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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SOURCES, CONTRIBUTION AND INFLUENCE OF PCV. 295 qualities. (4) Rāma is said to have strung his bow to dispel the
fear of enemies while protecting the Yajña of Janaka. (5) Rāvaṇa
decides to kidnap Sītā because she was previously promised to him
by Janaka. (6) Surpanakhā is called Candranakhā. (7) Mandodari
recognised Sītā by the marks on her feet. (8) Hanuman convinces
Sītā of his genuineness by referning to her love-quarrel with
Rāma and applying of a Tilaka on her forehead by Rāma. (9)
Aṇumān and other Vidyādharas burn the city of Lanka with their
fiery tails. (10) Vibhīṣaṇa tries to stab himself but in vain,
The above analysis reveals that in point No. 3 there is influence
of the PCV exclusively. In the points Nos. 1, 2, 4, 6, & 10 there is
influence of the PCR or the tradition of the PCV. In point No. 8 the
reference to a lovequarrel shows the influence of the PCV-PCR tradition.
The reference to the applying of Tilaka (point No. 8) and
the burning of Lanka (Point No. 9) is indicative of the influence
of the VR.
B. Influence on Non-Jaina Works
Now we shall arrange, according to their age, the non-Jaina
works which have been influenced by the tradition of Paumacariya�.
1. Works composed in India:
(a) Sanskrit works:
(i) Nṛsimhapurāṇa (5th cent. A.D. ?) :-It is an ‘Upapurāṇa' (1)
Stringing of the bow by Rāma in the presence of many candidates
on the occasion of Sītā's ‘svayaṃvara' (See Supra, Ch. 3.S.E). (2)
Tārā originally the wife of Sugrīva (See Supra, Ch. 3.6 G). (3)
Prophecy that the piercer of the trees would be the killer of Väli
(In the PCV the prophecy is to the effect that the lifter of the Koṭiśilā
would be the killer of Rāvaṇa. (See Supra. Ch. 3.7 B).
Dr. R. C. Hazra (See Bulcke, p. 160) holds this Purāṇa to be
of the 5th century A. D. But it is an Upapuraṇa and the date of
Upapurāṇas is always posterior to that of the principal 18 Purāṇas
which are generally held to have been composed up to the 5th century
A. D. Therefore, its date should very probably fall later than the
5th
cent. A. D. If it is not so, then the Paumacariya� and
Nrsimhapurana belong to a contemporary period, hence all the above
points should have some common source.
(ii) Bhatti Kāvya (6th-7th century A.D.):-Appearance of Garuda
when he is remembered by Rāma (See Supra, Ch. 3.8C).
