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 397 those occurreeces have been associated with numerous Yojanas (4.907),
in the Samav膩y膩nga with twenty-five Yojanas and in the AC with 200
骋补惫测奴迟颈蝉.
(2) Cakravartins:-The Cakravartin kings are said to be the
masters of fourteen great gems or excellent things and nine treasures
(coddasa ya mah膩raya峁嘺nava nihao 461, 8.201)鹿.
him by
(3) Baladevas:-The PCV states that Baladeva R膩ma possessed
three divine weapons, namely, a bow, a ploughshare and a pestle
(100.8). It also mentions the presenting of a chariot to
Garu岣嵞乨hipati (59.85). It is not counted as a Ratna. The TP (4.
1435) associates with the Baladevas four gems but mentions a string
of gems (Ratn膩val墨) in place of a bow. The UP (57.93) refers to a
mace and a string of gems in place of a bow and a chariot in the
case of R膩ma.
-
(4) Vasudevas: The PCV mentions that Vasudeva Lak峁a峁嘺 was
the master of seven gems (divvara峁嚹乮m 91. 8). They are mentioned
as a disc, a parasol, a bow, a spear, a mace, a precious stone and a
sword (cakka峁� chatta峁� ca dhanum satti ya gay膩 ma峁噄 asi ceva).
The TP mentions a conch and a staff in place of a parasol and a
precious stone (4. 1434). The Uttarapur膩峁嘺 (57. 92) follows the TP.
(鈧�) Prativ膩sudevas:-The PCV refers to the Sudar艣anacakra (10.24)
and a staff (19.44) of R膩vana. He is killed by Vasudeva Lak峁a峁嘺
with the cakra (72. 36; 73. 27). The TP mentions that Prativasudevas
are killed by Vasudevas with the former's disc (4. 1423).
The PCV further mentions that Cakravartins are immune from
the effects of any Vidy膩 operated against them by any other person
(68. 48). Similarly Vasudevas are not at all harmed by the Cakra
hurled at them by the Prativ膩sudevas (72. 36) 2 and the divine weapons
of Cakravartins or V膩sudevas and Baladevas do not harm their own
kith and kin (4. 48; 100. 8, 19-21)鲁.
(C) Supernatural occurrences
The PCV reveals that supernatural occurrences affected the day
to day life of the people. They can be dealt under four heads-viz.
(1) Supernatural occurrences connected with the life of great persons;
(2) Favourable or unfavourable disposition of celestial beings towards
1. See for details 峁琱膩峁嘺nga, 7. 558; TP, 4. 1.77-86 and JP, (3.66).
2.
See UP (58. 59. 115).
3. See AP (36. 66).
