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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.19). SOCIAL CONDITIONS 333 On the death of the father and in absence of a major son,
the mother became the head guardian of the family (17.82-84).
It was the sole concern of the father to appoint his political heir.
Dasaratha had to instal Bharata though R膩ma and Lak峁a峁嘺 were
elder to him (31.73-75).
Faithfulness of wife:-The wife was a faithful follower of her
husband. S墨t膩 preferred following her husband to the forest to
remaining at home to pass a comfortable life. Aparajit膩 did not
oppose her husband from installing of Bharata (31.99) as the king of
Ayodhy膩. Though A帽jan膩 was abandoned by Pavana帽jaya still she
remained faithful to her husband despite of various sufferings (15-18).
S墨t膩 had to carry out the orders of R膩ma and had to suffer exile.
When a recently married husband renounced the world nothing was
left for a young wife except following her husband and becoming a nun
(21. 72-73). Co-operation and living together affectionately of co-wives
his co-wives. When
was necessary. Kaikey卯 caused affliction for
Apar膩jit膩 and Sumitr膩 could not bear the separation from their sons,
Kaikeyi's heart melted and she made her best efforts to recall
R膩ma for the well-being of her son, herself and the whole family
32. 36-53).
It was the son who maintained the continuity of the family
therefore his necessity was ever felt by the parents (91. 122). Mother
consulted monks for the birth of sons (41.41-42) and kings postponed
the renunciation of the world till a son was born (21. 28). Janaka
and his wife got afflicted when their son, Bh膩ma峁囜笉ala was kidnapped
by Candragati. Candragati had kinnapped him to adopt him as his
own son because his wife was issueless (26. 82-88).
Responsibilities of parents :-It was the duty of the parents to nou-
rish, educate and marry their sons and daughters properly. Foster-
mothers were engaged for children (26.98; 97.11). A帽jan膩 (17.91-122)
did not forget to take proper care of her son though she was in great.
distress. At the proper time parents duly arranged for the education of
their sons and daughters鹿. S墨t膩 though abandoned by R膩ma yet she duly
arranged for the education of her sons (97.22). When the daughters
attained puberty the parents got worried for their marriage and it was
only after their marriage that they got relieved of the responsibility虏.
The sufferings of the sons brought about. great anxiety to their
occasion of great joy
parents (31.97; 18.20; 63.4-6; 5.88). It was
1. 25.23; 39.88; 24.4-9.
2. 15.13-14; 36.39; 24.9; 12,1-8.
an
