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�
There is a striking resemblance in the name of the foster-mother
and the method of introduction.
Points No. 3, 5, 6, 10, 11 & 16 are already found in the older
Brahmanical works but the rest of the thirteen reveal that the author
of Ananda R膩m膩ya峁嘺 had studied some Jaina works on the R膩ma-story.
The above analysis reveals that it is this work among the
Brahmanical works, on which there is the greatest influence of the
tradition of the PCV.
(xix) Dharmakhanda (Considered as a part) of Skandapura峁嘺
(15-16th Cent. A. D.):-1. Kaikeyi's request to R膩ma in exile to.
come back (Supra, Ch. 3. 3. C).
(xx) Satyop膩khy膩na (16 th century A. D):鈥�1. Kaikeyi's love
marriage with Dasaratha and N膩rada's association with it (Supra,
Ch. 3. 1. B). 2. Introduction of the bow specially for the purpose of
success in
S墨t膩's 'svaya峁僾ara' (Supra, Ch. 3. 2. D). 3. R膩ma's
stringing the bow in the presence of various candidates (Supra,
Ch. 3. 2. E). 4. R膩ma's water-sports with S墨t膩 (see Bulcke, p. 479;
PCV, 42. 18-24).
Point Nos. 2, 3 & 4 have their presence in the earlier Brahmanical
works. Point No. 1 is a special introduction and it is based with
variation on the pattern of the tradition of the PCV.
'xxi) Ramarahasya of Mohanasw膩m墨 (17 th century A. D):-
1. Stringing of the bow by R膩ma in presence of many other candid-
ates (Supra, Ch. 3. 2. E). 2. Meeting of Hanumat with Bharata while
bringing the medicinal herb (Supra, Ch. 3. 8.E).
(xxii) Ramalingam峁泃a (17 th century A. D.):-1. R膩m's success in
stringing the bow in the presence of many candidates (Supra, Ch. 3. 2.
E). 2. Exonerating Kaikeyi from the charge of exiling R膩ma (Supra,
Ch. 3. 3. C). 3. N膩rada as the instigator of a battle between Rama and
his sons (Supra, Ch. 3. 9. D). 4. Son of Hanumat (Supra, Ch. 4. 2).
Point No. 3 shows specific influence of the tradition of the PCV.
(xxiii) Tattvasa峁単raha R膩m膩ya峁嘺 (17th cent. A. D). of R膩ma
Brahm膩nanda:-1. Kaikeyi's approach to Rama in exile and a request
to him to come back. (Supra, Ch. 3. 3. C).
(b) Works in Modern Indian Languages;
( i ) Tamil R膩m膩ya峁嘺 of Kamban (10th century A. D.): -1. R膩ma's
success among various candidates in stringing the bow (Supra,
Ch. 3. 2. E).
