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 CR脥TICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYA峁�
Parikha (2.9):-The city of Rajag峁沨a is said to be surrounded by
a moat. It was a trench dug round the rampart and filled with water
to keep the town safe from any attack.
:-
Pr膩k膩ra It is called S盲la also (52.7). It was a wall or a ram-
part raised round the town for fortification (2.8). The ramparts of
Lanka and Saketa are said to be having beautiful gold work done on
them (jamb奴峁嘺yaka峁嘺gacittap膩y膩ra 5.129, ka帽ca峁嘺gha峁嘺p膩y膩ra 55.14
varaka峁嘺gatungap膩y膩ra 3 113). The walls of the rampart of R膩jag峁沨a
are said to have cornices carved on their upper part (kavis墨saya鈥�
Kapistr峁ka 2.19). Rama's temporary settlement (Sannivesa 62.35) at
La峁卥a on the occasion of Lak峁a峁嘺's being wounded by Ravana is said
to be having seven ramparts one following the other (62.27).
:
-
Gopuradv膩ra The Sannive艣a of R膩ma had three Gopuras (62.27)
and many doors. The Copura was the main gate or big entrance with a
constructed house on it. The king of Da艣apura is said to have observed
the fight between Simhodara and Lak峁a峁嘺 from such a Gopura (33.
115). The Nandavatanivesa of Rama at Ayodhya had one Gopura
and many other small gates (bahud膩ra峁� 80.2). The Gopuras' are
referred to be facing four quarters while the dv膩ras were the side doors
comparatively small in size. Some times Gopura and Dv膩ra are
synonymous (62.32-33). The main gates of the temporary R膩mapur墨
are referred to as Dv膩ras, not Gopuras (35.35). A chief guard (S膩larakkha
52.8) was stationed on the main gate and the door-keepers on the doors
(D膩rav膩la 17.18). During the night and at times of emergency these
gates were closed (17.18; 67.17; 86.38). Attacking armies used to
break open the gates to enter and seize the city.
A峁弓膩laka :鈥擳he referenee to it at 5.134 indicates that the rampart
had watch towers of military posts attached to it.
Durga -There is a reference to the Dugga of Da艣apura (nayara峁�
visamaduggap膩y膩ra峁� 33.77). Durga means a fort. It might be
a reference to a town fortified with rampart. There are various kinds
of Durgas or forttfications such as hill fort, forest-fort, water-fort, clay-
fort, chariot-fort, divine-fort and mixed-fort".
-
Apa峁嘺: The Apa峁嘺 was the market place which remained busy
with the activities of merchants coming from various places (2.10).
Rathy膩 and marga:-The town had well laid roads and streets.
Rathy膩s or Racch膩s (67.24) were the roads on which the chariots could
1. The J膩takas reveal that the outer walls of the cities were pierced with four
gates in their middle facing the four quarters -Vide India as Known to P膩峁噄ni
P. 139.
2. See EHA, p. 5. 3. EHA, p. 5.
