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 PAUMACARIYAM
bathing. It was called majja峁嘺hara (69. 6) which was duly equipped
with water-pitchers, bath-stools and fragrant substances. These
pitchers were made of gold (ka峁嘺yakalasa 77. 30) and set with precious
stones (raya峁嘺ka帽ca峁嘺maya, ma峁噄mayakumbha 69.8). The bath stools
(majja峁嘺p墨岣峢a) were-set with Vai岣嵟玶ya gems (veruliyamaya 69.7;veruli-
yanh膩峁嘺p墨岣峢a 77. 30). The bath of the royal persocs was made pleasant
by the recital of songs and playing of musical instruments (69. 9; 77.
30). Special ladies were appointed for giving bath to the royals.
and the nobles (69. 10; 77. 29). Cool water agreeable to the body was
preferred for bath. It was saturated with odoriferous substances
(angasuhas墨yale峁嘺峁� salile峁嘺峁� surahigandha paure峁嘺峁� 69, 11). At the
time of taking bath unguents, fine fragrant powders and pastes of
different colours were used (surahigandhacun峁噀hi峁� uvva峁弓anti 3. 86:
niddhesu suyandhesu ya uvva峁弓anesu uvvat峁璱o 80. 57; uvvattanesu
surabhi峁� n膩峁嚹乿ihacun峁嘺va峁囜箛agandhehi峁� majjijjai 69. 10). On festive
occasions people used perfumes, ointments and pastes (gandh膩iesu
deh膩峁噓leva峁嘺saesu 70. 59). Sandal paste was applied on the occasion
of coronation (Canda峁嘺kayangar膩ga 85. 21) also.
Hair-dressing:-R膩va峁嘺 is referred to have dressed his hair-lockets
(kuntalakayakara峁噄jjo 69. 11) at the time of taking his bath. This
instance indicates that necessary care was taken of the hair in keeping
them clear by washing, applying fragrance and combing. The word
C奴岣峚 of C奴岣嵞乵a峁噄 suggests that men and women tied their tresses in
one knot above their head. S墨t膩 is referred to as abaddhakesave峁嚹�
which denotes that women used to knit the flock of their hair in a braid
(54. 4). The references to Dhammilla鹿 (8. 279; 100. 52) of the house-
wives indicate that the braided and ornamented hair of women were
tied round their heads and were adorned with flowers and pearls.
Mirror: Dappa峁嘺yala (Darpa峁嘺 7. 88) denoted the mirror which
was used for looking at one's reflection. It was sometimes set with gems
(97. 5).
Saffron :-Saffron (kunkuma) was widely used by the people. Men
as well as women applied it to their bodies. The celestial beings are
referred to have applied it to the body of the Jina on the occasion of
his sacramental-bath (3. 105). The rich used it as a common article of
pleasure (ku峁卥umakaya峁僩ar膩g膩 31. 46). The bodies of R膩ma and
Lak峁a峁嘺 were besmeared with saffron when they were welcomed by
king Mahidhara (36. 40). Even while fighting, the R膩k峁sa and the
Vanara warriors are mentioned to have anointed their bodies with
1- EHR, P. 245,
