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’s version.
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External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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GEOGRAPHICAL PLACES, PEOPLES AND TRIBES 523 PCR mentions it as Kuntala (101.77). In that case the Kuntaladeśa
is well-known as the region including southern part of previous Bombay
State and northern part of Mysore (TAI, p. 176). But the PCR also
locates it in the north of the Ganges and the Kailāśa. The
Varangacarita supports it but the country or the people of that name
remain unidentified in that north region. However the Kunti Janapada
referred to in the MB is identified with Kontavara or Gwaliar
Bhā. Sā, p. 140).
-
Sihala Simhala or the Simhalas:-It is identified with modern
Ceylon, southern most island of Indian peninsula (GE, I, p. 5; VGA,
p. 137). But the PCV has often referred to the Rākṣasadvīpa and its
capital city as Lanka which has been identified with Ceylon. Sīhala
of the RCV seems to be lying in the northern most region of India.
The JP (52. p. 217 & 56. p. 213) and Ava. Cu (p. 191) mention that
Bharata conquered Simhala, Babbara, Cilāyaloka, Javaṇadīva and
Arabaka etc. Thus these references also locate Sīhala in the northern
region. On the basis of Saktisangama Tantra (3.7.49) Dr. D.C. Sirkar puts
Simhala in the Punjab-Rajasthan region and thinks that it may be the
kingdom of Simhapur in the Jhelum district¹.
Panaṇandana (Nandinandana PCR, 101.77) or the Pranandanas :-
The Anandas of the Marakaṇḍeyapurāṇa are taken as Nandas and are
located on the bank of river Nandā. mentioned as situated in north
between the Ganges and Kosi (Tr. p. 383, see p. 412 also).
Salaha or the Salabhas:-Our work puts the Salabhas in the north.
They are unidentified.
The Mangalas:-Wilford identifies Mangalapura with Mangora
or Manglora. It was situated on the left bank of the Swāt river (GD,
p. 125).
The Bhimas-The Purāṇas also mention the Bhīmas². Bhīmasthāna
of the MB (Vana. Ch. 82) is identified with Takhtibhai, 28 miles to the
north east of Peshawar (GD, p. 33).
The Bhuyas Bhūtas or the Bhautas:-Bhutan or Bhutasthan is
identified with a place in the Palai valley close to the southern fort
of Shahkot pass leading to Swat. It was a large important Buddhist
site. The area appears to have been a stronghold of the Bhutas or
mentioned by
mentioned by
Dandin and Vagbhaṭa as
Bhauttas. They have been
1. Studies in the Geograpthy of Ancient & Medieval India by Dr. D. C. Sirear,
p. 103.
2: Ibid. p. 62.
