Paumacariya (critical study)
by K. R. Chandra | 1970 | 238,015 words
This is an English 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, contrast...
23. The previous births of Vidyadhara Purnaghana and Sulocana
[Full title: Didactic stories; (A) Religious cum Moral Stories; (23) The previous births of Vidyadhara Purnaghana and Sulocana or the story of Bhavana and Haridasa]
On account of the ancestral enmity when Purnaghana was slain in the battle by Sahasranayana, Meghavahana the former's son fled away and and took refuge under Ajitanatha. Sahasranayana chased Meghavahana and reached there. At that time the Ganadhara enquired about the previous births of the fathers of Sahasranayana and Meghavahana. Then Ajitanatha, the second Tirthankara narrated the story (5.82-91) explaining the consequences of committing murder. Haridasa, a merchant-son of Kirtimati and Bhavana of Adityaprabhapura, lost all his wealth in the game of dice when his father had gone out on a trade voyage. His father returned home in due course and came to know that his son had gone to commit burglary in the palace. He started meditating in his house to save his son from that vice. In the meanwhile Haridasa returned home and killed his father under the suspicion of considering him enemy. Haridasa was then reborn as Sulocana and Bhavana as Purnaghana. On account of this enmity Purnaghana had killed Sulocana, the father of Sahasranayana. This was the cause of enmity between Sulocana's son, Sahasranayana and Purnaghana. t According to the Paumacariya (5.96f) Bhavana belonged to Sadrtupura and his wife is called Ataki. The rest of the story is identical except that many more previous births of Purnaghana and Sulocana as dogs, jackals, cats, bulls, mungooses, males in Puskalavati and as celestial beings are mentioned. The Ramapurana of Bhattaraka Somasena. (ch. 3) follows the Paumacariya Here the town is Marutpura. Bhavana's wife is Cataki. Haridasa killed his father in a tunnel when the latter went there in search of his son. It 11
162 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM adds two more rebirths as crocodiles and he-buffaloes to those of the Paumacariya The Trishashti Shalaka Purusha-caritra (II. p. 164) agrees with the Paumacariya Here the losing of wealth in the game of dice is not referred to. Bhavana returned from his voyage at night. As he entered his house, he was killed by Haridasa who suspected the former to be a thief. It is mentioned that the father and the son passed through several painful rebirths.