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�
is the benefactor of his family. His blood boils when he sees injustice.
He teaches a lesson even to his grandmaternal-uncle to take revenge
of the wrong done to his mother, A帽jan膩sundar墨 by exiling her for
no fault of her.
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Rava峁嘺: In the Jaina tradition of the R膩ma-story, R膩va峁嘺 is the
eighth Prativasudeva. He is a mighty conqueror. He attains so many
spells (Vidy膩s) in his young age. The Ravana of the PCV is not a
ten headed monster, but a normal human being. He is ambitious,
but not beastly cruel. He has imposed on himself certain moral
rigorous disciplines. He has taken a vow that he would not establish
sex-relations with any women without her consent. He does not
molest S墨t膩 though he is advised by Mandodari to use force. Even
before his taking the vow, he is not an easy victim to the infirmi-
ties of the flesh. He does not fall in the trap of Uparambh膩 on the
contrary he reproaches her for her frailty. He is humane. Just
before the final battle between him and R膩ma, S墨t膩 requests him
not to kill R膩ma and her brother, Bh膩ma峁囜笉ala and she faints.
Ravana is moved to pity. He curses himself that he brought
about a train of miseries for R膩ma and S墨t膩. He decides to give
up S墨t膩. But he is a warrior of repute, holding sway over a large
part of Bharatavar峁 and to yield is beyond his dignity. So he is
determined to release S墨t膩, only after having defeated R膩ma and
尝补办峁补峁嘺.
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Kaikeyi Kaikeyi's character has got a special treatment in the
PCV. She is here free from jealousy and selfishness. She is a beautiful
lady certainly younger than Aparajit膩 and Sumitr膩, trained in
and sciences. She
So many arts
and
had military training also
which is apparent from the fact that she drove the war-
chariot of Dasaratha when the latter fell out with his rivals after the
'svayamvara' of Kaikeyi. Kaikeyi here also demands the throne for
Bharata but the motive behind is not jealousy or selfishness. Both
Dasaratha and Bharata decide to renounce the world. Kaikey墨 finds
herself deserted and forlorn. She wants to retain Bharata by throw-
ing on his shoulders the responsibilities of a king. She resorts to the
boon granted to her by Dasaratha. R膩ma along with Lak峁a峁嘺 and
Sit盲 voluntarily goes into exile to enable Bharata to accept the
throne. Dasaratha renounces the world. Apar膩jit膩 and Sumitra are
extremely miserable having neither husband nor childern to rely on.
At their plight Kaikey墨 is moved to pity. Then she goes to ask R膩ma
