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 PAUMACARIYAN
On departure of the younger ones, the elder kissed on their forehead (86. 14) and blessed them for the success of the work (16. 34; 86. 15).
The departing person before commencing their journey used to visit the temple to pay their homage to the Jinas (89. 13) or used to recite the Namaskāra-formula (97. 23).
On the occasion of any meeting after a long time, the elders used to embrace the younger ones (30. 88; 32. 49; 98. 72; 30-80; 76. 22; 76. 19; 30. 81) or kissed on their forehead (34. 56; 79. 29; 98. 72; 79. 14). On such occasions the breasts of the mothers let loose some drops of milk when they met their sons (30.94; 79 30). It was quite a natural flow.
The Jaina monks were paid obeisance by circumambulating additionally (3.5, 10; 3.102; 41. 7). The monks on their part blessed the devotees (3. 6). The devotee bowed his head each time he enquired something of him (13. 42). At the time of going back the devotee recircumambulated the religious person (5.40) and then took his leave.
The inferior sometimes hailed some superior of extraordinary merits by expressing 'svasti' (satthim karei 35 62) and by offering a handful of flowers.
B. Customs.
The PCV mentions the following customs which were prevalent in the society of that time.
For the safety of the departing person a handful of flowers were offered in the air by the person who remained behind at home and he uttered 'let the planets be favourable (53.148) to the departed one'.
Whenever a person in trouble approached a superior one and requested him for help, the latter sympathised with the former by putting his hand over the former's head as a mark of protection (45.4).
On getting orders from the master the servants had to perform the work even if it was very cruel. But they prayed for excuse for the 'same after performing their duty. The cart-driver on getting orders from his master abandoned Añjanã in the forest, but he duly begged her to forgive him (17.9). Similarly Kștāntavadana abandoned Sita in a solitary and terrible forest, but he abused himself for that mean work (94.79-84).