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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164
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYA峁�
is mentioned as one of the sons of Sagara. Devendraganin, the comment-
ator of the Uttaradhyayana mentions Bhagiratha as the son of Jahnu.
27. The previous births of R膩k峁sa Mah膩rak峁 or the story
of Pritinkara :
Following the enumeration of the kings of the R膩k峁sa dynasty
and the story of the previous birth of Bhagiratha, Mah膩rak峁 is said
to have developed aversion on having seen a bee die in the interior of
a lotus. He paid homage to monk 艢rutasagara and asked him about
his previous birth. The monk narrated the story (5.227-235) illustrating
the results of forming a 鈥榥id膩na'. Having listened to this story
Mah膩rak峁 renounced the world.
Pr墨tinkara, the son of Hitankara and Madhavi of Potanapura
once eulogised the Jinas on having learnt that the king of that town
had performed a great worship of the Jinas. Thereafter having
been reborn as an Yak峁, he saved a monk from a calamity in
Aparavideha. Being again reborn as Udita, the son of Khecara
Ta岣峣tangada and 艢r墨prabh膩 in the Vijayardha, he saw the splendour
of a celestial being proceeding to perform the worship of the Jinas and
resolved (nid膩na) to do the same, He performed penances and was
reborn as a celestial being in the I艣ana Kalpa. From there he was
reborn as Mah膩rak峁.
The PCR (5.345-355) contains the same story. The PCS
(5.5.16) does not refer to this previous birth story.
The RPS (ch.3) agrees with the PCV.
28. The previous birth of V盲nara 艢rikantha or the story of
two merchant brothers :
The previous birth of Vanara 艢rikantha is narrated following his
installing as the first lord of V膩naradvipa. Once having got enlightened
by the splendour of Indra and finding himself unable to reach the
Nandi艣varadvipa, 艢r墨kantha enthroned his son, Vajrakantha and himself
renounced the world. Vajrakantha then requested a monk to narrate
the previous birth-story of his father. The monk related it (6.60-65) to
him illustrating the fruits of saving other's life.
The wives of two merchant brothers caused dissention between
the brothers. The younger one adhered to the wrong faith while
the elder one observed the layman's vows. Once the younger one
killed a man before the king. The elder saved him by giving some
