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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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE R膧MA-STORY 53 said to be of sixteen years (24.10.4). The TSP (IV.p.209) and the RPS
(p.97) agree with the PCV. The Vasudevahi峁囜笉墨 follows the VR but the
period of exile is mentioned to be of twelve years.
In the R膩mop膩khy膩na the period of R膩ma's exile is not referred to
in Kaikeyi's demand (277.26), but at the time of Rama's returning
from La峁卥膩 fourteen years are mentioned (271.39).
搁腻尘补.
The UP and the MP do not contain any reference to the exile of
which
exonerate
According to the PCV it is quite clear that R膩ma takes a
voluntary exile. Kaikey末 cannot be alleged as cruel and wicked.
There are many non-Jaina works
have tried to
Kaikeyi from being charged with rascality and impiety by putting forth
various reasons.
The Gau岣嵞珁a and the North-West versions of VR record that
Kaikey墨 was cursed by a Brahmin, therefore (s膩pado峁mohit膩) her mind
became perverted and she trusted the words of Manthar膩 (Bulcke,p.324).
In the Pratima Nataka it is said that Kaikeyi demanded coro-
nation for Bharata for she wanted to keep up the promise of Dasaratha
Further it is said that
(mah膩rassa saccavaa峁嘺峁� rakkhantie III. 18f)
she exiled R膩ma to make true the curse of a Mahar峁 (Andhakamuni)
and while asking for fourteen days' exile, unconsciously fourteen years'
period was demanded by her. She says to Bharata that whatever she
has done, is with the prior consent of Vasistha and Vamadeva (VI.15f).
In the Mahaviracarita, Surpanakh膩 in the disguise of Manthara, goes
to Mithila on the occasion of the 'svaya峁僾ara' of S墨t膩 and hands over
Dasaratha a letter from Kaikey墨, really a forged letter, demanding
and exile for 搁腻尘补.
(IV.14) crown for Bharata
The Anargha-
raghava tells the same story (IV.14-15; IV.66). According to the
B膩lar膩m膩ya峁嘺 6.5-11), Dasaratha and Kaikeyi had gone to meet Indra.
Finding the opportunity, M膩y膩maya, Surpanakh膩 and a maid-servant
in the disguises of Dasaratha, Kaikeyi and Manthara respectively go to
Ayodhy膩 and banish 搁腻尘补. The Mah膩 N膩峁乲a鹿 tells us that the arrival.
of the new bride i. e. S墨t膩 was found to be inauspicious (3.5f), hence
Kaikey墨 demanded exile of R膩ma along with S墨t膩 and Lak峁a峁嘺 and
demanded throne for Bharata.
In the Adhy膩tmar膩m膩ya峁嘺 (2.2.44-46) it is said that the gods
and goddesses sent Sarasvati to Ayodhy膩 for perverting the minds of
Manthara and Kaikeyi. The Ananda R膩m膩ya峁嘺 (8.2.56) and the
1. The recension of Madhus奴dana Mi艣ra.
