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.
Page 242 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
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ORIGIN AND GENEALOGY OE VARIOUS VA峁偱欰S 4. R膩k峁sa Va峁兣沘: 213 According to the PCV, the R膩k峁sa Vamsa is a branch of the
Vidyadhara Vamsa. It is said to have originated during the congre-
gation of Ajitan膩tha, the second Tirthankara.
Sahasranayana, the prince of Gaganavallabhapura (northern
Vijay膩rdha mountain) once attacked Meghav膩hana, called
Ghanav膩hana also, the prince of Rathanupura (southern Vijay膩rdha,
mountain) on the issue of the marriage of the former's sister.
Meghavahana then fled away and took shelter under Ajitan膩tha,
the second Tirthankara (5.64-77). On that occasion Bhima, the
lord of demons (Rakkhasavai峁嚹� Bh墨me峁嘺峁� 5.123-132) made Meghav膩-
hana first lord of Lank膩puri and P膩t膩lankarapura. Lank膩puri
is said to have been situated in the valley of Trik奴峁璦艣ikhara which stood
in the middle of the R膩k峁sadv墨pa. Further it is said that after the name
of Rakkhasa (5.251), a desendant of Meghav膩hana, his Va峁兣沘 came to
be known as Rakkhasa Vamsa (tassaya n膩me峁嘺峁� imo, Rakkhasava峁僺o
yayammi vikkh茫o 5.252).
The author of the PCV remarks that originally they were
Vidy膩dharas but as they protected the Rakkhasadd墨va hence they were
called Rakkhasas. They were neither the devas nor the demons (43.14).
The R膩k峁sas are also called as Khecaras (Khayar膩峁嘺峁� Rakkhasan膩ma峁�
kaya峁� loe 5.257) also.
The PCR completely agrees with the PCV. The PCS2 mentions
Toyadav膩hana in place of Meghav膩hana. The RPS鲁 follows the PCR.
The TSP of Hemacandra agrees with the PCV.
According to the VH (p.240), R膩vana was born in the line of
Vidyadhara Sahasragr墨va. His brothers developed hostility with him,
hence he established his kingdom in the Lank膩 dv墨pa. The UP (68.8-9)
mentions Vidy膩dhara Sahasragr墨va, a descendant of Vinami as the
first lord of Lankapura. He fled away to Lank膩pura on being expelled
by his nephew (brother's son) from Meghak奴峁璦pura, situated on the
southern Vijay膩rdha mountain. The MP (70.2) agrees with the UP.
According to the VR when Praj膩pati created the water, he created
living beings also for the protection of the water. These living
1. PCR, 5.76-93, 149-165, 378-386; 48.33.
2. PCS, 5.6.8; 6.1.
3. RPS, Ch. 3.
P. 16.
4. IV. p. 107; II p.p. 158, 165.
