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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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
Vasudevahinḍ�, Paumacariya� and Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa and still it has
several elements which are quite peculiar to it. Therefore the
Uttarapuraṇa's Rāma-story represents an independent current of the
second Jaina tradition of the Rāma-story.
Traits of Dasaratha Jātaka :-1. Dasaratha as the king of
Banarasa
Traits common to Anamakam Jātaka -2. Sugrīva's enmity with
Vāli for his being only deprived of his political right by the latter.
:
Traits of Ramopäkhyāna 3. No reference to the wounding
of Laksmana by a Sakti. And no reference to the bringing of Osadhi
by Hanuman. 4. Accepting of Sita without suspicion and no aban-
donment of Sītā.
to
Circumstances leading
the
Traits of Vasudevahindi -5.
migration of Rāvāṇa (in VH) or his ancestors (in Uttarapurāṇa) to Laikā.
Ancestors of Rāvana (See Supra, Ch. 6). 6. Bharata and Satrughna as
sons of the third queen (in the PCV also). 7. Sītā as daughter of Rāvana
and Mandodari, her abandonment and adoption by Janaka. 8.
Rāvana's sister's name as Surpanakhā. 9. No reference to wounding of
Sakti. 10. Details of battle
Lakṣmaṇa by a
not mentioned,
11. Accepting of Sitä without suspicion. 12. No abandonment of
Sītā. 13. Name of Janaka's wife (in somewhat altered form UP-
Vasudhadevi; VH-Dhāriṇīdevi).
Traits common with the Paumacariyam:-
14. UP Kaikeyī as second wife of Dasaratha. PCV-Sumitra's
birth-name is Kaikeyi. 15. Bharata and Satrughna as sons of the
third queen (In the VH also). 16. Sītā was married to Rāma because
he protected the Yajña of Janaka (PCV-She was betrothed to Rāma
because he saved Janaka's territory from the attack of the non-Aryans).
17. Appointment of Mañjarikā to persuade Sītā (PCV Mandodari
is appointed for this work ). 18. Sītā breaks her fast and takes
food in Lanka at the advice of Aṇumān (Hanuman ). 19. Aṇumān
once again went to Lankā for finding solution through the good.
offices of Vibhīṣaṇa (PCV-before handing over the finger ring to
Sītā he consulted Vibhīṣaṇa ). 20. Lifting of Koṭiśīlā by Lakṣmaṇa
after rescuing Sita (PCV-before sending Hanuman to Laṅka ). 21.
No setting of Lanka on fire by Hanuman, (UP-He is referred to have
only destroyed the Rākṣasa soldiers of Rāvana with the power of his
lore called Mahājvālavidyā ). 22. Renouncing of the world by Rāma,
Sītā etc. 23. Same number of wives of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.
Traits common with the Valmiki Rāmāyaṇa:-24. device of
golden deer for abducting Sītā. 25. Aṇumān's assuming the form of a
