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鈥檚 version.
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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYA峁�
all the dead monkeys to life by God Mahendra. 17. R膩ma's horse-
sacrifice. 18. Splitting up of the earth and S墨t膩's entry into it. 19.
Granting of the boon of immortality by Brahm膩 to R膩va峁嘺. 20.
Deluding of the mind of Kumbhakarna by Sarasvati and fotmer's
demand from Brahma of a boon for sleeping in slumber.
(d) New elements:
1. 'Svaya峁僾ara' of Kaikeyi and driving the war-chariot of
Dr艣aratha by her. 2. Bhamandala as brother of S墨t膩 his abduction by
a Vidyadhara. 3. S墨t膩's betrothal with R盲ma for the latter's valour
in defeating the An膩ryas. 4. S墨t膩's 'svayamvara' in the presence of
various candidates. 5. Another 'svaya峁僾ara' for Bharata. 6. R膩ma's
voluntary exile. 7. Kaikeyi's attempt to call back R膩ma from exile.
8. R膩ma and Lak峁a峁嘺's marriages with various girls. 9. Conjuring
up of divine colony called Ramapuri by a Yak峁. 10. Ativ墨rya's
hostility with Bharata and the defeat of the former at the hands of
R膩ma. 11. R膩va峁嘺's request to
to
Mandodar墨 to persuade S墨t膩 to
accept him as her husband. 12. Episode of sham
厂耻驳谤墨惫补.
13. Overpowering of Mahendrar膩ja by Hanu. 14. R膩ma's messages.
to Bhamandala for securing his assistance and the latter's help to
Rama in fighting against R膩va峁嘺 15. R膩va峁嘺's proposal for peace
treaty with R膩ma. 16. R膩vana's intention of returning S墨t膩 after
defeating R膩ma. 17. Vibh墨峁峁嘺's attempt to commit suicide at the
time of the death of R膩va峁嘺. 18. Numerous wives of R膩ma and
Lak峁a峁嘺. 19. Renouncement of the world by Bharata and Kaikey卯.
20. Many sons of R膩ma and Lak峁a峁嘺. 21. Marriage of S墨t膩's sons,
their 'digvijaya' and battle with R膩ma and Lak峁a峁嘺. 22. Some
additional details about the ancestral history of the R膩k峁sas and the
23. Hanu's several marriages and his progeny.
The above analysis reveals that the R膩ma-story of the PCV, in
its outline, agrees with that of the VR, but in details there are
generally many differences.
4. Obvious influence of Valmiki R膩m膩ya峁嘺 on Paumacariya峁�:
Despite these differences with the VR, we have certain evidences
to prove that Vimalas奴ri was well-acquainted not only with the
story of the VR but even with the text of the VR. This conclusion is
based upon certain elements of the PCV, which reveal a strong influence
of the VR on them in the form of adopting very popular proper names,
of having basic similarities in some points, of creeping in of some
elements sub-consciously, of having striking resemblances in the
