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�
Constellations:-The following nak峁tras are mentioned. Assi峁嚹�
(A艣vin墨) 20. 55, Bhara峁嚹� 20. 42, Kittiy膩 (K峁泃tik膩) 20. 43, Rohini 20.
44, Punavvasu (Punarvasu)-20. 30; Pussa (Pusya 20. 41;) Magh膩
20. 31, Hatta (Hasta) 20. 50. Citta 20. 32, Visah膩 (Vi艣膩kh膩鈥�20.49),
A峁噓r膩h膩 (Anur膩dh膩 20. 34), Inda (Aindra or Jye峁ａ弓h膩) 20. 29, M奴la
20. 35, Puvv膩s膩岣峢a and Uttara 膩s膩岣峢a 20.36; 20. 27; 97. 7; Sama峁嘺
Savana (艢r膩va峁嘺) 17.107; 97. 7; Sayabhisa (Satabhi峁j) 20. 38;
Uttarabhaddavay膩 20. 39 and Revai (Revati) 20. 40. Thus nineteen
Some of the
of the twenty-seven nak峁tras have been mentioned.
months are specifically mentioned. They themselves indicate the
corresponding nah峁tras-viz. Maggasira for Mrga艣ir膩s, Phagguna for
Phalgun墨s and Jettha for Jye峁ａ弓h膩 (6.27; 66. 14; 74. 34).
:
Zodiacs -The zodiacs which have been referred to specifically
are Me峁 (Mesa-17.108), V峁涐梗a (Vasabha-17.108), Karka (Kulira
17.108), Kany膩 (Ka峁囜箛膩 17.109), Makara (Mayara 17.108) and
M墨na (Mi峁嘺 17.109).
C. Astrology.
The art of judging the influence of stars upon human affairs is
called astrology. The PCV reveals that people had great faith in
astrology. On various social and political occasions people took into
consideration the timely planetary position to find out whether the
particular time was auspicious or inauspicious. This subject has already
been dealt under popular beliefs. Here it is to be noted that astrolo-
gers (ga峁噄ya峁嚺� 17,107 or nakkhastap膩岣峢aya 17.112) were consulted on
various occasions. The PCV states that on the occasion of the birth of
Hanu, an astrologer read out the planetary position and foretold after
calculation that Hanu would be a great person (balabhogarajja
s膩middhi) and would attain liberation (17.111-118). Thus the PCV
reveals that astrology had developed greatly and it had become a pseudo-
science.
D. Medical Science.
Diseases and their cure :-The act of curing or healing the deseases
was called Tigiccham (Cikitsam 110.27. The physician was called
Vaidya (Vejja 22.64). Roga or V盲hi (Vy膩dhi) denoted the general
desease (3.124; 13.33). Osahi (O峁dhi 3.158) denoted the herb while
Osaha (Au峁dha 22.46) meant the medicine compounded of several
ingredients. The engaging of Vaidyas for making a diagnosis of the
disease of an elephant indicates that veterinary doctors were also avai-
lable (81.12).
