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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_ SOCIAL CONDITIONS 393 Conception: The PCV (3.59-67; 21.15-17) mentions that at
the time of the conception of the embryo of a Jina various goddesses
serve his mother and there is a shower of gems in his house鹿.
Birth-The celestial beings take the new-born child to the Meru
mountain and perform his ablution ceremony (3. 71-103; 21.18) called
Abhi峁ka (5. 54)%.
Renouncement:-This occasion is called Nikkhama峁嘺mah膩mahim膩
(3. 138). The Lok膩ntika gods strengthen the inclination of a Jina to
renounce the world (3. 127-130). Celestial beings carry him in a divine
litter when he renounces the world (3.132). They further immerse his
five-handfulls of hair extracted by himself from his head into the
K峁Ｄ玶odadhi (3. 137). The AP calls the ceremony Parini峁r膩ntimah膩kal-
y膩峁嘺ka (17. 74)鲁.
Omniscience:-When a Jina attains omniscience, the Indra, the
Suras and the Asuras pay homage to him, sign in his praise (2. 47; 4.
20), listens to his first sermon and then returns to their respective
辫濒补肠别蝉鹿.
Other monks who attain omniscience are also said to have been
hailed by the celestial beings (39.34; 101.69). At that time the
quarter appear to be red-bright and divine music is heard (14. 1-7) 5.
Emancipation:-In the case of the Jinas the ceremony associated
with this event is not mentioned in the PCV. But the occasion of monk
Kosala's emancipation is said to have been graced by the Devas by
making a worship of and offering perfumes and flowers to the body of
that monk. This ceremony is called Nirv膩峁嘺gamanamahim膩 (22. 46)潞.
The AP calls these five occasions 'Kaly膩峁嘺kas' i. e. auspicious
occasions The TS (4. 22)8 also refers to these auspicious occasions
and the work of the Devas on these occasions.
P膩ra峁嚹�:鈥擳he occasion of breaking a fast by a Tirthankara or a
great muni is hailed by five Atisayas (21. 25 supernatural occurrences)
flow of cold breeze, downpour of precious stones and flowers,
viz.
1. See AP, 12. 84, 97; 163鈥�211; TSP, I.
2.
pp. 105-130.
See AP. 13. 176, 213; TSP, I, p. 109鈥�130.
3.
See T麓SP, I. p; 159-6 6; AP, 17. 47-209.
4.
See AP 22, 18, 74f; 23. 191-194; TSP, I. p. 188f.
5. AP, 20; 269 f; UP, 48. 79-80.
6. See, AP, 47. 343; T'SP, I. p. 360, 363.
7. AP, 25. 222.
8.
See the Bhasya also.
