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 284

SOURCES, CONTRIBUTION AND INFLUENCE OF PCY.
255
(c) Re-shaping the story or introducing some new elements for elevating the characters and for making the story befitting to his own plan and pattern.
The above theory seems at first to be fairly convincing, but a closer scrutiny establishes something else, and for that we will have to take into consideration the Rama-story of Adi Rāmāyna of Valmīki, which reveals many differences with the story of the present inflated versions of the Valmiki Rāmāyana. Dr. Kulkarni has not considered the story of Adi Rāmāyaṇa. A glance at the tables of contents of the Rāmāyana given at two places in the Balakanda (Ch. 1 & 3) shows as to what extent the Rāmāyaṇa has got inflated during the subsequent period. It is held by Dr. Jacobi (Das. Ram, p. 10) that the contents given in the first chapter of the Balakānda of the VR form the nucleus of the oldest form of the VR. Besides that, we shall examine the traditions presented in other early non-Jaina works on Rāma-story and the views of scholars to find out whether the PCV has some traditional backing or Vimalasūri has merely remoulded the Rāma-story of the VR to suit his own purpose.
As far as the first aim is concerned one cannot claim that the Paumacariyan has been totally emptied of all unbelievable elements for there are still intances in it which can be mentioned as follows:
Conjuring up of a town by a Yaksa for the sojourn of Rāma in exile (35.23). Converting of the fire-pit into a reservoir of water during Sitā's ordeal (102.19). Reappearing of the head and the limbs of Rāvana as many times as they were severed of by Lakşmaņa (72.16-18). Raising of the peak ef Kailāśa mountain by Rivaņa (9.69). Rāvana's and Sāhasagati's (sham Sugrīvās) supernatural powers of asumsing any from of their liking (8.25; 47.43). Conjuring up of hobgoblins by Rāvana to frighten Sītā (46.52). Assistance of celestial Garuņādhipati to Rāma in the battlefield (59.83). Hanumat's feat of bringing the waters of the sea to extinguish the conflagration (51.6). Powers of Vidyadhara Sahasrāra to conjure up the paraphernalia of the celestial Lord (7.6). Nourishment of Nārada by celestial beings (11.64). And above all bestowing the Vidyadharas with supernatural powers.
We shall see further that many such elements of VR, which are not found in the PCV, were not the part of the original Ādi Rāmāyana and some of them are not found even in the earlier non-Jaina works.
1. Dr. Kulkarni has not examined these traditions too.