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’s version.
Page 128 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
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External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RĀMA-STORY 99 Mandodari utters that she had requested Rāvana after the ruining
of Lanki by Hanumat, to desist from harbouring enmity with
Rāma, but Rāvaṇa did not accept her proposal. Here she is said to
have considered Rāma as an incarnation of Viṣṇu (6.111.13) and
the abduction of Sītā (mentioned as Śrī) as the cause of the death
of her husband (ibid 23). In the Gauḍīya and the N.W. versions of
the VR, Mandodarī is said to have appealed to Rāvana after the
slaying of Prahasta, to stop the battle and to give up Sītā saying
that Rāma was superior to all the ordinary human beings (Bulcke,
p. 378).
In the TR Mandodarī is found to be requesting Rāvaṇa not less
than four times¹ for giving up Sītā (5.35; 6.6; 6.14&6.37) saying that
she reminds Ravana of
Rāma was the God incarnate and at 6.6.
the mission of Rāma to relieve the earth from the burden (of the
sinners2). At 5.35 i.e. after the ruining of Lanka by Hanumat she
had requested Rāvana for the first time.
of the
In the Adhyātma Rāmāyaṇā just after the destruction
Yajña of Rāvaṇa (6.10.36f) Mandodarī tells Rāvaṇa that Rāma is
an in carnation of God and further requests him to give up Sītā.
Thereupon Rāvana decides to be killed by Rāma to attain eman-
cipation (ibid 58). Tne Ananda Rāmāyaṇa also agrees with it (1.11.
241-145).
J. Slaying of Rāvaṇa :
but to
According to the PCV, in the final battle, Rāvaṇa fights driving
in the Indra-chariot which was constructed by the Bahurupa-vidyā,
while Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa fight riding on the Keśarin and the Garuda
chariots (supplied by Garuḍādhipati). In the gruesome fight many
types of missiles are hurled from both the sides. Lakṣmaṇa severs
the head and the arms of Rāvana by shooting arrows,
his surprise he finds that on account of the effect of the Bahurupā-
vidyā they reappear every time increased in geometrical progression
(71.16). Rāvaṇa then hurls his disc (cakra) at Lakṣmaṇa (72.36),
but instead of obeying his command it obeys Lakṣmaṇa and Rāvaṇa
is killed, his head being severed off, on the 11th day of dark Jyeṣṭha
(73.34).
1.
Vide-Sec. 8C.
2. 'Soi avatareu haraṇa mahibhārā”.
