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�
and it further increases by one S膩gara in every successive Graiveyaka
(i. e. 22+9-31 S膩garas) and the rest (Anudi艣a and Anuttara)
have 32 & 33 S膩garopama years of age (102.165). It can be
clarified with the help of other works. The Uttar膩dhyayana (36.221-243)
mentions that the first two Kalpavasin have 2 Sagaropama of age,
the next two have 7 S膩garopama, the fifth to eight have 10, 14,
17 and 18 S膩garopama years respectively. Then the next two have
20 while the last two have 22 Sagaropama years. In every suecessive.
Graiveyaka the age is from 23 to 31 S膩garopama respectiveiy and the
rest have 33 S膩garopama years. The Bh膩峁a on Tattv膩rthas奴tra (4. 33-37)
agrees with the Uttaradhyayana, but it elucidates that in the four
Anuttaravim膩nas the age is 32 while in the Sarv膩rtha it is 33 S膩garopama
years.1 The TP (8. 458) mentions 16 S膩garopamas in place of the 17 as
mentioned in the PCV.
There is a contrast between the conditions of the infernal
(N膩rak墨ya) and heavenly beings (Devas). The former suffer innume-
rable pains as already stated above, but the latter enjoy many
pleasures. They have very decent buildings. They have all the
comforts and luxuries at their disposal. They lavishly enjoy
music and dance being performed by the nymphs or Amaravadh奴s.
(14. 89-98). The pleasures of the Devas increase with their position
The objective happiness
(102. 179-171) in the higher Devalokas.
lessens with the upper vim膩nas while the internal and natural happi-
ness increase (14. 99-100; 102).
B. Supernatural elements associated with the 63
illustrious persons of the Jaina faith
The PCV reveals that some particular supernatural occurrences,
qualities and objects are associated with the T墨rthankaras, Cakravartins,
V盲sudevas, Prativasudevas and Baladevas of the Jaina faith. The
Kevalins are also mentioned to have been associated with these
elements. In the following lines an account of the same as recorded
in the PCV has been given.
(1) T墨rthankaras:-The PCV states
that the Tirthankaras are
graced with some supernatural events on the occasion of five important
incidents of their life viz. conception of the embryo, birth, renouncement
of the world, attainment of Kevelaj帽膩na and emancipation. This is a
traditional account.
1. See TS 4. 33-38 (Svet).
