Paumacariya (critical study)

by K. R. Chandra | 1970 | 238,015 words

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Summary: This is an English 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’s version. It further portrays Ravana as a just ruler and Sita as Janaka's natural daughter.

The Paumacariyam is also known as Padmacaritra in Sanskrit.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: jainelibrary.org

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Paumacariya (critical study) in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

Warning! This document has not been proofread. However, for each page you can (and should) verify the text with the original source PDF file.

General Editor’s Note

Outline of the Book

+ Chapter 1 - Introduction

. 1. Critical Remarks on the printed text of Paumacariya edited

. 2. Author of Paumacariam

Chapter 2 - Summary of the Paumacariya

+ Chapter 3 - Comparative study of the Rama-story

. I.1. Queens of Dasaratha

. I.2. Marriage of Kaikeyi and the granting of a Boon

. I.3. Birth of Rama and his brothers

. I.4. Christening of Names

. I.5. The story of Rama’s Teacher

. II.1. The Family of Janaka

. II.2. The Birth of Sita

. II.3. Sita’s Betrothal with Rama

. II.4. Intervention of the Bow

. II.5. Svayamvara of Sita

. II.6. Marriage of Rama and his Brothers

. III.1. Dasaratha’s decision to crown Rama

. III.2. Rama’s voluntary exile

. III.3. Kaikeyi’s attempt to call back Rama

. IV. Rama’s journey from Citrakuta to Dandakaranya

. V.1. Meeting a Vulture (Jatayu)

. V.2. Death of Sambuka and Candranakha’s displeasure

. V.3. Battle with Kharadusana

. V.4. Forcible removal of Sita by Ravana to Lanka

. V.5. Rama’s Sojourn at Patalankara-pura

. VI.1. Sugriva’s approach to Rama for help

. VI.2. Cause of Sugriva’s distress

. VI.3. Slaying of sham Sugriva

. VII.1. Reproach to Sugriva and Ratnakesin’s help

. VII.2. Lifting up of Kotisila and selection of Hanumat for Mediation

. VII.3. Hanumat's journey to Lanka

. VII.4. Meeting with Sita and Mandodari’s Interference

. VII.5. Discussion with Sita

. VIII.1. March to Lanka

. VII.6. Capturing of Hanumat by Indrajit

. VIII.2. Vibhisana’s shelter under Rama

. VIII.3. First casualties in Battle

. VIII.4. Wounding of Laksmana by the hit of a Sakti of Ravana

. VIII.5. Visalya’s medical aid

. VIII.6. Ravana’s offer for a peace treaty with Rama

. VIII.7. Acquiring of Bahurupa Vidya by Ravana

. VIII.8. Ravana’s plan to set free Sita

. VIII.9. Rejection of Mandodari’s request by Ravana

. VIII.10. Slaying of Ravana

. VIII.11. From Rama’s march to Lanka up to the death of Ravana

. IX.1. Back to Ayodhya

. IX.2. Laksmana’s Ardhacakravartitva

. IX.3. Banishment of Sita

. IX.4. Birth of the sons of Sita and her fire ordeal

. IX.5. Renouncing the World

+ Chapter 4 - Intervening Stories

. 1. Introduction

. 1. Ravana Carita (Caritra)

