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.
Page 368 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
368 (of 671)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
SOCIAL CONDITIONS 339 provided for the pregnant woman who was confined to it during the
last days of her pregnancy. The Suśrutasamhita gives directions for it
(10.2). It was considered to be essential for the security and the
welfare of the foetus and the pregnant woman.
Curiosity for the Birth of a Son :-The parents always had a great
desire to be blessed with son (41.41). The joy of the parents started
even before the actual birth of a son. Mere prediction that a son would
be born to them (3.66) was enough for their joy, not to talk of the
actual birth. Thus the PCV reveals that Nabhi was in mirth when
Rṣabha was born (3.70). The son used to receive immense love and
caress from his parents. Videhā regarded her son as her very eyes and
a valuable treasure (26.89). The sudden kindnapping of her son was
considered to be a great misfortune (26.89). Añjanāsundari considered
her son as the very source of her existence in her woeful days (17.93).
Amsumati was not living cheerfully because she had no son (26.83).
For Amsumati and her husband it was a day of great joy when they
adopted a
The
son (26.84).
the
relatives also felt happy on
occasion of the birth of a male child (7.89). The father as
far as possible never liked to send his son to war (27.18; 16. 32) and
killing one's own son was considered to be a great sin (14. 14).
Birth Ceremonies and other Rites:-With so much importance attached
to a son it was natnral that with the birth of a male child the happiness
of the parents grew immensely. Various functions were performed in
connection with the cermonies of the birth and gradual growth of the
child and due care was taken for his healthy nourishment. The first
thing to be noted was the day and the time of the birth of a son and
to get the planetary postiion recorded to asceratain the future happiness
of the son (25. 7. 97; 7; 17. 106-112).
Then the birth ceremony was performed with great pomp and
show accompanied by the playing of musical instruments (3. 70; 7. 90;
17. 119; 25. 8-14; 97. 8). Thereafter the name of the son was christened
according to his physical qualities¹ (Padma-because he was lotus-eyed
25.8) or intrinsic merits² (Lakhkaṇa-Lakṣmaṇa-because he was
possessed of many qualities 25. 11) or in association with some incident³
(Daṣamukha-because his face reflected in the nine jewels of his necklace
7.96) or in association with the particular condittons developed by
1.
97. 9.
2.
2. 26; 63. 29
3.
3. 68; 9 78; 17, 120; 22, 56; 26, 87; 3, 106; 21 21.
