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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438
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYA 峁�
was as terrible as that of the real beasts. It indicates that they were
the clay or plaster models of animals which were so painted that they
seemed to be real ferocious beasts (68. 5, 7, 13). Thus these references
prove that the clay-modelling and painting had reached a high stage of
development.
Sculpture: Various references to Jina-pratim膩s indicate that
the art of sculpture was known to ancient India. Jina-images of different
materials, sizes and colours have been mentioned. The PCV states
that the idol of Jina R峁bha which was worshipped by Vidy膩dhara
Candragati had the lock of hair tied upon its head (d墨haja岣嵞乵au岣峚ka-
yasoha峁� 28. 39). Further the reference to savva峁僩asundar茫o' (40. 11)
Jina idols indicates that the idols were carved artistically. Generally
the idols would have been carved out of stones or wood. There are
references to the idols of gold, gems (ka艅ca峁嘺raya峁嘺m膩i峁嘺峁�
pa岣峣m膩峁嘺峁� 66. 11; 89. 59) and ruby (paumar膩ganimm膩峁嚹� 77. 27). It
is stated that on the Va峁僺agiri various coloured Jina-idols were
installed (n膩峁嚹乿a峁囜箛ujjala-sir墨o 40. 11). The size of the idols must have
varied. R膩va峁嘺 is said to have been carrying a Jina-idol along with
him wherever he went (10. 47). It must be a reference to an idol of
small size. Idols of the size of a thumb have been referred to (angu峁弓-
hapam膩峁嘺 89. 54.) Then it is stated that a gem fixed in the finger-
ring of king Vajrakarna was carved with an image of Suvratajina
(muddiya峁� raya峁嘺cittam Suvvayaji峁嘺bimbasannihiya峁� 33. 56).
It iudicates that very fine and excellently artistic images were made.
There are further references to the idols of Siddhas (5.136) and
Saptar峁s (89.59).
It is stated that the figures of monkey carved on gems were
fixed on crowns, arch's, parasols, and banners to represent the emblem
of the Vanara dynasty (raya峁嘺ghadie......pavangame 6.80). This is a
reference to carving of animal figures.
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The idols were installed on slabs. Slabs are called as phalaas:
phalakas (89.59). They might be wooden planks or stone slabs.
The reference to the Simhasana (28.39) on which was seated the
Jina idol indicates that the lion-seat was artistically carved out with
the figures of lions.
The reference to 'puriso.....
.sippiyakayovva 1-27' is perhaps
an allusion to a statue of a man of full size and it should have
been a sculptural representation.
1. See Infra, Jaina Rituals.
