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 76 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
76 (of 671)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RĀMA-STORY 47 Śiva loosened, so Śiva (Rudra) gave it to Devarāta, while the bow of
Visṇu was inherited by Paraṣurāma from his ancestor, Rcīka (1. 75.
11-28); and (iv) Sītā tells Anasuya that the bow was given by Varuṇa
(2. 118. 39). These accounts describe the divine¹ origin of the bow.
In the TR it is called 'Siva-dhanu' (1.250). Its origin is not
mentioned.
Like the PCV some Brahmanical works mention that the bow is
obtained by Janaka only for the purpose of the marriage of Sitä.
According to the Padmapurāṇa² the betrothal of Sita is settled with
Rāma. Dasaratha goes to Videhapura to celebrate Rama's marriage,
but Nārada intervenes and requests them to postpone the date of
marriage because it was an inauspicious day. He further advises to
arrange for a 'svayaṃvara' and to invite various princes to perform the
kṣātravivāha'. Janaka does not like that any other person should marry
Sitā. He offers meditation before Rudra. The latter appears and gives
him a bow which could be strung only by Rāma. According to the
Satyopākhyāna, Śiva gives 'darśana' to Janaka in a dream and gives him
a bow. He asks him that one who strings the bow, should be married
to Sītā (Uttara, 2). The Kaśmīrī Rāmāyaṇa also contains the same
episode (Vide Bulcke, p. 285).
The PCR mentions that two bows 'Vajrāvarta' and 'Sāgarāvarta'
were given to Janaka by Vidyadhara Candragati (28.169). The PCS
and the RPS follow the PCR. The TSP mentions 'Arṇavāvarta' in
place of ‘Sāgarāvarta' (IV.p.203). The Vasudevahiṇḍī mentions that
Sita chooses Rāma in a 'svayaṃvara'. It does not refer to any bow
(1.p.241).
This episode is completely absent from the UP and the MP.
E. Svayaṃvara of Sitā:
According to the PCV Janaka then arranges for the 'svayamvara'
and invites various princes. Rāma along with his parents and brothers
go there. Nobody is able to string the bow except Rāma. Sītā is
then declared as his wife (28.93-124). Lakṣmaṇa also strings the same
Then some Vidyādharas offer him their daughters in marriage.
bow.
In the VR, there is no 'svayamvara' ceremony and no simultaneous
arrival of various princes. They come casually at intervals, try their
1. Note that the PCV (28. 74) also calls it 'suresu kayarakkham' i. e. protected by
the Suras.
2. Pātālakhaṇḍa, ch. 112.
