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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55 5
.
INTRODUCTION
The order in which the names of fourteen Kulakaras are
given in the PCV (3.50f) has greater agreement with that of the TP
(4.421f) than with that of the JP (Su. 28), Samavãyãṅga (Su. 156)
or SthÄnanga (7.566).
6. The height of the first three Kulakaras is given as 1800,
1300 and 800 bows respectively. Thereafter every succeeding Kula-
kara has his height 25 bows less than the preceding one (PCV, 20.
Ava N (156).
95). It agrees with the TP (421-495) and not with
In the Jaisalamerīya manuscript¹ the whole verse has been replaced
agreeing with the Ava N but the other two manuscripts K and Kh
do not follow it.
7. TÄ«rthaá¹…kara AranÄtha's mother is named MitrÄ (PCV,
20.44). This name is identical with that in the TP (4.543). The
Sacred trees
Samava. (Su. 157) and Ava N, 386 mention Devī.
namely, Sarala and Priyangu associated with TÄ«rthankara Abhinan-
dana and Padmaprabha respectively (PCV, 20.30,32) agree with
those in the TP (4.916) while the SamavÄ (Su. 157) mentions Priyaka
and ChatrÄbha respectively.
8. The householder's vow of SamÄdhimaraṇam is mentioned
under last Åšiká¹£Äpada (PCV 14.112-115). The Caritrapahuá¸a of Kunda-
Kunda (22-25). also does the same thing.
and
9. Abstention from taking food at night is enumerated as sixth
aṇuvrata of householder's conduct (PCV, 6.120). This sixth aṇuvrata
is referred to in the SarvÄrthasiddhi (7.1)
RÄjavÄrtika (7.1).
The Acarasara of VÄ«ranandi (5.70) and the GÄritrasÄra of Camund-
arÄya include it into the sixth aṇuvrata.
10. The names like Muni Kulabhūṣaṇa and Deśabhūṣaṇa whom
RÄma pays obeisance on the Vaṃśagiri hill (PCV, ch. 39), are popular
in the Digambara tradition.
ÅšvetÄmbara Tradition:
1. Lord MahÄvÄ«ra, after attaining omniscience, is said to have
delivered
while
sermons
on his way
to Vipulagiri (PCV, 2.36).
According to the Digambara tradition, MahÄvÄ«ra delivered his first
sermon on the Vipulagiri itself. (See Int. p. 7 of PadmapurÄṇa of
Raviṣeṇa—Pt. Pannalal Jain).
2. Mothers of TÄ«rthaá¹…karas are said to have witnessed fourteen
dreams (PCV, 3.62; 21.12).
1.
See revised edition of PCV by Prakrit Text Society.
