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 62 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
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CHAPTER III COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE R膧MA-STORY A comparative study of the R膩ma-story of Paumacariya峁� has been made particularly with that of the Valmiki and Tulasi R膩m膩ya峁嘺 V膩lm墨ki while other important Jaina and non-Jaina works dealing with the story of R膩ma have been referred to in general wherever necessary to illustrate the points of agreement and variation. SECTION I KING DASARATHA, HIS WIVES AND SONS A. Queens of Da艣aratha : According to the Paumacariyam鲁 of Vimalas 奴r墨, Dasaratha, the king of S膩ketapur墨 (Ayodhy膩) marries (22.100-108) Apar膩jit膩 (Avar- aiya), the daughter of king Suko艣ala and his queen Am峁泃aprabha of the city of Aruhasthala (Aruhatthala), Sumitr膩 (Somitti), the daugh- ter of king Subandhutilaka (-tilaa) and his queen Mitr膩 (Mitta) of Kamalasa峁卥ulapura (22.106-8) and Kaikey墨 (Kegai), the daughter of king Subhamati (Suhamai) and his queen P峁泃hv墨艣r墨 (Puhaisir墨) of the city of Kautukamangala (Kouyamangala虏). Kaikeyi's brother's name is Dro峁嘺megha (Do帽ameha 24.2-3). According to the Valmiki-R膩m膩ya峁嘺, the name of the first queen of Dasaratha who reigns over Ayodhy膩, is Kau艣aly膩 (1.14.33). The names of the other two queens are identical with those mentioned in the PCV. It does not refer to the birth-places and the parents of the first two queens. Kaikeyi's father is said to be king (1.73.1-2) A艣va- pati (2.9.22) of Kekaya country with his capital at R膩jag峁沨a (2.68.6), also called as Girivraja (Ibid. 21). Kaikeyi's brother is named as Yudhajit (1.73.1). 1. Dr. Bulcke mentions four queens of Dasaratha. This number is found in the Padmacaritam of Ravisena, not in the Paumacariyam. Bulcke has quoted in his R膩makath膩 all the references from Padamacaritam on the basis that the Paumacariya峁� and the former are identical. But there are certain differences also. 2. Besides there three queens, Dasaratha is said to have 500 wives (ruva- gunas膩li峁噄nam pa帽casaya jassa pavarajuvaina峁� 28.7 ). The Padamacaritam of Ravisena agrees with this number (28.161). The V膩lm墨ki-R膩m膩ya峁嘺 also refers to 350 (traya岣� Satasatardha-2,39.36 ardhasaptasata 2.34.13) wives of Dasaratha. The Ananda R膩m膩ya峁嘺 mentions 700 wives of Dasara- tha (1.1.72). 2
