TSP (IV. 141 f)
agree with the PCV. The PCS (15. 8. 9) merely refers to it.
(xiv) Marriage of ManoramÄ with Madhu:-In due course RÄvaṇa
marries his daughter ManoramĹ (12. 8) begot on KanakaprabhÄ
to Madhu, the son of HarivÄhana and the lord of MathurÄ.
In the VR this marriage can be compared with that of Kumbhīnasi
who is abducted by Madhu, the RÄká¹£asa king of Madhupura (7.25)
and the marriage of SurpanakhÄ with Vidyujjihva (VR) with that of
the abduction of SurpanakhÄ by KharadÅ«á¹£aṇa (PCV, 9.12).
(xv) Defeat of Nalakūbara and rejecting of the love proposal of
UparambhÄ -According to the PCV, Ravaṇa after having gone to
Aá¹£á¹Äpada to pay a homage to the Jina shrines, attacks NalakÅ«bara
(Nalakuvvara2) the LokapÄla of Indra at Durlanghyapura. But RÄvana's
soldiers do not find it possible to enter the fort which was protected by
:
1. At 11. 101 she is called VicitrarupÄ Ká¹›tacitrÄ.
2, Whether he is the same Kubera who was appointed as the LokapÄla of the
North by Indra after killing Mälin or he is Kubera's son or quite a different
person is not clear.
