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. 307 a new point in the TR. 3. Hanumān's encounter with Bharata
while taking the medicinal herb and his reaching Lankā before the
sunrise (Supra, Ch. 3.8. E). 4. Disturbing of the sacrifice of Rāvaṇa
and dragging of Mandodari (Supra, Ch. 3.8.G). 5. Lava as elder
brother of Kuśa (Supra, Ch. 3.9.D). 6. Battle of Lava & Kuśa
(Gītāvalī and interpolated portions of TR; Supra, Ch. 3.9.D). 7.
Christening of the name of Lakṣmaṇa (Supra, Ch. 3.1.D). 8.
Mentioning of the name of Janaka's wife (Supra, Ch. 3.2.A). 9.
Automatic fleeing away of the Sakti by which Lakṣmaṇa was hurt
in the battlefield (Supra, Ch. 3. 8. E.).
Now we deal with such elements which are found exclusively in
one or two versions of VR but we are not definite about VR's or PCV's
originality (See preceding section 1. B. 5):-
10. Insulting of Vibhīṣaṇa by Rāvana by kicking him while
exiling him from Lankā (Supra, Ch. 3 8. B). 11. Mandodari's
request to Rāvaṇa four times to bow down to Bhagavān Rāma and
return Sītā to Rāma (Supra, Ch. 3. 8. C & J).
In addition to the above the following elements of the TR are
directly influenced by the tradition of PCV :�
12. Hanuman's approach to Vibhiṣaṇa while on his mission to
search for Sītā (Supra, Ch. 3. 7. D). 13. Prahasta's advice to Rāvana
to return Sītā to Rāma and then to fight with Rāma if he so liked
(Supra, Ch. 3. 81. C). Compare it with the PCV's Rāvana's decision
to release Sītā after subduing Rāma (Supra, Ch. 3. 8. H). 14, Accord-
ing to the Gauḍīya and the N-W. versions of VR, Lakṣmaṇa erects two
cottages for their temporary sojourn on the Citrakūta hill (Bulcke, p.
316). According to the Ramacaritamānasa these cottages are conjured
up by gods. The Ramacaritamānasa seems to be influenced by the
tradition of Paumacariya� in which a Yakṣa (divine being) conjured up
Rāmapuri for the temporary sojourn of Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā
(Supra, Ch. 3. 3 C; Supra, Ch. 3. 4. C). 15. There is influence
relating to the sequence
as regards the episode of killing of
Kumbhakarṇa. He is shot dead after the wounding of Lakṣmaṇa by
the Sakti (in the VR Kumbhakarna is shot dead before the wounding
of Lakṣmaṇa (Supra, Ch. 3. 8. C). 16. There is an all round effort
of dropping some of the defects associated with the main characters of
the Rama-story. Dasaratha's suspicion on Bharata has not been
brought into light when he decides to enthrone Rāma as the king of
Ayodhya (Supra, Ch. 3. 3. A). Further be is ready to enthrone Bharata
but he does not want that Rāma should depart to the forest in exile
(Supra, Ch. 3. 3. B). For Kaikeyi see above (No. 2). Sītā does not
