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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ECONOMIC, POLITICAL & RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS 481 Monks are further advised to bear 22 kinds of sufferings (b膩v墨sa
par墨sah膩 chuhaiy膩 117.24). They are prescribed for developing internal
stability. Their details can be known from the TS (9.2).
1 Further the PCV lays down that the monks should hold 18.000
kinds of discipline (a峁弓h膩rasayasahass膩 s墨la峁僩a峁嘺峁� dh膩ranti sappuris膩
14.81). They are described in the Malacara. They comprise of
controlling of each kind of activity viz. of mind, speech and body
(Yogas) through each of the three agencies (Kara峁嘺s) of mind, speech
and body, each agency in relation to four impulses (Sa峁僯帽膩s), every
Sa峁僯帽膩 in relation to give sense organs and every sense organ in relation
to protection of ten classes of living beings, each correlated with ten
kinds of Dharmas (3 Yogas X 3 Kara峁嘺s X 4 Samj帽膩s X 5 Indriyas 鉁�
10 K膩yas X 10 Dharmas-18,000). The details of the ten Dharmas
can be known from the TS. (9.6).
Monks are advised to remain free from seven kinds of fears
(sattabhayavippamukko 103.84). The Samav膩y膩峁単a (7) and the Malacara
(2.53) give their details with minor differences in the names of three
of them.
Householder's conduct:-The layman's conduct is said to be
consisting of observing five lesser vows (pa帽c膩峁噓vvayajutto 4.24) and
seven disciplinary vows (sattahi sikkh膩vaehi pariki峁囜箛o 4.24). The
latter vows are also divided into two groups viz. three salutary vows
and four disciplinary vows (gunavvaya ti峁囜箛i cattariya sikkh膩o
6.120;14.112).
The TS states that first five vows of a householder are called
a峁噓vratas because they are to be observed partially while in the case of
the monks they are called Mah膩vratas because they are to be followed
in their completeness (de艣asarvatoanumahat墨 7.2). The first five
lesser vows are mentioned in the PCV as non-injury, speaking truth,
non-stealing, non-indulgence with another' wife and contentment with
limited possessions (ahi峁僺膩 or th奴layara峁� p膩峁噄vaha峁� nivitti, sacca峁�
adatt膩d膩na峁�, parad膩rassavirai or parajuvai峁嘺 nivitti & santoso
6.119; 14.113; 32.63-67), the three salutary vows (14.114) limit the
quarters and the place for one's activity (disividis膩峁嘺 niyama), preach
abstention from unprofitable enjoyment (a峁嘺峁弓hada峁囜笉assa vajja峁嘺峁�)
and further restrict one's enjoyment of consumable things (uvabhoga-
parim膩峁嘺m). The four disciplinary vows are: contemplation of the
self (s膩m膩iya峁�), observance of fast, religious study and contemplation
(uvav膩sa posaha), right distribution of alms (atihisa峁僾ibh膩ga) and
1. Ch. 11.2-4. See Finasahasran膩ma, p. 38.
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