Critical Study Of Paumacariyam

SR No.: 022643
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: K R Chandra
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology and Ahimsa
Publication Year: 1970
Total Pages: 672
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English & Book_Devnagari
File Size: 18 MB

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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
beings who were suffering from hunger and thirst ran to the Prajapati and asked him as to what they should do. Prajapati instructed them to protect the water. Some of them said "We protect (rakşāmah)" while the others said "We worship (Yakṣāmaḥ)”. Thus the former were called Rakşasas and the latter as Yakşas (Rakşama iti yairuktam Rakşasāste bhavantu vaḥ/Yakşāma iti yairuktam Yakşa eva bhavantu vaḥ 7.4.13).
According to the Vişnupur āņa those creatures ran towards Brahmā to devour him. At that time some of them said "Do not do like that, he should be protected". Those who told like that were called Rakşasas (Maivam bho rakṣyatāmeşa yairuktam Rākṣasāstu te -1.5.43, See Bhagavatapurūna, 3.20.21).
The VR mentions Heti and Praheti as the first lords of the Rakşasas (7.4.14). Heti's son was Vidyutkeśa. Vidyutkeśa's son was Sukeśa who was favoured with a 'Puramākasagam' or 'Khagampuram' (7.4.32) by Siva. Sukeśa is further referred to as resembling the lustre of clouds and making noise like the thundering clouds (ghanagarbhasamaprabham and ghanaśabdasamasvanḥ 7.4.23-25).
Further it is said that Sukeśa's sons namely, Malyavat, Sumālin and Malin, on account of their penance, were favoured with Laikānagarī as their permanent abode by Viśvakarman (7.6.25). Thus we find that Heti and Praheti were the first Rakşasa lords. Heti's grandson Sukeśa was favoured with a connivance to fare in the sky and his sons occupied Larkāpuri. Laikāpuri is called Khepuri (6 38.10). It indicates that the inhabitants of Laňkāpuri were the Khecaras. Compare the adjectives of Sukeśa with the name Meghavahana or Ghanavāhana of the PCV (5.77,133).
Thus according to the PCV and the VR, they came to be known as Rakşasas on account of their duty of protection. Both the works call them Khecaras and mention Latikāpuri as their first capital. But about their ancestral history, the Jaina and the Brahminical traditions differ.
The following is the genealogical list of the Raksasa kings as found in various Jaina and Brahmanical works :