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�
happiness for her when she met her brother (30. 80). Simhendu's sister
prevented her husband from attacking her brother and thus paved the
way for the safety of her brother鹿.
Place of daughter-in-law:-A daughter-in-law duly observed the
customs of the family and a mother-in-law duly endeared the former.
S墨t膩 first bowed to her father-in-law, then to her mother-in-law and
after having obtained their permission, she accompanied Rama in exile
(31.103-104). Aparajita did not forget Sit盲 when she made a sorrowful
review of the possible sufferings of R膩ma (78.5). A帽jan膩 duly obeyed
her mother-in-law and left home when she was blamed and exiled by
the latter (17.8). Vimuci and his wife got duly distressed with the
kidnapping of their daughter-in-law (30.63).
Thus the Paumacariya峁� reveals that the members of the family
constituted the nucleus of the society in which all were bound by mutual
affection and love. The safe running of the family depended upon the
fact how the members discharged their duties and remained sincere to
their responsibilities. This primary unit of society i.e. the family trained
its members to make them play active part in society for their social and
political welfare. It was here that the members learned discipline, and
formed their character, shaped their conduct and made their life bene-
ficial. The individual saw himself as a son, a brother, a husband and
a father or a daughter, a sister, a wife and a mother. Every one gained
knowledge by his own experiences and thus could see to his and his
fellow's advancement. Further the individual contributed towards the
welfare of society by developing the qualities of affection, love, friend-
ship, respect, reverence, faithfulness, sincerity, liberality, spend-
thriftness, modesty, courage, temperance and freedom. Here one
suffered and enjoyed, fell down and rose up and thus prepared for
developing himself into a complete social and political personality.
Joint family-system:-The joint family was the characteristic
feature of the ancient Indian society. The PCV reveals that Dasaratha's
family consisted of his wives, sons and daughters-in-law and they lived.
together. After the return of R膩ma from La峁僰膩, he and his brothers,
lived together with their sons and daughters-in-law. All the members
shared jointly the weal and woe of their family on different occasions.
B. Relationship.
The following family relationships are referred to in the
笔补耻尘补肠补谤颈测补峁�:-
Whenever there is an opportunity of joy or sorrow in the family
on occasion of some social function or religious festivity or political
1. 77, 96-98.
