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 455 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
455 (of 671)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
426
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACAR陌YA峁�
=
snakes (50.13). The owl (Uluya=Ul奴ka 97.24), the crow (K茫a 鈥� K膩ka 82.
40, V膩yasa 71. 26); Sayavatta=Satapatra (7. 17), a bird of number-less
feathers; Va帽jula (14. 18); Pingala (105.59) and Padippavaga
(Pariplavaka 14.18), a kind of birds, are also referred to.
The above mentioned are the birds living on land. The acquatic
birds which lived mostly in the vicinity of the water are also referred to.
Cakrav膩ka (Cakkaya), the goose (Hamsa) and the crane (S膩rasa)
are referred to be inhabiting the M膩nasa lake (16. 47) and the banks of
the Narmada (34. 32; 10. 32). The habitual disunion of the pair of
Cakrav膩ka birds at the time of the closing of the day is referred to
(2. 99). Hamsa and S膩rasa were visible on the shore of the Lava峁嘺
ocean (8. 260). The dragging of the Hamsa to such a hot temperate
zone seems to be conventional because it is generally believed to be a
native of the M膩nasa lake. It migrates to the south in the winter
season. The Kala-hamsa is the R膩ja-hamsa (42. 15). The young ones
of a swan are mentioned as Hamsapoyaa-Hamsapotaka (30. 72). The
pleasant gait of the goose is often compared with that of a young lady
in the Indian literaure and our poet also has not missed it (6. 175). The
crane was considered to be a bird of ill omen (7. 17). Bal膩y膩 = Bal膩k膩
(14. 18) is the other name of S膩rasa. It is referred to be white in colour
(39. 4). The Kurara (82. 38), Kurula (14. 18) or Kurali (female 17.
79) is the osprey, a kind of solitary bird which is considered to be timid.
Our poet has referred to it with the same trait (17. 79).
Worms and Insects:-Ali (33. 9) is a smaller variety of the bee. The
bigger bee is the Bhamara (Bhramara 16. 47) or the Bhinga (Bh峁浢篻a 33.
148). The honeybee (Mahuyara= Madhukara 92. 9; 15. 29; 17. 90; 21.
48) and its female species, Mahuyar墨 = Mahukar墨 are also mentioned
(3.81). The flies (Macchi-Mak峁k膩 103.25), the moth (Payanga= Patanga
103.25), the mosquitoes (Masaga = Masaka 30.108) are also on the record.
Then there are general references to the worms such as K墨岣峚 - Kita
(1.26) of teeth or of latrine (74.38) or Kimikula = Krmikula (39.55) of
the body.
Maiv膩ha (M膩t峁泇膩ha 5.211) is a kind of small insect and is referred
to have been crushed under the feet of an elephant.
SECTION 3. ARTS
A. Clothing, Ornaments and Toilet.
The art of decorating the body is called 'Ahara峁嘺vihi'. It is said
to be fourfold (cauvviham 24.5). The Tha峁嘺nga鹿 (4.374), tells us that
1. Cvauviha alan k膩re...kes膩lank膩re vatth膩la峁卥膩remall膩la峁僰膩re 膩bhara峁嚹乴a峁僰膩re.
