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.
Page 582 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
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External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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GEOGRAPHICAL PLACES, PEOPLES AND TRIBES 553 There are historical evidences to show that some dynasties bore
animal names. The Naga鹿 dynasty is said to have ruled at Mathura
and Padmavati during the 3rd and 4th century A.D. Even in the
medieval times many N膩ga kings ruled at Bhogavati (Ramtek) from
11th to 14th century A. D. and they had snake as the 鈥榚nsign' of their
banner.2 Figure of monkey also was adopted by a dynasty. King
Kandara of Ananda dynasty had his banner ensigned with the figure
of Gol膩ng奴la (a species of monkey鲁).
The VR for the first time depicts the Vanaras as having tails.
Scholars explain it as follows: There was a custom in some royal
families that at the time of coronation a tail was attached. There
is still a tribe in the Andaman islands, whose people wear tails.
All these evidences prove that the Vanaras were an ancient tribe.
Mr. S. N. Vyasa considers them as a Vanav膩s墨 people-forest tribe
and they were called Vanaras because of their fickle nature 'capalata".
Such nick names are not strange. The Russians ridiculed the Japanese
by calling them 'yellow monkeys'8. That the Vanaras were an ancient
people, is corroborated by the Vasudevahi峁囜笉i also. It mentions that
Vasudeva married many girls belonging to V膩narav膩峁兣沘潞.
1. VGA, p. 33.
2.
See N膩yakum膩racariu, p. XXXV.
3. VGA, p. 66.
4. Bengali R膩m膩ya峁嘺, D. S. Sen. p. 52.
5.
V. D. Savarkara-R膩m膩ya峁嘺 Sam膩locan膩.
6. RKSJ, p. 71.
7. Ibid, p. 72.
8. RR. p.96.
9. VH, (Gujarati), Int. p. 4. f n. l.
