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.
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34
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYA�
The Ramacaritamānasa or Tulasī-Rāmāyaṇa agrees with the
Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa as regards the names of the queens of Dasaratha.
Kaikey is merely mentioned as Kekayanandani (2.91). Their
seniority is not clear. However at the time of distribution of the
sacrificial offering (havi) Kausalya is given the first preference,
Kaikeyi follows her and Sumitra is mentioned last of all (1.190). The
same order is found when they bear sons (I. 195, 195).
According to the Vasudevahinḍi, Dasaratha has three queens,
Kaikeyi being the second one (pt. I, p. 241). The name of the first
queen is Kausalyā. According to the Padmacaritam of Raviṣeṇa,
Suprabha is the fourth queen of Dasaratha (22,176). She is also
called Suprajā (25.39; 123.80). The birth-place of Aparājitā is said to
be Darbhasthala¹ (22.171). Kaikeyi's mother's name is Pṛthuśrī
(24.3). The Paumacariu of Svayambhu follows Raviṣeṇa (21.4.9), but
does not mention their birth-place and parentage except that of
Kaikeyi. Aparajitā is called Kosaladuhiya (=duhiṭr 22.12.4).
Hemacandra's Triṣaṣṭiśalākā-puruṣacaritra agrees with Raviṣeṇa, but the
name of the mother of Kaikeyi is Pṛthviśrī (IV. pp. 190-1). The
Rāma-Purāna² of Bhaṭṭāraka Somasena follows Raviṣeṇa, but Sumitrā,
hails from the city of Padmapatra. Kaikeyi is called Kaikāmatī.
Her mother's name is Pṛthvīmatī. Kaikeyi has two brothers: Kaikaya
and Drona. Suprabhā is daughter of the king of Ratnapura.
1. Aruhatthala of the PCV, Darbhasthala of the PCR and Kuśavati of the VR
(7. 108.4) seem to be identical. Kuśāvati of the VR is called Kuśasthali in
the Vāyu Purāṇa (Hindi Translation, H. S. S. Prayaga-p, 366). The very
name of Kusasthali denotes that it was a place where the Kusa grass grew
abundantly. Such a place is not suitable for the cultivation of crops. There
fore Aruhasthala (i. e. a land unsuitable for growth) and Darbhasthala
mean the same thing. Further the VR (7. 108.4) mentions that Kuśāvati was
situated in the Vindhyas. It was made the capital for Kusa. Kusa is also
called as the king of the Kosala country and Lava of the Uttarakośala
(Kosaleṣu Kusa� vīramuttareṣu tathā Lavam 7. 107. 7). It means that
Kuśāvati or Kuśasthali was the capital of South Kosala. Further the VR
states that on the occasion of Dasaratha's horse-sacrifice king Bhanumat of
Kosala had visited Ayodhya (tathā Kosalarājāna� Bhānumanta� susatkṛtam
1. 13. 26). It indicates that Bhanumat was the king of Dakṣiṇa Kośala and
perhaps the father of Kausalyā (Rāmāyaṇa Kālīna Samāja—p. 135) who was
addressed after the name of the country to which she belonged just as the
name Vaidehi (Sītā, the princess of Videha country) and Kaikeyi (the
princess of Kekaya country) denote. Therefore, Aruhasthala of the PCV
should be the capital of South Kosala and Aparajitā can be called as
Kaulśayā i. c. the princess of Kośaladeśa.
2, Rāma-carita (Hindi Translation of Rāma-Purāṇa) by L. B. Shastri—p. 84-85.
