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

Page 261

CHAPTER VI
SOURCES, CONTRIBUTION AND INFLUENCE
OF PAUMACARIYAN SECTION 1. SOURCES OF PAUMACARIYAŃ
A. Critical Examination of Author's Statement
Vimalasūri, the author of Paumacariyaṁ gives three statements in connection with the sources of his work. He tells us that he is narrating the traditional Padma or Rāma-story which was narrated to Ākhandalabhūti (Indrabhūti, the first Gañadhara of Lord Mahāvīra) by Lord Mahāvīra. From Indrabhūti it passed on to the posterity through his successive disciples (PCV, 1.90; 118.102). The Jaina tradition holds that the discourses and preachings of Lord Mahavira have been preserved in the Jaina Āgama (canonical) literature so we shall try to trace out the sources of the Rāma-story of Vimala in it.
He further states that his work is based on the biographies (Caritas) of Nārāyanas and Baladevas (Sirin) preserved in the Pürvagata (Puvvagae nārāyaṇasīricariyāim 118.118). Pūrvagata formed the third section of Dưstivāda, the 12th Ariga of the Jaina Āgama but it is nowhere mentioned in the Jaina scriptures that Pūrvagata which consisted of 14 Pürvas, contained any narrative material. The Nandisūtra (56) tells us that the fourth section of Drşțivāda, called Anuyoga, contained biographies of Tirtharkaras, Cakravartins, Baladevas, Vasudevas and other religious personages. Shri H. R. Kapadia (See HCLJ, p. 11) while discussing the order of the composition of 12 Angas and various sections of the Drstivāda surmises that the 14 Pārvas should also mean Drștivāda as a whole, in a broader sense. Prot. J. Charpentier (Uttarā, Int. p. 22) also holds that the Drștivāda or the Purvas is much the same thing. In that light Vimalasūri's reference to the Pūrvagata should mean the Drstivāda as a whole and the Dțstivāda, says Dr. A. N. Upadhye, contained some Kathānakas as it appears from certain references in the Niryuktis (See BỊhatkathākośa, Int. p. 31).
We should have sought for the source of Paumacariyaṁ in the relevant sections of Drștivāda, but the Jaina tradition (See HCLJ, Ch.4) holds that it was lost long ago and our author also emphasises this point (Evam paramparāe parihāņi puvvaganthaatthānam 1.11).