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.
Page 576 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
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External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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GEOGRAPHICAL PLACES, PEOPLES AND TRIBES Yakṣas and Vaisas respectively. 547 At 3.154 it mentions that the Vijayār-
dha region (i. e. the Vindhyas) was occupied by the Kinnaras,
Kimpuriṣas and the Gandharvas.
A study of Indian literature reveals that these people are
mentioned in various works. Their identity as some tribes or clans is
not clear. Researches carried out by various scholars have proved that
they were people of very ancient times. With the passage of time they
went into complete oblivion and later on they were relegated to the
position of either hobgoblins or demigods. When Vimalasūri defines
them on a new basis, i. e. the people belonging to particular places
coming to be known after the names of those particular places-it seems
to be an attempt to assign some suitable historical place to the peoples
forgotten in course of time. In the following lines an attempt has time
made to identify them.
Asiṇas: Their identity is obscure. However Panini (5.3.117)
refers to the Aśanis as a war-like tribe of the North-West Frontier (IP,
p. 438).
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Asuras: They can be identified with the Assyrian people of
ancient times whose country formed part of the Persian Empire in the
fifth century B. C. and that country is mentioned in the old Persian
Behistun inscription as Athura, and in Susain as Assura (IP, p. 447).
In the Purāṇas they are in juxta position with the Suras (gods), their
allies and rivals.
Kinnaras: On the basis of pieces of evidence from the Brahman-
ical and the Buddhist literature the modern Kanaur in the upper valley
of the Sutlez where the head waters of Candrabhaga approach near it,
is identified with the country of the Kinnaras (See IK, p. 62).
Gandharvas :—On the evidences from the Raghuvaṃśa the
Gandharvas or Gandhāras are said to be the people of that country
whose capitals were Takṣaśīlā and Puṣkalāvatī (IK, p. 67).
Yakṣas : In the VR we find them settled in the south and were
chased off from there by the Rākṣasas. Prof. C.V. Vaidya regards them
as the aboriginal people of the south, who were later on made to flee
to the north (RR. p. 99). But it is also told in the VR that when the
Rākṣasas vacated Lankā, Brahmā appointed Vaiśravana, as the
Lokapāla of Lankā (7,3). Then we find them mentioned in the ancient
literature also as the inhabitants of the north, therefore it is possible
that they went from north to south.
Vaisas :-Not identified.
Further the PCV reveals that the Vidyadharas, Rākṣasas and the
Vanaras were very ancient people and we find that they have been
