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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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYA峁�
hair and pus. Whenever they seek shelter under some shade, the
Asipatravana with its thorns and weapons cause great pain to them.
Thus their life is full of sorrow, pain and innumberable sufferings (26.46
-57; 102.76-85; 118.3-8). This account of suffering can be corroborated
by that of the TS (3.3-5) and the TP (2.29-36; 2.308-335).
Heavenly Beings :-Those who perform meritorious deeds in their
previous births are said to be re-born as heavenly beings with nume-
rous pleasures at their disposal.
The heavenly beings are divided into four classes-viz. Bhavana-
v膩s墨s, Vyantaras, Jyotiskas and Vaim膩nikas (26.43; 75.32-35 72; 102.
87, 140, 142-146; 105.99). This is the traditional four-fold division.
The Bhavanav膩s墨 gods are said to be occupying the first two鹿 of
the three parts of the Ratnaprabha Naraka-bhumi which is situated
below the Mandara mountain (26.42-43) or the middle world. At
102.87 it is mentioned that they reside in the upper part of the first
Naraka (Rayanappabh膩e bh膩ge uvarille). These gods are of ten types,
viz. the Asura. N膩ga, Supar峁嘺, Dv墨pa, Samudra, Dis膩, V膩ta, Agni,
Vidyut and Stanitakum膩ras (75.32). The PCV further mentions the
number of their abodes (102.89), It is a traditional account.
The Vyantara gods reside in the Madhya-loka (middle world)
which consists of many continents and oceans such as Jambudvipa etc.
(102.91). They are of eight types, viz. the Kinnaras, Kimpuru峁s,
Garudas (Mahoragas), Gandharvas, Yak峁s, Bh奴tas, Pi艣膩cas, and
R膩k峁sas (75.33; 102.92).
The Jyoti峁a gods exist up above the Vyantara gods. They
reside in the luminous bodies. They are of five types, the Candras,
S奴ryas, Grahas, Nak峁tras and T膩rakas. They rotate round the Meru
mountain and are bustrous by their very nature (75.34; 102. 141).
The Vaim膩nika gods reside up above the Jyoti峁a gods (i. e. in
the upper world). They are divided into the Kalpav膩sins and the
Kalp膩t墨tas. The Kalpav膩sins reside in different Kalpas while the
Kalp膩t墨tas reside in Graiveyakas and five Anuttara Vim膩nas (or
Anudi艣as and Anuttaravim膩nas or four Vim膩nas in four quarters and
one in the centre). Above all of them there is the R峁pr膩gbh膩rabh奴mi
(Isipabbh膩ra-pudhavi 102.147) where the liberated souls reside. This
abode is of the shape of an open umbrella.
1. Rayanappabha tisu bh膩gesu vihatt盲, Bhava峁嘺v膩s墨 dev膩 nivasanti dosu
bh膩gesu taie pu峁嘺 neraiy膩.
