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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432
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYA峁�
was well cultivated and patronised by the royal persons and the
nobles who enjoyed it with great interest and also provided for
the entertainment of the public by arranging the performances of
professional artists on different social, political and religious
occasions.
Music is denoted by 'gandhavva-gandharva' (24,5; 75.5) and
'sang墨ya=sang墨ta' (66. 10). It consisted of two branches, viz. the
vocal music 'geya' (39.21), giya = gita' (17.84; 78.52) and the
instrumental music 'vaiya'=v膩ditra (78.52; 97.8) Dance is termed
as 'na峁弓a'=n峁泃ta (24. 5; 78.52). Dramatic performance is indicated by
'n膩岣峚ya'=n膩峁璦ka (2.51; 113.11). According to Kautilya, music in
wider sense includes all the four subjects singing, playing on instru-
ments, dancing and dramatic performance鹿.
-
Music: The professional musician is called 'sang墨yaa'=sang墨taka
(64.5) or 鈥榞ojja' = g膩yaka (85.19). The seven musical notes (svaras)
have been specifically referred to (sattasarasa峁� giya峁� 9. 89; gandha-
vva峁� tu
pagg墨ya峁� sattasaragayasa帽jutta峁� 37.48). The term
'saravihattijutta峁�'-svaravibhaktiyuktam (24. 5) denotes the
denotes the
details
about forming modulations or melodies and tones虏.
Musical instruments:-Vaditra has been already explained as a
term used for the instruments of music in general. A number
of instruments of music have been referred to in the PCV. They can be
divided into four classes viz. the stringed, concussion, wind and
percussion instruments鲁.
(1) V墨峁嚹� (9.88), the lute was the stringed instrument. (2)
Jhallari (3.19), a kind of cymbal; Ghanta (3.73) a kind of bell; Khin-
khi峁嚹� (17.114)=kinki峁嚹玸, a kind of small bells and Ka峁僺膩laya=K膩峁僺-
yat膩la (57.23), the cymbal were the instruments made of bell metal
and they produced ringing sound. They were the concussion instru-
ments. (3) 艢ankha (3.72), the conch-shell, Pavaya (57.23), Vamsa
(14.93), the reed pipe and Ve峁噓 (102.123), the fife were the wind in-
struments. (4) Dunduhi (Dundubhi 2.35), a kettle drum; Padaha
(Pataha 3.70), a kind of drum (dhola); Kahala (K膩hal膩 61.2), a
kind of large drum; Kharamuhi (Kharamukhi 57.23) (Va峁卥ak膩hal膩);
Dhakk膩 and Bhambh膩 (57.23), a kind of big drum;
1. Kautilya, 2 27
2. Anuyoga, 127 and PCR, 24 8-19 for the details of music
3. Bhag Su (Abhaya), 5.4. 148.
4, A kind of wind instrument (MWSED).
Bheri (57.23)
