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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SOURCES, CONTRIBUTION AND INFLUENCE OF PCV. 309
Ehu sajjana loyaho kiu vi峁嘺u/
Jai ema vir奴sai ko vi khalu/
Ja峁� avuhu padarisiu appa峁嘺u//
Taho hatthutthalliu leu chalu//
Pisu峁噀m kim abbhatthie峁嘺, Jasu ko vi na ruccai/
Kim cha峁嘺 candu mah膩gahe峁嘺, Kampantu vi muccai//
Tulasid膩sa has further developed it and has written a number of
verses in the praise of saints and the wicked alike (See TR, 1. 4-7).
Tulas墨d膩sa in his R膩macaritam膩nasa at the end of every k膩峁囜笉a
gives one or two verses which express blessings to the readers of the
story (See TR, 1. 261; 2. 326; 3. 46k; 4. 30k, 5. 60; 6. 12k; & 7. 130).
In the VR it is only at the end of the work that such blessings
are expressed It is in the Paumacariya峁� and Padmacaritam that closing
verses of many of the cantos either praise religion or express wishes
for the emancipation of the readers. The PCS does not contain them
at the end of every Sandhi. It seems that this style has its origin in the
PCV and the PCR, which has passed on to the TR through the Ananda
R膩m膩ya峁嘺 which bestows blessings generally for prosperity in the
worldly things while the TR blesses for Vir膩ga, R膩mabhakti and
Mukti like the PCV and PCR which bless for emancipation.
Works Probably Consulted by Tulas墨d膩sa:
There are some similarities in descriptions of TR and the PCV as
the PCR on the occasion of the 'svayamvara' of S墨t膩. These descriptions
are not found in the PCS.
According to the TR when some candidates observe R膩ma there
they think of returning to their respective places.
Binu bha帽jehu峁� bhava dhanu峁 bis膩l膩, Melihi S墨ya R膩ma ura m膩l膩/
Asa bic膩ri gavanahu ghara bh膩墨, Jasu prat膩pu balu teju gav膩峁兡�//.
(TR, 1. 245. 2).
According to the PCV the candidates who could not be able to
string the bow thought of returning to their homes.
Kei bha峁嘺nti 峁環膩峁嘺峁�, jai vi hu j墨vantay膩 gamiss膩mo/
To d膩峁嘺maneyaviham, d膩h膩mo d墨峁嘺kivi峁嚹佱箛a峁�//
(PCV, 28. 110; See PCR, 28. 230 also).
In the TR R膩ma is said to have strung the bow sportively like an
elephant:-
Sahajahim cale sakala jagasv膩m墨/
Matta ma帽ju bara ku帽jara g膩m墨//
(TR, I. 255. 3).
