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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Modification:-
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYA峁�
(44) R膩va峁嘺 was named Da艣amukha in his boyhood (PCV-PCR鈥�
when he was a babe). (45) Uparambh膩 herself offered the Sudarsana-
cakra along with the lore to R膩va峁嘺 (PCR-Cakra came into the
possession of R膩va峁嘺 when Nalak奴bara was defeated).
Additions:-
celebrate the marriage of
(46) R膩vana sends his men to
Candranakha with Khara and D奴峁峁嘺. (47) Personal combat between
V膩li and R膩va峁嘺 and humiliation of R膩va峁嘺 on being lifted up by
V膩li. (48) P膩r膩艣ara, Kautilya and Manu also mentioned as ministers.
of Indra (49) Sending of an envoy by Indra to make friends with
R膩vana, offering of his daughter to R膩va峁嘺 in marriage and inciting
of Ravana by Narada for a battle with Indra. (50) Vidyadhara lords.
Candra, Yama, Kubera, Ke艣arin, Kanaka, Agni, Anala, Anila and
Surya all taken as captive by R膩va峁嘺 (51) As regards the marriage of
R膩vana and his brothers, the PCS agree with the PCV, not with
the PCR.
Other Intervening Stories.
Previous birth stories are generally dropped or abridged. In the
rest of the stories, leaving aside sectarian differences there are minor
droppings, alterations, modicications and additions.
Omissions:
Caritas: Story Nos. 3, 4,7 & 10.
Legendary kings: Story Nos. 12, 13, 14 & 15.
Stories of Genesis: Nos. 16 & 20.
Didactic stories: Nos. 21-23, 25-28, 30-33, 36-37, 41-42, 43-50,
52, 53 & 57.
Stories of General Prudence: Nos. 58 to 63.
Abridgement:-
Story no. 11, 38 & 54 are curtailed and No. 17, 24, 34, 35 & 51
get merely a passining reference.
52. There are some minor points which reveal that Paumacariu
is influenced by the PCV (See also PCS, I. Int. p. 50-51).
An analysis of various changes affected by Svayambhu reveals
that he has cut short the volume of (the epic) his work by dropping
altogether many intervening stories.
