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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182 50
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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYA�
The previous births of Siṃhendu and RativardhanÄ
or The story of GohÄnika and BhujapatrÄ:
Govanih (GohÄṇio) and his wife Bhujapatra of Padmanagara
after their death were reborn as Simhendu and RativardhanÄ
respectively, i. e. Śrīvardhita's brother-in-law and the latter's wife¹
(77.111-112) respectively.
The PCR (80.200-201) mentions that on account of previously
torturing the donkeys etc. by heavily loading them, both were forced
to bear the same drudgery of carrying the load at the time of fleeing
away from VyÄghrapura. The RPS (p. 262) follows the PCR.
51. The previous births of Bharata and TribhuvanÄlaṃkÄra
Elephant or The story of Süryodaya (Ramaṇa) and
Candrodaya (Vinoda):
Following the agitation and thereafter the automatic pacification
of TribhuvanÄlankÄra elephant, Laká¹£maṇa enquired of Muni
Deśabhūṣaṇa about the cause of the disturbance of the elephant.
Then the muni told that the elephant got pacified on remembering
his previous life at the sight of Bharata who was associated
with the elephant in his previous birth (82.17-121). The story is
narrated elucidating the cousequences of leading a wicked and
deceitful life.
Candrodaya and Suryodaya, the sons of PrahladanÄ by Suprabha
gave up the discipleship of Lord Ṛṣabha, and became the disciples of
mendicant Marīci who himself was formely a disciple of Rṣabha.
Candrodaya, after his death became king Kulankara of NÄgapura in the
family of Harimati and PrahladanÄ while Suryodaya was reborn as
Kulankara's Purohita, named Śrutirata in the family of Viśvabhūti and
Agnikunda. Kulankara once on his way to pay homage to a TÄpasa
came to see that a snake which was his own grandfather in some previous
birth as forecasted by Muni Abhinandana, was hiding inside a hollow
log of wood which was being burnt by that TÄpasa. At this sight
Kulankara wanted to become a monk but Åšrutirata prevented him from
giving up his hereditary Vedic faith. ÅšrÄ«dÄmÄ, the wife of Kulankara
who was illicitly attached to that Purohita finding her husband not
renouncing the world, poisoned Kulankara to death with the help of
the Purohita. Kulaá¹…kara's soul transmigrating through the lives of a
rabbit, a peacock, a snake, and an osprey was reborn as a frog.
1. The PCV is not clear. See the PCR.
