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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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
Bhaddilapura (BhadrikÄ PCR, 20.46):-It was the birth place of
Jina Sitala (20.36). It is identified with Bhadia, a village from Hunter-
ganj in the Hazaribag district (LAI, p. 272 & PTSg, I. 28).
Simhapura: It was the birth place of Jina ÅšreyÄṃsa (20.37). The
PTSg, I. 4, locates it near Benaras, called Sihapuri. Some locate it
probably in SaurÄá¹£á¹ra (JASG, p. 201).
CampÄ: It was the place of birth and emancipation of Jina
VÄsupÅ«jya (20. 38). The Harivaṃsa originated here (21. 6). It was the
ancient capital of the Anga country. Kūṇika, the son of Śreṇika made
it the capital of Magadha. It was situated at a distance of about four
miles to the west of Bhagalpur in Bihar (HGAI, p. 215).
Kampilla-Kampilyapura:-It was the birth place of Jina Vimala
(20.39), Cakravartin Hariṣeṇa and Brahmadatta (20. 150, 158).
Ratnapura (No. 2):-It was the birth place of Jina Dharma (20.41).
The PTSg (Int. p. 37 and p. 95) identifies it with Runai in Oudh.
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Nagapura: It was the birth place of Jina Santi (20.42) and
Kunthu (20.43), Cakravartin MahÄpadma (20.143) and SanatkumÄra
(20.124). It is called as Gajapura and Kuñjarapura (95 34) also. It was
the ancient capital of the Kurus, situated on the Ganges in the Meerut
district (HGAI, p. 81), 22 miles to the north-east of Meerut (IK, p. 71).
Mithilapuri-It was the birth place of Jina Malli (20.45), Nami
(20.47) and Kesava (Vasudeva) Datta (20.180).
KuÅ›agrapura: It was the birth place of Jina MunisuvratanÄtha
(20.46). It is also called as KusumÄnagara (95.35)¹.
Sorivapur (Sauripura) :-It was the birth place of Jina Nemi
(20.48). Some identify it with Mathura (HGAI, p. 122), some with
SÅ«ryapura or SÅ«rajpura situated near Batesvara, in Agra district, on
the right bank of the Jumna river (LAI, p. 337; PTSg, I, p. 38).
Urjavanta -It was the place where Jina Nemi attained emanci-
pation (20.48, 51). It is identified with the Girnar hills near JunÄgarh
(HGAI. p. 300).
VÄṇÄrasi It was the birth place of Jina PÄrÅ›va (20.48). It is
the same as KÄśīpura. It derives its name from two rivers, VaraṇÄ�
and Asà (HGAI. p. 94.f).
Kundapura or KundagÄmapura :-It was the birth place of
MahÄvÄ«ra, the last TÄ«rthankara (2.21; 20.50). It has been identi-
fied with a suburb called BÄsukunda of VaiÅ›ÄlÄ« (Basarh) in the
Muzaffarpur district of Bihar.2
1. See Supra RÄjagá¹›ha.
2. Encyclopaedia of Religion & Ethics, Vol. 7, p. 466 & SBE, Vol. 22, p. X-XIII.
