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 PAUMACARIYA�
Madhu and the Sularatna (30) :-The PCV gives an independent
story but the seeds of its motif are in the VR.
Story of Ahalya (32) ;-It is quite an independent story in the
PCV. It counteracts the superstitious and divine elements of the
mythological story found in the VR.
King Dandaka (40) :-It is quite independent of the VR. Only
the burning of the capital of king Dandaka is a common element.
Dhanadatta and Guṇamati (54):-The PCV gives a very detailed
story and a number of characters play part in it. The basis of it is the
story of Vedavatī in the VR but there are in the PCV a number of
additions and differences.
(ii) Stories found in the Mahābhārata but the PCV narrates them in
quite a different way :
(a) Naghuṣa and Siṃhikā (14).
(iii) Stories found in the Purāṇas but the PCV narrates them on
different lines :
Nārada (3), Saudāsa (15).
(C) Popular Sources:
The sources of nearly 35 stories are not traceable. It is quite
probable that the author of the PCV might have invented some of them
with his genius and he might have inherited some stories through the
oral tradition of his predecessors. At least the five stories (46 to 50)
coming under Mayopākhyāna very clearly reveal that some floating .
popular stories have been introduced in the PCV, because the purpose
or the point the author wants to explain is not served by them.
SECTION 2. CONTRIBUTION OF VIMALASŪRI
The preceding section I B (3) (d) of Chapter VI clearly brings out
Of
the elements which have been contributed anew by Vimalasūri.
them the prominent ones are: 'Svayaṃvara' of Kaikeyī; Sītā's brother
as Bhāmaṇḍala; Rama's betrothal with Sitä on account of his valour;
Rāma's success among various candidates contesting for the hand of
Sītā ; voluntary exile of Rāma, especially for the favour of Bharata;
Kaikeyi's unsuccessful efforts in preventing Rāma from going into
exile; many wives of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa; marriage of Sita's sons,
their ‘digvijaya' and battle with Rāma; Hanumat's character depicting
general human traits and some details about the ancestral history of
the Rākṣasas and the Vänaras. Vimalasūri's historical, cultural and
literary contribution consists in bringing these elements into light.
