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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 310 of: Paumacariya (critical study)

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External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


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SOURCES,CONTRIBUTION AND INFLUENCE OF PCV. 281 mentions that a period of 64000 years lapsed betwecn Rāmāyaṇa and
Mahābhārata and at 20.81 it is said that eleven lakh years intervened
between two Tirthankaras, Munisuvrata and Nemi. The PCR
(20.89;109.28) contains similar defect. The order in which the 14
Kulakaras are mentioned in the PCV (3.50-55) does not agree fully
with the Digambara or the Svetāmbara tradition (See Infra, Ch.7.Sec.1).
Raviṣena, though a staunch Digambara, puts them in the same order
(3.75-87). The Mayopakhyāna (77.66ff) narrated in the PCV does not
seem to be properly connected with the previous context and the
enquiry made by Śreṇika. The same inconsistency is found in the PCR
(80.149ff.).
The PCV contains in all 8651 verses (Aprox. 10000 granthāgras)
while the PCR (123.186) has 18023 verses. The descriptive portions¹
such as geographical places, physical beauty, natural objects, love
scenes, ceremnies, battles, religious discourses etc. are larger in the
PCR. There are very rare instances in the PCR when a similar topic
of the PCV comparatively occupies shorter portion in the PCR.
Generally the length of all the cantos of the PCR varies with those of
the PCV. The cantos (1-90), 20 (1-208), 73 (1-35), 75 (1-85), 87 (1-20)
and 88(1-43) are roughly equal in size to the PCR's cantos (1-102),
20(1-250), 76(1-43), 78(1-95), 90(1-29) and 91(1-51). On the
whole it appears that either the PCV is a contracted version of the PCR
or the PCR is an enlarged version of the PCV.
Pt. Nathuram Premi observes that there are various instances of
reproducing Prakrit works into Sanskrit, but there is scarcely any
example vice-cersa. He further says that in both the works the origin
of Brāhmaṇas has been associated with the etymological meaning of the
word 'mā-haṇa=do not kill'. Mā-haṇa is a Prakrit equivalent of
Sanskrit Brāhmaṇa, therefore, the episode of the origin of Brāhmaṇas
befits the Prakrit word Mähaṇa. In Sanskrit no-where the Brāhmaṇas
are called Māhaṇas. In his opinion Raviṣeṇa has copied and repro-
duced Paumacariya� into Sanskrit (See JSI, p. 90). Now we propose to
bring out some other points which support the fact that Raviṣeṇa has
recast Vimalasūri's work.
1. Education and Training of Kaikeyi PCV, 24.5-8; PCR, 24-6-83; Qualities of
Marudevi PCV, 3.58; PCR, 3.91-100; Description of Krauñcaravā river PCV,
42.15-16; PCR, 42,62-74; Rāma's mourning after the kidnapping of Sītā PCV,
45.57-66; PCR, 45.105-149. Lankāsundari's love for Hanuman PCV, 52.17-20;
PCR 52.46-58; Battle between Kiṣkindhi and Aśnivega PCV, 6.176-201 PCR,
6-428-501; Watersports of Sahasrakiraṇa PCV, 10.37-44; PCR, 10.37-84.
2. Heavenly abodes-PCR, 105,173; PCV, 102.149-166; cemetary ground.
PCR, 109.54; PCV, 105.53--61.

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