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�
The terms referred to for measurement of length are: Aratni
(Raya峁噄 20.88), Hasta (Hattha 101.51), Dhanu峁� or C膩pa (Dhanu 20.96;
Cava 118.86), Goruta (G膩uya 3.36), Kro艣a (Kosa 51.4), and Yojana
(Joyana 3.24,151). These measurements are explained as follows in the
Tiloyapan峁嘺tti (I.114-116). Twelve 鈥榓ngulas' or two 'p膩das' are equal
to one 'Vitasti' and two Vitastis constitute one Hasta. The Artha艣膩stra
(2.20) adds four Angulas to two Vitastis to make a Hasta and only two
Vitastis make one Aratni. Four Hastas make one Capa or Danda.
But the Arthas膩stra states that four Aratnis are equal to one Da峁囜笉a.
Two thousand Capas constitute one Krosa. Four Krosas or four
Gorutas鹿 make one Yojana. Thus the Yojana is said to be measuring
4 miles (see Sh膩ma.).
Molla (Mulya) denotes the price (39.69). The prevalence of
money transactions is inferable from the mention of wealth in crores and
lacs. The D墨峁嚹乺as are mentioned in connection with the mock-selling of
R膩vana by Angada (68.32). The Guptas are said to have struck gold
coins called D墨n膩ras ond Suvarnas虏.
The
Conveyances Yana (J膩峁嘺 17.8) or Vahana (71.17) denoted
the conveyance of transport. Saka峁璦 (Saya岣峚 26.21; 33路15), the
cart or the wagon was used for carrying the load of goods from
one place to
the
another. Puru峁-y膩na (Purisaj膩峁嘺 108.43) was
passenger car. Ratha (Raha 32.48) was the chariot. It was also
called Syandana (Sanda峁嘺 71.15; 94.54). Yoking of four horses to
a chariot is referred to (Cauturaya sam茫utta峁� 42.3; 94.34).
PCV mentions it as a good means of river transport also. Kaikey茂
went across the Gambhi墨r膩 river in a chariot (32.48-49) and S墨t膩
chariot
was also carried across the river Ganges (94.53) in a
drawn by horses. The chariots also formed a column of army.
The war-chariot of R膩va峁嘺 is called Mah膩ratha (71.4).
drawn by a number of elephants (71.2). It was loaded with arms.
and ammunitions. Chariots were drawn in procession on the occasion
of religious ceremonies (8.207). Royal chariots were decorated
with gold and jewels (53.113; 42.3-4; 8.207).
It was
J膩峁嘺vatta (Yanapatra 5.83) and Poa (Pota 2.44) were the boats
or ships which were rowed on water (2.44; 55.30).
It
Then there was the litter or palanquin (Sibiya 96.1).
was raised on the shoulders of men who carried noble or royal per-
sons in it (3,132). Gold covering and the setting of precious stones
on it indicate that it was a conveyance of the rich.
1. Samavuyanga S奴. 4 (caug膩ue joyane).
2. Coins of India, p 45; Vide IK, p. 266.
