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 268 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
268 (of 671)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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ROURCES, CONTRIBUTION AND INFLUENCE OF PCV. 239 (VR-All are killed). 18. Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Sugrīva, Hanumān etc.
accept Jina-diīkṣ� (VR—All enter divinity). 19. The Rākṣasas and the
Vānaras are some human races (VR-They are semi-divine beings,
the former as demons and the latter as monkeys).
is
a
Rāvaṇa-carita and Hanumat's story:-1. PCV-The story of
Indra, his Lokapālas, killing of Māli by Indra, fleeing of Mālyavanta
to Pātāla kārapura etc. are realistic. (VR-All mythological).
2. PCV-Hemavati, wife of Maya is a Vidyādhari. (VR-Hemā
nymph). 3. PCV-Kumbhakarna is religious. (VR-
Kumbhakarna is of diabolic character). 4. PCV-Monk Vāli
humiliates Rāvana on the Kailāśa. (VR-Sankara, the God humiliates
Rāvaṇa). 5. PCV-Animal sacrifice of Marutta is stopped by Rāvaṇa,
(VR-It is left undisturbed by Ravana). 6. PCV-King of Mäheśvara
is captured by Rāvana. (VR-Māheśvara king captures Rāvaṇa).
7. PCV-Uprambha's love proposal is rejected by Rāvaṇa (VR-
Rāvana rapes Rambha, a nymph). 8. PCV-Rāvana takes a vow not
to have sexual relations
with any unwilling woman. (VR-
Nalakūbara curses Rāvana for the same). 9. PCV-Añjanā is a
Vidyadharī. (VR-Añjanā is a nymph); 10. PCV-Vāli, Sugrīva
and Hanu's birth is natural and quite human. (VR states their divine
origin).
(c) Elements Absent:
The following points of the Rama-story of the VR are not found
in the PCV.
1. Aśvamedha and Putreṣti Yajña of Dasaratha. 2. Rāma as
incarnation of Visṇu to bring about an end of the Rākṣasas. Rāma's
brothers as the (Amsas) parts of Visṇu. 3. Protection of the Yajña
of Visvamitra and many Puranic intervening stories of the 1st and the
7th Kanda. 4. Deva-Asura battle and Dasaratha's association with
it. 5. Giving of sandals to Bharata by Rāma. 6. Atrocities of
Raksasas to disturb the Rṣis performing austerities. 7. Disfiguring of
Śūrpaṇakhā 8. Golden deer. 9. Magnifying of his body by
Hanu, his jumping across the sea, his conversation with Maināka
mountain and his entering into the mouth of Surasā Rākṣasī. 10.
Hanu's assuming the form like a while entering Lankā. 11.
Igniting the tail of Hanu and setting fire on Lankā. 12. Construction
of a bridge across the sea (by the monkeys). 13. Conjuring up of an
illusory severed head of Rāma and the bow of Rāma. 14. Killing of
illusory Sītā. 15. Bringing of the mountain by Hanu. 16. Bringing
cat
