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...
53. The story of Muni Sakalabhusana
[Full title: Didactic stories; (A) Religious cum Moral Stories; (53) The story of Muni Sakalabhusana and Kiranamandala]
Following the preparation of a fire-pit for the ordeal of Sita, it is narrated that Muni Sakalabhusana who was sojourning in one of the gardens of Ayodhya, was disturbed by Raksasi Vidyutvadana to obstruct him from attaining Kevala. The following story explains the cause of that disturbance explaining the consequences of harbouring enmity. (101.54-69).
INTERVENING STORIES 187 King Sakalabhusana, the son of Sri and Vidyadhara-king Simhavikrama of Gunjavidhananagara, had Kiranamandala as his She had illicit relations chief queen among his eight hundred wives. First of all she was warned but next time she was with Hemasimha. expelled from the territory by the king. Thereafter the king (Sakalabhusana) became a monk. That queen after her death became Vidyunmukhi, a Raksasi. She assuming various forms such as those of an elephant, the fire and the thorny-path, tried to trouble the muni but in vain. By her mainpulations she charged him with theft, dacoity etc. She further created many hobgoblins, and then beautiful women to distract the muni but he did not swerve at all and in due course he attained Kevala, The Paumacariya (104.102-129) and the Ramapurana of Bhattaraka Somasena. (p. 184) contain the same story while the Trishashti Shalaka Purusha-caritra (IV. p. 332) mentions Jayabhusana in place of Sakalabhusana as the son of Harivikrama.