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�
Aiccaha峁� (94.4);
Gandharva; Gandh膩rapura; Jakkhapura;
Jyotipura; Tilakapura; Narag墨tapura; Malayapura; Meghapura; Ravi-
bh奴sapura; Laksm墨dharapura; Siripahurava; Sirimandira; Siriguha;
Siricch膩ya; Sirivijaya; 艢ivamandira.
The grand sons of Vidyadhara Meghavahana are said to have
established the following (Pa峁弓anavar膩i峁� bahusannives膩i峁�) town-
settlements, called as dvipas for themselves (5.246-248):-
Ardhasvarga, Avarta, Utkata, Kanaka, Tava峁嚹亂avali, Toy膩-
valisa (6.32) (Ta峁璦, Toya, Avali-PCR, 5.373), Durgraha, Dhanya
(Yodha or Ayodhana 10.15; 48.54), Manaprahlada. Manohara,
Megha, Ratna, Vika峁璦, Samudra (Udadhi 48.54), Suvela, Sandhy膩-
k膩ra, Harija (Hari) and Hansadvipa. Amala, Alanghya, K膩nt膩, K艣ema,
N膩bha, Bh膩nu and Rodhana are also mentioned as the R膩k峁sa
settlements (6.31-33).
The following rivers and hills are unidentified:-
Hamsavali (13.41); Karnaparvata (6.218); Kambu艣aila
(45.32); Nigu帽ja (82.105); Pancasangamaya (5.21); Puspagiri
(46.66); Manik膩nta (9.21); Mahugiri (6.208); Meghavara (8.29);
Rath膩varta (13.42); Vasantagiri (21.46); Velandhara (54.39);
Sandhyagiri (18.44); & Suradundubhigiri (108.22).
A general estimate of the above account indicates that the
PCV refers to not less than 400 geographical places and tribes.
They can be classified approximately as follows Countries and
tribes 100, Islands 50, Towns 150, Mountains 50, Rivers 20 and
the rest as seas. lakes, forests etc. Out of them 100 are mythological
distinctively while nearly 175 have been identified and the rest of
them remain unlocated.
SECTION 6. ANARYAS OR MLECCHAS.
The PCV mentions sometimes such peoples who are distinct
from the Aryan, and are called Mlecchas or An膩ryas. In connec-
tion with the war-campaign of Lavana and Anku艣a, the PCV
states in general that they conquered many countries of which
some were Aryan and some were non-Aryan, but they have not
been specifically distinguished (des膩 ariyaa峁嚹乺iy膩 98.63). On the
occasion of the attack of king Ativ墨rya of Nandy膩vartapura on
Bharata, it is said in the PCV (37.5) that the former had his allies.
in the rulers of many non-Aryan countries. Here also the specific
differentiation is not made between the Aryan and the non-Aryan
countries. It is on the occasion of the attack of some barbarous