. 2. Anjanasundari and Hanumat

. 3. The birth of Narada

. 4. Lord Mahavira, the twenty-fourth Tirthankara

. 5. Lord Rishabha, the first Tirthankara

. 6. Ajita-svamin, the second Tirthankara

. 7. Munisuvrata the twentieth Tirthakara

. 8. Duel between Bharata and Bahubali

. 9. Death of the son of Sagara

. 10. The story of Sanatkumara

. 11. The story of Harisena

. 12. Vairabahu’s renunciation

. 13. The story of Kirtidhara, Sahadevi and Sukosala

. 14. The story of Naghusa and Simhika

. 15. The story of Sodasa

. 16. Origin of the Brahmanas

. 17. Vasu, Parvataka and the Origin of the Yajna

. 21. Muni Sanjayanta’s torture at the hands of Vidyadhara Vidyutdamstra

. 21. Muni Sanjayanta’s torture at the hands of Vidyadhara Vidyutdamstra

. 22. The previous births of Sanjayanta and Vidyutdamstra

. 23. The previous births of Vidyadhara Purnaghana and Sulocana

. 24. The previous births of Vidyadhara Meghavahana and Sahasranayana

. 25. The previous birth of Sagara

. 26. The Previous Birth of Bhagiratha

. 27. The previous births of Raksasa Maharaksa

. 28. The previous birth of Vanara Srikantha

. 29. The previous birth of Raksasa Taditkesa

. 30. The previous birth of Madhu

. 31. The previous births of king Indra

. 33. The previous birth of Srisaila or Hanu

. 34. The previous birth of Anjanasundari

. 35. The previous birth of Bhamandala

. 36. Candragati, Madhupingala, Kundalamandita and Citrotsava

. 37. The previous births of Dasaratha, Janaka and Kanaka

. 38. The previous births of Muni Desabhusana and Kulabhusana

. 39. The previous birth of the Mleccha Senapati

. 40. The previous birth of Jatayu

. 41. The story of Rucira and Pravara

. 42. The previous births of Hasta, Prahasta, Nala and Nila

. 43. The previous births of Visalya and Laksmana

. 43. The Previous Births Of Visalya And Laksmana

. 44. The story of Aridamana

. 45. The previous births of Indrajit and Ghanavahana

. 46. The story of Agnila and Kararuha

. 47. The story of Mitrayasa and Srivardhita

. 48. The previous birth of Srivardhita

. 49. The previous birth of Mitrayasa

. 50. The previous births of Simhendu and Rativardhana

. 51. The previous births of Bharata and Tribhuvanalamkara Elephant

. 52. previous births of Shatrughna and Kritantavadana

. 53. The story of Muni Sakalabhusana

. 54. The previous births of Rama, Sita, Laksmana, Ravana, Sugriva etc.

. 55. The previous birth of Vali

. 56. The previous births of Lavana, Ankusa and Siddhartha

. 57. The previous births of Madhu and Kaitabha

. 58. The story of Yaksadatta and Mitramati

. 59. Vinayadatta and a man mad after a Peacock

. 60. Atmasreyas and the Mystic ring

. 61. The story of Giribhuti and Gobhuti

. 62. The story of Ahideva and Mahideva

. 63. The battle between the sons of king Srisena

+ Chapter 5 - Origin and Genealogy of Various Vamshas

. 1. Genealogy of the Ikshvaku Vamsa dynasty

. 2. Genealogy of the Soma Vamsa dynasty

. 3. Genealogy of the Vidyadhara Vamsa dynasty

. 4. Genealogy of the Raksasa Vamsa dynasty

. 5. Genealogy of the Vanara Vamsa dynasty

. 6. Genealogy of the Hari Vamsa dynasty

+ Chapter 6 - Sources, contribution and influence of Paumacariyam

. 1. Sources of Paumacariyam

. 2. Vimalasuri’s Acquaintance with the Valmiki Ramayana

. 3. Influence of Ramopakhyana of Mahabharata on Paumacariya

. 4. What do the Peculiarities of Paumacariyam Reveal?

