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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82
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYA峁�
Hanumat
assumes a
reality when he goes to Sugr墨va to make a complaint of the miscreant.
He comes back and requests pardon of Hanumat (5. 64).
further on his way to Lank膩, after having crossed the sea,
small form like that of a cat (5. 2. 47) to enter into Lank膩puri unnoticed.
Before entering into the city he overpowers R膩k峁si Lanka who is
stationed there by R膩vana to guard the city (5. 3. 28). She is referred
to as the city itself appearing in the form of a R膩k峁s墨.
The TR agrees with the VR but it cuts short all the descriptions.
(4. 23-28). J膩mbavat (J膩mavat) while encouraging Hanumat to jump
across the sea, calls him an incarnation coming to the world with the
sole purpose of fulfilling the mission of R膩ma (R膩ma k膩ja lagi tava
avat膩r膩 4. 30). The description of the journey of Hanumat across the
sea is in agreement with that of the VR. Hanumat assumes the form of
a mosquito (masaka sam膩na rupa 5. 4). Lankini is called a ni艣icar墨
(搁腻办峁蝉颈).
The R膩macarita of Abhinanda does not refer to the love proposal
of Lank膩sundar墨 but mentions that in the cave of Svayamprabh膩,
V膩naravarasundari proposes twice to gain the love of Hanumat but
the latter rejects her proposal (Bulcke, p. 184).
D. Meeting with S墨t膩 and Mandodari's Interference :
According to the PCV, Hanumat straightway goes to the house of
Vibh墨峁峁嘺 and requests him to persuade R膩va峁嘺 to send back S墨t膩.
Vibh墨峁峁嘺 is very sorry because his previous efforts met with derision.
and reproach (52. 8). He advises Hanumat to make his personal
efforts in admonishing R膩vana. Hanumat goes to the Padma-udy膩na
and drops the finger-ring in Sita's lap. Sit膩 regains her spirits, becomes
cheerful and hands over her upper-garment to Hanumat as a mark of
refuge (53. 12). Learning about the gladness of Sit膩, Mandodar墨 arrives
there and gets surprised to see Hanumat there. Hanumat then introduces
himself to S墨t膩 and narrates the events which happened to R膩ma
(53. 40). Mandodari flatters Hanumat, but the latter reproaches the
former. Mandodari then condemns R膩ma. S墨t膩 rebukes Mandodari.
At this Mandodar墨 along with other women makes an attempt to beat
S墨t膩. Hanumat intervenes at this stage. Mandodari gets discomfited
and reports the matter to her husband (53. 55).
In the VR there is no reference to the meeting of Hanumat with
Vibh墨峁峁嘺. On the other hand Hanumat makes a very long and
thorough search for S墨t膩 (5. 4-13) and observes her surrounded by many
R膩k峁s墨s, seated under a 'caitya pr膩sada' in the
the
础艣辞办补惫腻峁璱办腻
