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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SOCIAL CONDITIONS 375 preceeding night of the final battle with R膩ma. The R膩k峁sas freely
used wine and intoxicated their beloved with it. Thus the intoxicating
effect of wine made their wives care free and made their shyness
disappear. They took recourse to amorous gestures. Flowers, perfu-
mes, unguents, ointments and aloes as well as betel leaves were profu-
sely used. The occasion was made graceful by the playing of musical
instruments (70.51-61) also.
Spectacles: The Paumacariya峁� particularly mentions that the
people of the country of Magadha used to delight themselves with the
performance of acrobats (na岣峚), dancers (na峁弓a), umbrella-players
(chatta) and dancers on bamboos (lankhaya). The people were gay and
joyous with the dance and music (2. 5 nicca峁僴accantagiyasadd膩lo).
Music and dance have been separatey dealt under the section of fine
arts. Besides these amusements the junctions of the roads of the towns
were the sites where various spectacles could be seen (caccaracaukka
manaharapeccha峁嘺yamahantamahuranigghosa峁� 2. 13).
SECTION 6. MANNERS, CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS.
A. Manners.
The society consists of elders, equals and inferiors. In the daily
business one has to contact persons of various trades. Therefore the
first thing which automatically come out of one's mouth is to address
a person in a particular way and to behave with him in a particular
manner. Thus the PCV reveals as to how the ancient Indian people
behaved with one another on such occasions. It mentions that in
addressing one another some particular words were used which
denoted either respect, honour and reverence or modesty, sympathy,
regard and love. It was followed by a salute to the elders
or the
superiors and blesings to the younger or inferior ones. Thus the state
of affairs proves that the people whether low or high, inferior or
superior occupied a worthy position in the civilization of ancient
India.
Addresses: The elders used to address the younger ones as
follows. The sons were addressed by their parents as 鈥榢um膩ra'
(99. 21) or 'putta' (putra 31.81; 98. 21) or 'puttaya' (putraka 31. 96;
100. 36). In the endearing terms they were addressed as 'vaccha' (vatsa
31. 73) or 'vacchaya' (100. 37). The maternal grandfather is said to
be using the same term for his nephew (50.15). An elder brother
would call his younger brother by his name (112. 12) or by endearing
terms 'vaccha' or 'vacchaya' (45. 20; 111. 10; 37. 8). Sometimes
