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�
S墨t膩 (103.165) and Devar峁 N膩rada are referred to be putting on white
clothes (78.8). On the occasion of performing a worship of the Jinas
the laymen used to wear white clothes (10.46; 66.30). Rama is said
to be wearing yellow clothes during his exile (49.20). The criminals
at night used to put on blue clothes (103.14) so that they might
not be perceived easily. The recluses used to wear redochre coloured
clothes.
Usually the male dress consisted of two pieces of cloth
(dokappa岣峚parih膩峁噊 25.18) namely the Uttariya (Uttarijja 8.220),
the upper garment and the lowar garment (kadiya岣峚pa峁弓a 3.29). The
upper garment was a scarf which covered the shoulders while the
lower garment was tied round the waist and covered the lower part
of the body. It was the lion cloth or dhoti. There is a reference to
Ka帽cuka which was put on by Kaly膩峁嘺m膩l膩 who kept covering her
body with a male attire. She removed it off to disclse her identity to
R膩ma and Lak峁a峁嘺 (oindhai kancuya峁� sarir茫o 34. 15). It is
explained as a coat like jacket, full-sleeved and hanging up to the
knees. The foot wears are referred to as P膩duk膩s (p膩u茫o 80. 8)."
The female dress consisted or three garments. The Uttariya
(10.37; 67.25), the bodice (Ka帽cua 9.11; Tha峁嘺峁僺uya 68.40) and a
lower garment. The last one is not referred to.
A woman in a miserable condition is said to be wearing C墨ra
(30.64) which would denote old, decayed or tattered cloth.
The references to Vicittavattha (53.108) of the warriors of
Indrajit and the Citta峁僺uya (41.51) of a girl indicate that some
pictures or designs were printed on the cloth.
(碍耻蝉耻尘补辫补岣峯肠肠丑补颈测补辫补濒濒补峁卥别
The references to Kusumapata
2.10.1; 16.72) and Kamal膩stara峁嘺 (Kamalotthara峁嘺 46.84) indicate
that bed sheets decorated with the embroidery work of flowers.
used
Costly cloths set with gems were
were in use.
on religious
occasions (Manipa岣峚yala 3.137). A blanket of high class variety is
also mentioned (Kambalarayana 42.24).
Ornaments:-The ornaments are denoted by Abhara峁嘺s (27.33),
Vibh奴峁峁嘺s (95.8) and Alank膩ras (2.1).
The ornaments worn on the head
(68.33). The crown-Muku峁璦 (Mauda 3.1)
1. Har峁varta eka Samsak峁泃ika Adhyayana, pp. 79 150.
were called Sirabh奴峁峁嘺s
was worn by a king. The
