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.
Page 423 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
423 (of 671)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
394
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACAR陌YA峁�
1 sound of divine drums and hailing words of Devas (4. 12-14). These
are called Ascaryas虏 also.
Samavasar峁嘺:鈥擶hen a T墨rthankara after having attained omni-
science delivers a Sermon, a divine assembly hall (Samosara峁嘺) is
erected by the Devas. His religious discourse is listened to by the gods,
monks, human beings and animals all alike. The PCV (2. 47f) further
gives the details of the assembly hall with its three ramparts, big gates
(Gopuras) banners etc. At every entrance eight dance-dramas
(atthatthan膩岣峚y膩i峁�) are performed. The Tirthankara seated in the
centre is attended by some Pr膩tih膩ryas (see infra). The twelve
divisions of the hall (aha? daha? do峁囜箛i ya vakkh膩r膩) are occupied by
the monks, nuns, goddesses, gods, nobles, men, women and even
animals. This description of the Samosara峁嘺 can be corroborated
by other works with certain details and minor differences. The TSP
mentions three ramparts, but the TP (4. 733) and the AP (22. 81 f)
refer to one more rampart which is made of mud (dh奴lis膩la). Both
these works mentions dance and music performances, not dramas.
Atisayas and Pr膩tih膩ryas:-The PCV further associates 34 Atisayas
and 8 Pr膩tih膩ryas (cottisa峁� ca aisay膩 a峁弓hamah膩pa岣峣her膩 ya 5. 60) with
the Tirthankaras. The eight Pr膩tih膩ryas which appear when a
T墨rthankara attains omniscience are:-a divine throne, a parasol, a
high parosal, a chowry, a halo of light, a sacred tree, the sound of
divine drum and the shower of flowers (Uppa峁囜箛ammi ya n膩峁噀 uppajjai
膩sa峁嘺峁� ji峁噄ndassa/Chatt膩ichattac膩mara taheva bh膩ma峁囜笉ala峁� vimala峁�//
Kappaddumo ya divvo dunduhighosa峁� ca pupphavarisa峁� ca 4. 18-19).
The PCR refers categorically to 34 Atisayas and eight Pr膩tih膩ryas at
5. 72, but at 4. 23-29 it enumerates only seven Pr膩tih膩ryas by omitting
'atichatra'. Further in place of 'chatra' it mentions 'chatratrayam'
i. e. three umbrellas, The 'atichatra' is not mentioned in the
Samav膩y膩nga, the TP5 and the AC. The Samav膩y膩峁単a mentions one
umbrella (膩g膩sagaya峁� chattam), but the TP and the AC mention three
(chatratrayam). The PCR (4. 27) mentions two chowries, while the TP
mentions 64 chowries. The Samav膩y膩nga and the AC refer to the chowry
in plural. Further the TP mentions the Ga峁嘺s attending upon the
1. TP, 4. 672-674; AP, 20, 102-105; TS, P. I, p. 181.
2. UP, 48. 41.
3. TP, 4. 710-895; AP, 22 & 33. 72-112; TSP, I. p. 190-193.
4. Su. 34.
5. 4. 915-927.
6. Abhidhanacint膩ma峁噄ko峁 by Hemacandra (1-57-64). In the VH, (I. p. 5) there is a
reference to 'chattaichatta'.