. 5. The Basic Foundation of Paumacariya, Jaina and Popular Tradition

. 6. Two Jaina Traditions of Rama-katha

. 7. Sources of Intervening Stories

. 8. Contribution of Vimalasuri

. 9.1. Ravisena’s Indebtedness to Vimalasuri

. 9.2. Influence on Svayambhu’s Paumacariu

. 9.3. Influence on Hemacandra’s Trisastisalakapurusa-carita

. 9.4. Influence on Ramapurana of Bhattaraka Somasena

. 9.5. Influence on Jinasenasuri and Hastimalla

. 9.6. Influence on the Mahapurana of Puspadanta

. 10.1. Influence on works composed in India

. 10.2. Influence on works composed outside India

. 10.3. A Note on the Previous Birth Stories

. 10.4. Influence on Tulasidasa (Tulsidas)

. 11. Conclusion

+ Chapter 7 - Social Conditions

. 1.1. Social Evolution: Utsarpini and Avasarpini (Cycles of Time)

. 1.2. Social Evolution: Kulakaras (Law-givers)

. 1.3. Social Evolution: Bhogabhumi

. 1.4. Social Evolution: Kritayuga (Era of Sweat and Toil)

. 2. Castes: Origin, Duties, Occupation and Position

. 3. Stages of Life

. 4. Family life (according to the Paumacariya)

. 5. Relationships mentioned in Paumacariya

. 6. Ceremonies of Birth and Childhood

. 7. Marriage (in ancient Indian society)

. 8.1. Family status or Women inside the House

. 8.2. Social status or Women outside the House

. 8.3. Political Status of Women

. 8.4. Religious Status of Women

. 8.5. Freedom of movement and the system of Purdah

. 9.1. Outdoor-Games (in ancient India)

. 9.2. Indoor-Games (in ancient India)

. 9.3. Amusements and Story-telling (in ancient India)

. 10.1. Manners (in ancient India)

. 10.2. Customs (in ancient India)

. 10.3. Beliefs (in ancient India)

. 11.1. Supernatural beings and their abodes

. 11.2. Supernatural elements in the Jain faith

. 11.3. Supernatural occurrences

. 11.4. Superhuman powers

+ Chapter 8 - Education, Literature, Sciences, Arts and Architecture

. 1.1. The concept of Teacher and Pupil

. 1.2. Subjects of study and Literature

. 2.1. Writing, Astronomy and Astrology in Ancient India

. 2.2. Medical Science in Ancient India

. 2.3. Cooking (food and drinks) in Ancient India

. 2.4. Knowledge of Flora and Fauna

. 3.1. Clothing, Ornaments and Toilet in ancient India

. 3.2. Music, Dance and Drama in ancient India

. 3.3. Drawing, Painting, Terracota, Plastic and Sculpture in ancient India

. 4.1. Town Planning in ancient India

. 4.2. Royal Palaces in ancient India

. 4.3. Some Architectural Terms

. 4.4. Other constructions for shelter, etc.

. 5. Utensils and Article of Furniture and Decoration

+ Chapter 9 - Economic, Political and Religious conditions

. 1. Economic conditions of ancient India

. 2.1. State and King in ancient India

. 2.2. Administration in ancient India

. 2.3. Army and Warfare in ancient India

. 3.1. Jain philosophy in ancient India

. 3.2. Jain ethics in ancient India

. 3.3. Jain Asceticism In Ancient India

. 3.4. Non-Jaina ascetics

. 3.5. Jain Rituals in ancient India

. 3.6. Brahmanical Rituals in ancient India

+ Chapter 10 - Geographical Places, Peoples and Tribes

. 1. Cosmology according to the Paumacariyam

. 2. The concept of Jambudvipa

. 3. The concept of Bharata (Varsa)

. 4. Route of Rama’s Journey in Exile (and back to Ayodhya)

. 5. Unidentified Places

. 6. Anaryas (or Mlecchas) and other tribes or clans

+ Chapter 11 - Literary Evaluation

. 1. Language and Grammar of the Paumacariyam

. 2. Prosody and Metres in the Paumacariyam

. 3. Paumacariya as a work of art

Chapter 12a - Conclusion, Part 1

Chapter 12b - Conclusion, Part 2

Appendix 1 - Table Showing Influence of the Tradition of Paumacariyam

Appendix 2 - Table showing Influence of the Tradition of Vasudevahindi

Appendix 3 - Table showing Influence of the Tradition of Uttarapurana of Gunabhadra

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Last Updated: 24 September, 2024

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